Acoustic Regulations

 
 
 
 
Airtec is a superb versatile building product. Not only does it offer an efficient, safe and lightweight solution to structural requirements as well as excellent thermal insulation properties, it also offers solutions to acoustic insulation requirements.
 
Aircrete has been proven to offer excellent acoustic insulation characteristics despite its relatively low weight and low density due to the thousands of microscopic bubbles within the structure.
 
 

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS & COMPLIANCE TO PART E

The table below summarises the acoustic insulation requirements for separating walls and floors (along with stairs) as well as internal walls and intermediate floors. These ‘separating elements’ can be walls or floors within a building or between adjoining buildings.
 
 
 
Airborne sound insulation
(minimum values)
DnT,w + Ctr
Impact sound insulation
(maximum values)
L’nT,w
DWELLING HOUSES and FLATS – Purpose Built
Separating Walls
45 dB
-
Separating Floors and Stairs
45 dB
62 dB
DWELLING HOUSES and FLATS – Formed by a material change of use
Separating Walls
43 dB
-
Separating Floors and Stairs
43 dB
64 dB
RESIDENTIAL BUILDNGS – Purpose Built
Separating Walls
43 dB
-
Separating Floors and Stairs
45 dB
62 dB
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS – formed by a material change of use
Separating Walls
43 dB
-
Separating Floors and Stairs
43 dB
64 Db
 
NON-ACOUSTIC SEPARATING ELEMENTS:
 
INTERNAL WALLS AND FLOORS - Dwellings or Rooms for Residential Purposes - Purpose Built or Formed by a material change of use. Airborne Sound Insulation Rw (minimum values)
 
Internal Walls and Floors
40 dB
SCHOOLS – New Build
Internal Walls and Floors
Refer to guidance on meeting the requirements given in Building Bulleting 93 ‘The Acoustic Design of Schools’ published by DfES
Terms:
 
Dwelling:
Houses and flats
 
Residential:
Hotels, hostels, residential care homes, halls of residence, boarding houses etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

ROUTES TO MEETING PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The two common routes to compliance with the performance requirements as set out in Approved Document E of the Building Regulations are:
 
1.       Pre-completion Testing (PCT), and
 
2.       Robust Standard Details (RSD’s)
 
 

PRE-COMPLETION TESTING (PCT)

PCT is intended to demonstrate compliance with Requirement E1 of Approved Document E “Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings”. This applies to both dwellings and residential buildings.
 
Approved Document E includes numerous wall and floor constructions. If constructed in accordance with these guidelines, they should achieve the required acoustic insulation as in the table shown on the previous page. However, PCT must be carried out regardless.
 
For large developments there is a sampling approach that can be used so that not every single separating wall or floor has to be tested. The developer should liaise with building control who will determine the necessary testing regime.
 
 

ROBUST DETAILS (RSD’s)

Robust Standard Details are a collection of various new-build Separating Wall and Separating Floor constructions which, if built in accordance with the guidelines, eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming pre-completion testing (PCT) as is normally required to demonstrate compliance with Part E.
 
The principle behind all RSD constructions is that they will be capable of exceeding the acoustic insulation requirements set out in Approved Document E of the Building Regulations by at least 5 decibels.
 
Each RSD construction has been formed from an extensive acoustic insulation testing regime in the field and by in-depth design and analysis. RSD constructions are made as practical and simple as possible with a margin of allowance for slight variations in workmanship and materials. 
 
To use a Robust Detail construction, an application must be registered with Robust Details Limited and a fee paid – further details can be found at www.robustdetails.com
 
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