Sound Testing

For new build homes not built to Robust Details, or homes built via conversion, the sound insulation of party walls and floors between adjacent dwellings needs to be tested according to the requirements of Building Regulations Approved Document E. Sometimes called Pre-Completion Testing (PCT), Sound Insulation Testing or just Sound Testing, the testing includes Airborne Sound Insulation for party walls and floors and also Impact Sound Insulation Testing for floors. Thermal and Acoustic Solutions can provide guidance on appropriate build methods to achieve the requirements and can provide sound testing using engineers accredited by the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC)

Pre-completion testing.

Testing should be carried out on at least 10% of the dwellings on site, and should include samples of each party wall and floor construction type. The testing requires access to the properties on both sides of the party element, as is normally carried out just prior to completion of the development when all the windows, doors, services, etc, have been fully completed, such that noise cannot pass through unfinished gaps or holes between the adjacent properties.

Building Control Officers may access test results on the ANC website, and a written report is also provided.

In the case of testing failure, Thermal and Acoustic Solutions can provide guidance on the ways to overcome the issue in order to achieve test compliance.

Pre-commencement testing

For properties converted by material change of use, it may be beneficial to carry out pre-commencement testing of the building structure to evaluate the existing sound insulation characteristics and more accurately determine the level of upgrade required and save cost on unnecessarily expensive improvements. This is most often carried out in office-to-residential conversions with concrete floors, where the acoustic performance may vary from floor to floor, and the cost ofan  impact mat can be significant.