Sound Insulation Testing

This type of testing is a requirement of the Building Regulations Approved Document E, for England and Wales, where Robust Details have not been utilised.

The purpose of sound insulation testing is to prove the acoustic properties of party dividing walls and floors for new build or refurbishment residential premises and confirm that the internal environment and specification within the individual dwelling areas has been met.

Testing consists of attendance on site during the day to carry out acoustic tests of the specific areas, i.e. room to room and floor to floor, to determine the acoustic sound insulation properties of the construction. The acoustic tests follow the guidelines set down in the ISO 140 series.

Due to the noise sensitivity of the testing regime sole access to the areas is required to execute the acoustic tests. The period required on site will depend upon the number of tests necessary to prove compliance and can only be advised for your specific project once details have been received.

The rooms will need to be in a completed state with all final wall finishes, doors hung and flooring in place, excluding carpets where impact testing is required, and mains power in all rooms prior to execution of these tests.

Provision of test certificates of the acoustic properties achieved for each test will be issued following completion of the survey.

Where a test has “failed” to meet the minimum acoustic properties necessary, remedial works will be advised; in these instances, additional testing will be necessary to prove the minimum standards have been met.