One of the requirement of Building Regulations part E is that builders demonstrate the sound insulation performance of separating walls and floors in new-build dwellings or rooms for residential purposes as well as those newly formed by a material change of use i.e. conversions, where they are attached to another dwelling/building or part of the same building with independent occupants.
Part E regulations set minimum performance (sound Insulation) requirements. Performance can be proved either by testing the as-built construction(s) or by registering the proposed construction types with Robust Details.
We cover all towns in West Sussex for Sound Testing and Air Pressure Testing.
West Sussex towns covered:
- Aldwick
- Bognor Regis
- Burgess Hill
- Chichester
- Crawley
- East Grinstead
- Haywards Heath
- Horsham
- Lancing
- Littlehampton
- North Lancing
- Rustington
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Southwick
- Worthing
Call us or send an e mail to discuss your requirements. We offer independent advice.
We offer comprehensive advice regarding sound testing. Our quoted fee is fixed to undertake the required sound tests and any further services required thereafter. We have more than ten years of experience in the field of sound testing and we provide a fast and reliable service to the large and small developers alike to satisfy that a site has achieved the required standard for compartment floor or party wall construction. Our onsite sound testing experience of measuring the sound insulation as per the current British and European Standards which requires that the construction that has been built to separate habitable spaces within the development meets with the requirements set out in Approved Document E of the Building Regulations. A summary of the required values are as follows:
Dwellings-houses and flats – performance standards for separating walls,
separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function.
| Description of Area | Airborne Sound Insulation DnT,w + Ctr dB (Minimum Values) |
Impact Sound Insulation L’nT,w dB (Maximum Values) |
| Purpose built dwelling-houses and flats Walls Floors and stairs |
45 45 |
– 62 |
| Dwelling-houses and flats formed by material change of use Walls Floors and stairs |
43 43 |
– 64 |
Rooms for residential purposes – performance standards for separating walls,
separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function.
| Description of Area | Airborne Sound Insulation DnT,w + Ctr dB (Minimum Values) |
Impact Sound Insulation L’nT,w dB (Maximum Values) |
| Purpose built dwelling-houses and flats Walls Floors and stairs |
43 45 |
– 62 |
| Dwelling-houses and flats formed by material change of use Walls Floors and stairs |
43 43 |
– 64 |
Our experienced engineer will undertake the required sound testing on a given site in accordance with the requirements as set out in the Approved Document Part E of the building regulation. Sound testing procedure is quite simple and our engineer will be happy to explain this on site. Essentially, for party walls there is one type of sound insulation test which is airborne sound test and for compartment floors there are two types of sound insulation tests which are airborne and impact sound insulation tests. The airborne sound insulation test is carried out by means of a loudspeaker emitting a steady source of noise on one side of the partition (wall or floor) to be measured. The corresponding sound level is measured on the other side of the partition. Impact sound insulation tests are carried out by means of a tapping machine placed on the floor sample to be measured and the noise measured in the room or space below. Calculations are done based on these measurement and the above mentioned parameters are calculated and compared to the Building Regulations Part E sound insulation requirements for the given type of the building. It is important that the building to be sound tested is completely finished and sealed with no sound leakage through doors and windows. Please see our check list for sound testing for more information. Watch a brief video showing the process of sound insulation testing.