Part E - Passage Of Sound

Part E - Passage of Sound

Building Regulations Part E - Resistance to Passage of Sound

Building Regulations requires that dwellings are sound tested before completion (pre-completion testing) to demonstrate suitable sound insulation, in compliance with “Approved Document E of the Building Regulations for England and Wales – Resistance to the Passage of Sound."


Our trained and experienced engineers will guide you through this process and ensure you have the best possible chance of passing first time.


We operate throughout the UK and, providing we have all the information in place before testing, we can tell you how your test performed straight away.


Under Building Regulations Approved Document E, you will require sound insulation testing if you are:

  • Building a block or blocks of flats
  • Building a hotel, hostel or house of multiple occupancy
  • Building terraced or semi-detached houses
  • Converting a building whereby you create more dwellings than previously existed (eg converting a house or offices into residential dwellings)


Sound insulation tests are not required on:

  • Detached dwellings
  • Refurbishment projects


In order to undertake any testing, we first require plans, sections and elevations of the building being tested and any other building details available to ensure we can plan the tests and maximise the chances of passing.

Procedure

The airborne sound insulation test is carried out with a loudspeaker for 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 tests are carried out by using a tapping machine placed on the floor to be measured. The noise level is then recorded in the room below and calculations based on these measurements are undertaken and the results compared to the Building Regulations Part E requirements for the given type of the building.

Failures

Transmission via air paths through a partition or floor will be evident by the presence of higher frequency noise on the receiving side.


Flanking transmission occurs where airborne or impact sound passes under, over or around a wall or floor partition. The sound travels along shared building elements of adjacent structures. This can be detected with higher levels of low frequency noise on the receiving side.


  1. Direct sound transmission - Through the partition
  2. Flanking transmission - Via structurally connected elements
  3. Overhearing - Through ventilation ducting or windows
  4. Leakage - Around small connected building elements such as gaps around pipes between properties


General requirements for sound testing:

  • An accredited pre completion testing company must be used for testing.
  • All windows, internal & external doors must be installed, glazed and closed.
  • All trickle vents or other ventilation systems should be installed and closed.
  • All walls, floors and ceilings must be completed.
  • All skirting boards, electrical sockets and light switches should be fitted.
  • In order to test separating floors for impact sound transmission, there should be no soft floor coverings in the rooms to be tested (i.e. carpet, rugs, soft vinyl, ceramics).
  • Rooms in which tests are to be carried out must be empty and tidy.
  • No trades should be working in the dwellings during the tests.
  • Access is required to the properties either side of the party walls and/or floors during the test.
  • There must be no noisy operations or work in or nearby to the dwellings during testing (drilling, cutting, groundwork).
  • We will need 240v 50Hz mains power available within (or very close to) the dwellings.

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