Technical Guidance Note 29: Sound Insulation - Pre Completion Testing

Introduction

Sound testing should be carried out on site as part of the construction process.  Testing is required for new build dwelling-houses and flats; dwelling-houses and flats formed by a material change of use; purpose built rooms for residential purposes and rooms for residential purposes formed by material change of use.  See also Technical Guidance Note 28: Sound Insulation Performance Standards.

The sound insulation values given in tables 1a and 1b contain an allowance for measurement uncertainty, therefore if any test shows a value that has not achieved the standard by any margin, the test has been failed.

Testing should be carried out between rooms or spaces that share a common area of separating wall or separating floor.  The rooms should be tested when they are essentially complete, except for decoration and soft floor coverings.

Grouping.

New dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes should be considered as three separate groups for the purpose of testing.  Different construction types within any of these groups should be recorded as a subgroup.

Dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes formed by material change of use should be grouped using the same principles.  More sub-groups may be required due to the greater diversity of construction.

Testing.

• Dwelling-houses

Normally, one set of tests should comprise two individual airborne sound insulation tests.  Where possible a separating wall between bedrooms and a separating wall between living rooms should be tested.

• Flats

Normally, one set of tests should comprise six individual insulation tests for airborne and impact sound.  Where possible a separating wall between bedrooms, a separating wall between living rooms, a separating floor between bedrooms and a separating floor between living rooms.

Rooms for residential purposes should have their separating walls and floors tested.

All dissimilar properties should be tested, and on large sites at least one in ten for properties that are similar or the same.

Remedial treatment will be required to separating walls and floors that fail a test, and they will need to be re-tested.  A failure will mean that all similar constructions will need to be evaluated.

Sets of tests must be presented in an approved manner giving all relevant information.

Building Control Group
Planning Section
Portland House
Richmond Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 lLF

Tel: 01903 221344

E-mail: building.control@worthing.gov.uk

Minicom: 01903 204500

Fax: 01903 207365

Answerphone: 01903 214034

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