Sound test failure is often down to poor acoustic design detailing during the design and construction phase of a project.
Sound test failure are often associated with poor acoustic design which allows noise flanking transmission through dividing floor and wall partitions. Unwanted noise travelling along flanking paths can make the building structure vibrate which causes the sound to radiate into your room. One simple cost effective solution is to build another wall or ceiling in front of the original, to offer extra isolation. For this upgrade to work you need to make sure that the independent wall or ceiling is not directly connected to the existing failed partition; so it provides isolation between materials.
One of the main reasons for excessive noise flanking down to the use of lightweight blocks in the construction of the wall construction. Due to the lightweight mas of the inner wall it allows sound to transmit from dwelling to another, both vertically and horizontally. If a building has failed its sound testing, it is essential to establish if the problem is due to direct transmission, flanking transmission or a combination of both so that the most cost and time effective remedial treatment can be designed and applied to the failed partitions.
One way to reduce the chance of sound testing failures due to excessive noise flanking transmission is through a careful consideration to the acoustic design at the start of the project. Unfortunately, by simply specifying high performance wall and floor partitions, it is no guarantee to adequate sound isolation and successful sound testing.
APT offer preconstruction design advice to help you achieve successful sound testing in London in-line with Building Regulations Part E. We also offer onsite inspection services to ensure that the sound insulation elements are being installed as per manufactures guild-lines, as its not use having a robust design if it not being installed properly on site.
If you require more information in regards to sound testing and/or acoustic design on your project please visit our site at www.aptsoundtesting.co.uk or contact us at info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk, or call me direct on 07775623464.