Preparing for your site for Sound Testing
To record accurate test measurements, we need to ensure that the correct site conditions are achieved prior to the precompletion sound testing. Relatively quiet conditions are required on site throughout the testing. Any site operatives working in the testing area will have to leave temporarily and any noisy works in the vicinity of the test areas including external site activity such as groundworks, drilling and banging will need to be halted, otherwise it may result in a sound test failure. We always provide a full sound testing checklist within our quotation which identifies what actions need to be undertaken prior to the sound test.
The condition the buildings/dwelling is very important, as they can influence the results of the test. The following stages for sound testing will help preparation and also assess the point at which completed buildings can be tested. Generally before the test the parts of the building/rooms either side of the separating wall or separating floor should be complete. Particular attention should be paid to the following:
- All separating floors and walls and all flanking walls and floors should be complete.
- All wall and floor junctions should be complete – to include flanking strips etc.
- All wall finishes should be complete, this should include skirting’s being in place. This does not include decorative finishes such as paint.
- Floors must be bare and no carpets should be laid – where a concrete floor with bonded resilient cover is to be fitted with wood based flooring. In this case, the test sample resilient floor cover should be tested with a wood based floor covering laid over the test sample area.
- Windows should be installed with all glass fitted.
- Trickle vents should be in place and closed.
- All doors should be fully fitted and closed. This includes internal doors and external doors fully fitted with doors seals.
- Services should be complete and any voids around ducts finished.
- Electrical sockets should be fitted.
- A 240V electricity supply should be available to all the test plots.
- There should be no noise during the test other than from the testing equipment.
- The test plots and adjacent areas within the building should be quiet for the duration of the test.
- No work should be carried out or noise made in the building at the time of the test.
- Site workers should not enter the building or be in the parts of the building undergoing a test.
We try to offer a ‘one stop acoustic solution’ visa our acoustic design service, sample sound testing and site visits.
If you would like APT Sound Testing to review your sites acoustic construction, then please speak to us about our acoustic design service, alternatively if you just require sound insulation testing please contact us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk