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Acoustic Requirements
Approved Document E (England & Wales) for dwellings
new build and refurbishment
Approved Document E of the Building Regulations improves standards
of sound insulation, particularly now that many more adjoining
residences are being built, and introduces measures intended to
improve compliance with the Regulations. These
include pre-
completion
acoustic testing as a way of demonstrating compliance
and, alternatively, the use of Robust Details.
Part E1 provides protection against sound from other parts of the
building and adjoining buildings, and states that dwelling houses, |
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flats and rooms for residential purposes shall be designed and
constructed in such as way that they provide reasonable resistance to
sound from other parts of the building and from adjoining buildings.
Part E2 provides protection against sound within a dwelling house,
flat or residential room, and states that they shall be designed and
constructed in such a way that internal walls between a bedroom or a
room containing a water closet and other rooms, and internal floors,
provide reasonable resistance to sound. |
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Approved Document E (England & Wales) standards
Approved Document E sets acoustic performance standards for
houses, flats, schools, hotels and hostels. The document also
distinguishes between new build and material change of use.
The acoustic standards of Part E are intended to improve the sound
insulation and privacy between homes or rooms for residential
purposes. There is also a standard for partition walls within homes.
There are various ways of approaching compliance. Approved
Document E is a guidance document, so there are many ways of
designing separating walls and floors that will meet or exceed the |
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requirements in the guidance document. The onus is on the installer to
ensure good workmanship on site, because with pre-completion
testing, acoustic failure can prove costly.
Approved Document E requires pre-completion site testing for 10% of
constructions. The builder is required to prove by site testing that the
sound insulation meets the requirements of the regulations.
New build
dwellings are exempt from testing if built using approved Robust
Details (RDs). |
Section 5 (Scotland) standards
| Section 5 of the Scottish Building Regulations deals with the reduction of sound through separating building elements between dwellings. It requires either the use of Pre-Completion Testing or using a Robust Detail (provided by Robust Details Ltd) to demonstrate compliance with the regulation and qualify to be deemed to satisfy. |
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Separating walls must meet minimum values for weighted standardised difference on airborne sound and floors must meet the requirements for both airborne and impact sound. |
Pre-completion testing
Pre-completion testing applies to rooms for residential purposes,
houses and flats formed by the conversion of other buildings, as well
as new houses and flats. The sound insulation values required are set
out in the accompanying tables and apply to rooms that are finished but
not furnished or occupied.
The performance standards are designed for walls, floors and stairs
that separate spaces used for normal domestic purposes. A higher
standard of sound insulation may be required between spaces used
for normal domestic purposes and communal or non-domestic
purposes. The appropriate level of sound insulation will normally |
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depend on the level of noise generated in the communal or
non-domestic space. Specialist advice may be required to
determine the level of sound insulation required.
Where the requirement for pre-completion acoustic testing applies
the document specifies that the person carrying out the work is
responsible for ensuring that the appropriate sound insulation
testing is carried out and recorded in accordance with an approved
procedure. They are also responsible for giving a copy of the results
to the local authority or Approved Inspector. |
Testing programme
Normally one set of tests will be carried out on the sound insulation
between the first houses, flats or rooms for residential purposes scheduled
for completion in each group. So even if the development only consists of
one pair of houses, flats or rooms for residential purposes, they should be
tested. As further properties are finished
one in every ten should be tested. |
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Testing should be more frequent at the start of a series of completions
than at the end to allow any potential problems to be addressed, but
on large developments testing should be carried out over a substantial
part of the construction period. |
Robust Details
Since 1 July 2004 Robust Details have been allowed as an
acceptable alternative to pre-completion testing. Robust details are high
performance separating wall and floor constructions (with associated
details) that are expected to be sufficiently reliable not to need the
check provided by pre-completion testing.
If Robust Details are to be used, their use for each specific plot needs
to be registered with Robust Details Ltd. The competent local authority |
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or Approved Inspector also needs to be notified in advance with
details of the part or parts of the building where Robust Details are
being used, the detail concerned and the unique number issued by
Robust Details Ltd covering that specific use.
This exemption from pre-completion testing is naturally subject to the
building work being carried out in accordance with the design detail
specified in the notification. |
Workmanship
As with any construction, good design and installation practice should
be observed at all times. All flanking issues must be addressed and |
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detailed carefully at design stage. This must then be equalled by
quality of workmanship on site. |
Separating walls, floor and stairs (Approved Document E)
| New Build |
Airborne sound insulation
DnTw + Ctr dB
(minimum values) |
Impact sound insulation
L' nTw dB
(minimum values) |
| Walls |
45 |
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| Floor and stairs |
45 |
62 |
| Conversions |
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| Walls |
43 |
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| Floors and stairs |
43 |
64 |
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Internal walls and floors (Approved Document E)
| New Build and conversions |
Airborne sound insulation
Rwr dB
(minimum values) |
| Walls |
40 |
| Floor and stairs |
40 |
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Section 5 requirements
| Airborne Sound |
Mean Value (dB)
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Individual Value (dB) |
| Walls |
53 |
49 |
| Floors |
52 |
48 |
Impact Sound |
Mean Value (dB) |
Individual Value (dB) |
| Floors |
61 |
65 |
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Meeting the requirements
| Approved Document E and Section 5 give examples of constructions that should
achieve the required performance and specifies a minimum mass per unit
area for each construction. The document recommends that it is good
practice to consider the layout of the rooms at the design stage to avoid
placing noise sensitive rooms next to rooms where noise is generated. |
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Specialist advice should be sought if there is any doubt regarding
compliance with Approved Document E.
Products from the Karmafloor, Karmawall and Karmaplus ranges can
be used with confidence to meet Approved Document E requirements. |
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