England & Wales currently fall under the Approved Document E guidelines for residential dwellings. The latest document changes came in to force in 2003. There were some slight amendments to the document in 2010. The information detailed by Hush Acoustics is in line with the most recent document.

Acoustic Testing

Acoustic testing was the major change to Document E in 2003. It became compulsory to test all change of use/conversion residential projects and any new build residential projects that had not been constructed by the means of Robust Details.

At least 10 percent of each type of all new residential properties are tested to determine fulfillment of the regulations and pre-completion testing must always be carried out by an accredited acoustic engineer.

Hush Acoustics do offer a UKAS accredited testing service and we can arrange sound testing for you.

Performance standards are given for each requirement, as follows.

Pre-completion testing applies to all conversion projects and new build projects not built by means of Robust Details. At least 10 percent of each type of all new residential properties are tested to determine fulfillment of the regulations and pre-completion testing must always be carried out by an accredited acoustic engineer.

Contact with suitable sound testing companies can be arranged through our technical department.

Robust Details (RD) are high performance separating wall and floor constructions that are expected to be sufficiently reliable not to need the check provided by pre-completion testing (PCT). A set of design details which achieve compliance with requirement E1 have been approved by Robust Details Ltd.

Builders intending to use any of these design details must register the project with Robust Details Ltd and follow, to the letter, procedures issued by Robust Details Ltd.

For further information on Robust Details visit www.robustdetails.com

Scotland currently falls under Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards for residential dwellings. The latest document changes came in to force in 2010. The information detailed by Hush Acoustics is in line with the most recent document.

The primary change to the document in 2010 are listed as follows,

1. To limit transmission of sound to a level that will not threaten the health of occupants of residential dwellings.
2. Improved dB ratings for separating floors and walls in multi-occupancy domestic and non-domestic buildings.
3. Applies to Non-domestic buildings as well as domestic.
4. A more detailed testing regime.
5. Robust Details introduced as a secondary building method for new build residential developments
6. More focus put on home improvements that effect sound transmission within existing residential units

Robust Details (Scotland) was accepted as an alternative construction method for residential projects in 2012. Robust Details is a pattern book that has a list of systems that have been through rigorous testing to ensure that they achieve minimum standards that are in excess of the minimum standards detailed in Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards. As the systems achieve higher acoustic performance levels than the minimum standards it allows the acoustic testing element upon completion to be removed. There are benefits to Robust Details and there are limitations. It has to be right of the development in everyway. Hush Acoustics can advise on what is the best Robust Details solution for the project.

The statement of sustainability was introduced into the Scottish Building Standards as a method of achieving sustainable buildings that last longer and are more efficient.

Within this document it states that every building must be constructed in such a way that:

1. With regard to a dwelling or school building containing classrooms, a level of sustainability specified by the Scottish Minister in respect of Carbon Dioxide emissions, resource use, building flexibility, adaptability and occupant well being (acoustics falls into this category) is achieved
.
2. A statement of the level of sustainability achieved is affixed to the dwelling or non-domestic building.

The levels of sustainability is detailed in the following formats:

• Bronze or Bronze Active
• Silver or Silver Active
• Gold

Bronze Level – This is the baseline level of sustainability achieved where the dwelling meets the functional standards set out in Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards.

Bronze Active Level – There is no performance improvement for Bronze Active level.

Silver Level – A dwelling at this first optional upper level should meet all the standards in Section 1-6 that apply to the building for the Bronze level and, in addition, the dwelling should comply with the silver level in each of the eight aspects. Aspect 7 is well being & security.

A. Noise separation: Design performance levels for separating walls and separating floors associated with attached dwellings should be:

• Minimum airborne sound insulation: 58 dB DnTw
• Maximum impact sound transmission: 54 dB LnTw

Performance levels for noise isolation for separating walls and separating floors should be verified by carrying out a sound test as indicated in the guidance of Section 5.

B. Noise reduction between rooms: Design performance level for a minimum airborne sound insulation should be 44 dB RW.

This refers to all internal partitions in all dwellings and intermediate floors within houses and maisonettes excluding storage cupboards and should be substantiated by manufacturers laboratory test certificates.

Silver Active Level– The same acoustic performance levels mentioned in Silver Level.

Silver Level– A dwelling at this first optional upper level should meet all the standards in Section 1-6 that apply to the building for the Bronze level and, in addition, the dwelling should comply with the silver level in each of the eight aspects. Aspect 7 is well being & security.

A. Noise separation: Design performance levels for separating walls and separating floors associated with attached dwellings should be:

• Minimum airborne sound insulation: 60 dB DnTw
• Maximum impact sound transmission: 52 dB LnTw

Performance levels for noise isolation for separating walls and separating floors should be verified by carrying out a sound test as indicated in the guidance of Section 5.

B. Noise reduction between rooms: Design performance level for a minimum airborne sound insulation should be 45 dB RW.

This refers to all internal partitions in all dwellings and intermediate floors within houses and maisonettes excluding storage cupboards and should be substantiated by manufacturers laboratory test certificates.

Acoustic testing is a major factor in the change of Part G in 2012. It is compulsory to test all change of use/conversion residential projects and any new build residential projects that had not been constructed by the means of Robust Details.

At least 10 percent of each type of all new residential properties are tested to determine fulfillment of the regulations and pre-completion testing must always be carried out by an accredited acoustic engineer.

Hush Acoustics do offer a UKAS accredited testing service and we can arrange sound testing for you.

Robust Details (RD) are high performance separating wall and floor constructions that are expected to be sufficiently reliable not to need the check provided by pre-completion testing (PCT). A set of design details which achieve compliance with requirement E1 have been approved by Robust Details Ltd.

Builders intending to use any of these design details must register the project with Robust Details Ltd and follow, to the letter, procedures issued by Robust Details Ltd.

Robust Details can be a minefield and something that Hush Acoustics can offer assistance on.