There are many factors to consider when considering good acoustic design. They are usually split up into five key factors. If used together or in various combinations they will improve sound insulation properties over a wide range of frequencies. The main factors are:
a. Mass
b. Isolation
c. Absorption
d. Resilience
e. Stiffness
Noise flanking transmission may also cause problems and in some cases be the dominant pathway between adjoining dwellings, especially in existing buildings where you are planning to convert offices/large houses into flats. Here are just a few of the potential noise flanking areas:
a. Structural steels
b. Windows built very close to internal partitions
c. Inner leaf of the external wall
d. External wall cavities
e. External façade or outer leaf
f. Roof structure
APT Sound Testing will evaluate the construction methods and materials specified to ensure that they are capable of meeting the acoustic requirements of Approved document E. The typical areas we check are:
a. There are no flanking points, where isolated partitions are wrongly mechanically fixed together to caused noise bridging.
b. The walls and floors design are acoustically robust, to comply with Building Regulations Part E.
c. The acoustic treatments for Soil Pipes, Stair Cases Steel Beams etc. to ensure they are acoustically fit for purpose, as these are some of the areas that get usually missed.
d. Acoustic floor treatments are compatible with the proposed floor finishes i.e. Carpets, Laminates, Floor Tiles and under floor heating systems.