Frequently Asked Questions

Part E Pre Completion Testing.

1. At what stage can testing be done?

Testing is normally undertaken when properties are finished but unfurnished.  This normally equates to all windows and doors fitted, electrics finished.  Testing should be carried out before carpets are fitted and any soft furnishings added.  In certain instances testing can be carried out on floors which already have carpet laid if they are classed as ‘type 1’.  This equates to a floor constructed from a solid concrete base which does not have a resilient layer beneath the screed. 

2. How many tests will I need?

Part E of the building regulations 2000 states that 10% of a development needs to be tested.  This equates to one set of tests per 10 plots.  A set will consist of between 2 and 6 individual tests depending on property type and layout for houses and flats.  A full set of tests will consist of 2 airborne wall tests, 2 airborne floor tests and 2 impact floor tests and normally applicable to flats.  A development of town houses or semi detached houses would only need 2 wall tests per set as only party walls are shared.  If your development consists of hotels/ halls of residence / bed sits then a set will consist of 1 wall airborne test, 1 floor airborne test and 1 impact test.

3. What will the testing entail?

Two types of test will be performed, airborne and impact.  Airborne tests will be performed on party walls and floors between ‘habitable’ rooms or living rooms and bedrooms.  A loud noise source will be installed in one of these rooms with measurements of received noise level taken in the adjacent room.  Corrections to this level will be added to compensate for the natural background noise level inside the plot and how reverberant the receiving room is.  The impact test is only performed on party floors and involves the use of a mechanical hammering machine to simulate footsteps with the noise level in the below room measured.

4. Do you have any special site requirements?

We will require all construction noise to have ceased during testing and access to a 240v power supply. 

5. How long will testing take?

A full set of tests will normally take about 2.5 hours depending on the layout of the development.

6. Can any of my staff work on site while the testing is being performed?

No one other than HRS personnel should be in the rooms under test.  Staff can be present on site during testing proving no noisy operations are being undertaken as this can affected measured noise levels. 

7. What criteria do the party elements have to fulfill to pass?

For airborne testing a partition will have to achieve the given criteria or above for a pass. 
For impact testing a partition will have to achieve the given criteria or below for a pass