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Testing requirements and performance standards.

The testing comprises of both airborne sound insulation and, in the case of separating floors, impact sound insulation tests. Approved Document E states that 10% of a development must be tested, which equates to one set of tests per 10 dwellings. Tests will only normally be carried out between habitable rooms e.g. bedrooms, living rooms. The number of individual tests in each set, and the required performance, will be determined by which of the following groups the development falls into:

What do the numbers mean?

Airborne sound Insulation:

• ‘DnT,w+Ctr’ refers to the difference in sound levels between two adjoining rooms, and as such is a measure of the airborne sound insulation performance of the separating partition, incorporating corrections for background noise, the amount of absorption in the receiving room and the frequency characteristics of sound typically generated in residential properties.

Impact Sound Insulation:

• ‘L’nT,w’ is the measured sound pressure level in the room beneath the separating floor during an impact test, incorporating corrections for background noise and the amount of absorption in the receiving room. It is a measure of the impact sound insulation performance of the separating floor.

Test Conditions

In order for a sound insulation test to be carried out successfully both rooms involved in the test should be essentially complete, with all windows and doors fitted, and be unfurnished. In the case of impact sound insulation tests, no soft floor coverings should be present, with the exception of Type 1 floors, as defined in section 3 of Approved Document E. The site should also be relatively quiet, as high levels of background noise can adversely effect the results.

Consequences of a Failed Test

Failure to incorporate acoustic considerations into the design and planning of a building at an early stage can potentially lead to problems when it comes to the pre-completion testing, which can be costly and time-consuming to rectify. Any separating wall or floor which fails to provide the required level of sound insulation performance will likely require re-testing. In addition, as a failed test raises questions over the sound insulation between other rooms sharing the same separating element, Building Control may require additional testing to be carried out. As part of the testing programme, HRS services’ team of test engineers and consultants will be able to advise on the simplest, quickest and most cost effective remedial treatments to provide the necessary improvements in sound insulation performance.

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