Part e compliance
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
In England and Wales the Building Regulations Approved Document E (ADE 2003, as amended), generally referred to as ‘Part E’, contain sound insulation regulations for both new builds and conversions. Under the regulations, buildings must achieve minimum performance standards for airborne and impact sound transmissions.
[edit] Sound insulation requirements
New build properties need to meet the requirements of DnTw+Ctr ≥45dB and LnTw ≤62dB. Conversion properties need to meet the requirements of DnTw+Ctr ≥43dB and LnTw ≤64dB.
Different values apply to rooms used for residential purposes, for example hotels, student halls of residence, and hostels, however these are still covered under Part E.
Property types requiring testing include:
- Block(s) of flats
- Houses – terraced or semi-detached
- Hotels and Hostels
- Houses of multiple occupancy
- Residential dwellings in a converted building
[edit] Airborne sound testing
Airborne sound tests measure the amount of sound transmitted through the air. For example, speech, TV or radio, or pets barking.
Airborne sound insulation tests identify how much of this type of sound gets through the wall or floor. Noise tests use calibrated noise levels in the test room, with noise measurement devices in the surrounding target rooms to measure how much the walls and floor block the noise from travelling to adjacent rooms or properties.
[edit] Impact sound testing
Impact sound tests measure the level of structure-borne sounds – generally footsteps within a residential environment.
This type of test uses an impact source that is calibrated to deliver a measured level of impact in the room being tested. The noise from the impact is measured in the target surrounding rooms.
--Air Tightness Solutions 09:31, 16 Apr 2019 (BST)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
- Airborne sound.
- Approved Document E.
- Flanking sound.
- Impact sound.
- Noise nuisance.
- Pre-completion sound testing.
- Sound insulation.
- Sound insulation in dwellings: Part 1: An introduction (GG 83-1).
- Sound insulation in dwellings: Part 3: Material change of use (conversions) (GG 83-3).
- Structure-borne sound.
Featured articles and news
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.