Upgrading Floor Partitions to Pass Sound Testing

Upgrading Floor Partitions to Pass Sound Testing

In our experience of undertaking hundreds of sample of sound tests throughout London and the Home Counties, refurbishment projects usually achieve 30-35dB for airborne sound and 70dB for Impact Sound, if the existing construction has not been acoustically upgraded. Unfortunately, the aforementioned figures do not meet the required 43dB & 64dB as stipulated in Part E of Building Regulations. As sound double every 10dB this is a massive failure and acoustic improvements must be made. A typical existing floor detail is shown in the image below.

Typical existing party floor detail that will fail sound testing

Improving Existing Floor Partitions

To reduce airborne and impact sound transmission this usually means adding density and isolation to the floor construction. This can be as simple as adding a drop ceiling consisting of 125mm timber frame. The top of the frame must be a minimum of 25mm below the existing ceiling finish – such as lathe and plaster. Then, to the inside of the timber frame add 100mm of Acoustic Wool and two layers of sound-board tacked to the bottom of the timber frame – all boards to be lapped. This should improve your sound test results by approx. 10-15dB depending on the existing site conditions and quality of the installation. As always its essential that good acoustic design is addressed right from the start of the refurbishment project, so it prevents delays to the project handover.

Acoustic-Design-and-sound-testing-party-walls

As we are a multi UKAS accredited testing laboratory, you can be sure our reportage is of the highest standard and will be accepted by the tasked London Building Control body. As all our testing is carried out in house (we do not subcontract work) which allows us to provide highly competitive pricing whilst maintaining the highest testing standards. It is our ongoing aim to provide a friendly and proactive service from design stage to handover.

We offer cost effective ‘one stop solution’ for all your sound testing requirements. We also offer large cost savings for developers requiring multiple services such as Air Tightness, Sound Insulation and Ventilation Testing throughout London and the South East.

Sound Insulation Testing

We undertake our sound testing services throughout London and the following boroughs including City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster to help you achieve the requirements of Approved Document E and attain building control signoff.

If you would like more information in regards to sound testing service and/or acoustic design services, please contact us on: 01525 303905 or 07775623464 or you can email us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk.