Acoustic Standards

Approved Document E (2004 Edition) - Resistance To The Passage Of Sound

Approved Document E (2010) - Resistance To The Passage Of Sound (pdf)

Approved Document E applies to all new build residential developments, and those formed by a material change of use (including houses, flats, student residences, care homes and hotels), setting out minimum standards for sound insulation.

The Regulations focus on four main areas:

E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings (separating walls and floors).

E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling house etc (internal walls and floors).

E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes.

E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools (BB93)

Click here to download

Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 24 ‘Planning and Noise‟, published in September 1994, sets out the Government’s policies on noise related planning issues. It gives guidance to local authorities on the use of their planning powers to minimise the adverse impact of noise. Specifically, it:

• outlines the considerations to be taken into account when determining planning applications for both noise-sensitive developments and for those activities which will generate noise;
• sets out noise exposure categories for residential developments, encourages their use and recommends appropriate levels for exposure to different sources of noise;
• and advises on the use of planning conditions to minimise the impact of noise.
  

The four noise exposure categories (NECs) set out in PPG24 are designed to assist local planning authorities in evaluating applications for residential development in noisy areas.

The scope of British Standard 8233:1999 ‘Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings – Code of practice’ is the provision of recommendations for the control of noise in and around buildings. It suggests appropriate criteria and limits for different situations, which are intended to guide the design of new buildings or refurbished buildings undergoing a change of use. The standard suggests suitable internal noise levels within different types of buildings.

Note(1): for a reasonable standard in bedrooms at night, individual noise events (measured with fast time weighting) should not normally exceed 45dB LAmax.

BS 8233 also contains guidelines for the control of noise within different types of buildings, such as hotels, offices, schools and cinemas, including recommended levels for the sound insulation afforded by internal partitions.

British Standard 4142:1997 ‘Method for rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas’ is used to assess whether noise from industrial premises and sources of an industrial nature in commercial premises is likely to give rise to complaints from people residing in nearby noise sensitive premises.

The procedure for assessing the likelihood of complaint is to compare the measured or predicted noise level from the source in question immediately outside the dwelling, the ‘specific noise level’, with the existing background noise level. The specific, ambient and residual noise levels are measured in terms of LAeq,T values and the background noise level is measured in terms of an LA90 value. Where the specific noise contains a ‘distinguishable discrete continuous note (whine, hiss,screech, hum etc.) or if there are distinct impulses in the noise (bangs, clicks, clatters or thumps), or if the noise is irregular enough to attract attention’ then a correction of +5dB is added to the specific noise level to obtain the ‘rating level’.

The likelihood of noise provoking complaints is assessed by subtracting the background noise level from the rating noise level. BS 4142 states:

• A difference of around 10dB or higher indicates that complaints are likely
• A difference of around 5dB is of marginal significance
• A difference of -10dB is a positive indication that complaints are unlikely

Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) pdf

Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) gives the constructional standards for acoustics for new school buildings (including extensions to existing school buildings and new schools formed by change of use of other buildings) that are required to be achieved under requirement E4 of Approved Document E.

BB93 includes a number of specific performance standards, each contributing to the wider objective of improving the acoustic performance of schools. These performance standards are not only set to traditional classroom scenarios but include all types of rooms including gymnasiums, drama studios, art rooms and swimming pools. BB93 considers the following areas;

• Indoor ambient noise levels in unoccupied spaces
• Sound insulation between spaces
• Reverberation in teaching and study areas
• Sound absorption in corridors, entrance halls and stairwells

Click here to download

HTM 08-01 covers the acoustic design issues that are important for health care premises, recommending criteria for:

• Noise levels in rooms – including contributions from both mechanical services within the building and external sources transmitted via the building structure.
• Noise break-out.
• Airborne and impact sound insulation.
• Control of reverberation.
• Vibration caused by plant and medical equipment.

The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. Within the ‘Health & Wellbeing’ section of the Code, credits are available for achieving improved levels of sound insulation over and above the minimum standards specified in Approved Document E.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is a voluntary scheme that works by awarding credits for meeting different environmental targets.

A range of buildings are covered, including:

• Pre-school, schools and sixth form colleges
• Further or higher education buildings
• Health-care buildings
• Multi-residential buildings
• Offices, Industrial, Retail, Prisons, Courts & other buildings
  

BREEAM 2008
Depending on the nature of the building, BREEAM credits are typically available for achieving minimum performance standards with regards to the internal acoustics of the building (Hea13/Hea21), as well as minimising noise impact on nearby noise-sensitive premises (Pol8).

BREEAM 2008 Pol8

BREEAM Education 2008 Hea13

BREEAM Healthcare 2008 Hea13

BREEAM Offices 2008 Hea13

BREEAM Prisons 2008 Hea13

BREEAM Retail 2008 Hea13

BREEAM Multi-Residential 2008 Hea21

HRS Guide to BREEAM 2008 Compliance - from Concept to Construction (pdf) >

BREEAM 2011
The BREEAM 2011 version will now be referred to as BREEAM ‘New Construction’ scheme. For now refurbishments and fit outs should continue to be assessed under the 2008 scheme until BRE global have developed a standalone scheme to cover refurbishments and fit out assessments.

Acoustic-related credits are found in sections Hea 05 and Pol 05.

Information regarding Hea 05 and Pol 05

HRS Summary – BREEAM 2011 Updates (PDF)

BREEAM 2011 Updates – Frequently Asked Questions

HRS Guide to BREEAM 2011 Compliance - from Concept to Construction (pdf) >