Precompletion Sound Testing Throughout London

Precompletion Sound Testing Throughout London 

To help enforce good acoustic design principles pre-completion sound testing was introduced July 2003, this resulted in all new build properties and conversions which were built after this date are require 10% of each party wall/floor construction type to be tested. APT Sound Testing undertake precompletion sound testing throughout London.

Precompletion Sound Insulation Testing is carried out between pairs of rooms separated by party walls or floors. The two ‘habitable’ areas that usually require sound testing are living rooms and bedrooms, although other rooms can be tested if this is not possible, i.e. kitchen to bedroom. Here is a quick description of the tests:

Airborne Sound Tests

Airborne Sound Tests may be required between horizontally and vertically separated pairs of rooms. The sound tests are undertaken by using a sound source, amplifier and loudspeaker to generate a high noise level in one room (the source room). Noise measurements are then taken in both the source and receiver rooms using a prescribed number of source and microphone positions.

Impact Sound Tests

For vertically separated rooms, an Impact sound testing may also be required. This sound test is undertaken using a “tapping machine”, (as above) which drops a series of weights onto the floor of the upper room. The noise level in the lower (receiver) room is measured for a prescribed number of source and microphone locations. The background levels in the receiver room are measured and the reverberation time in the receiver room is also measured.

Required Sound Test Levels

The Building Regulation Part E set minimum performance requirements for sound insulation requirements between spaces. To help you better understand the sound level requirements of Part E, we have collated an easy to follow table – shown below.

Table 1a: Dwelling-houses and flats – performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function.
	Airborne sound insulation DnT,w+Ctr dB (Minimum Values)	Impact sound insulation L’nT,w dB (Maximum Values)
Purpose built Walls Floors and Stairs	45 45	N/A 62
Material change of use Walls Floors and Stairs	43 43	N/A 64

Whatever the problem APT Sound Testing can usually find an acoustic solution that will satisfy Part E of Building Regulations. If you have a project that’s needs acoustic design advice or needs sound insulation testing then please contact us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk or phone us directly on 0203 669 2650 and we should be able to offer you an expedient acoustic solution to help you achieve practical completion.