Improving Sound Test Results on Northampton Projects
Improving Sound Test Results on Northampton Projects
Our clients often ask us how they can improve the sound insulation on their developments, to pass the sound Insulation testing in compliance with Approved Document E.
One of the main problems is that many dwellings in Northampton, consist of flats converted from large Victorian houses. Unfortunately, at the time of the building conversion, designing for sound insulation was not a high priority and so many of the dwellings suffer from adverse noise transference between the floor and wall partitions. This can be extremely stressful to the occupant’s well-being is a major cause for concern.
There are some simple ways to improve the airborne and impact performance by improving the wall/floor partitions ability to reduce the amount of sound transmission, from one side of a construction element to the other. By isolating the different materials may not be enough its own and you may need to improve the mass and absorption of the partition/s as well.
Improving Existing Party Walls and Floors in Northampton
In our experience after collating the data from hundreds of sound insulation tests in Northampton, refurbishment projects – without any floor upgrades – usually achieve 30-35dB for airborne sound and 70dB for impact Sound. These figures do not meet the required 43dB & 64dB for a conversion property as stipulated in Part E of Building Regulations. As sound double every 10dB this is classed as a massive failure and acoustic improvements must be made. Many existing constructions consist of a similar floor construction as shown in as detail 1 below.
To reduce airborne and impact sound transmission this usually means adding density and isolation to the floor construction. This can be as simple as adding a drop ceiling consisting of 125mm timber frame. The top of the frame must be a minimum of 25mm below the existing ceiling finish – such as lathe and plaster. Then, to the inside of the timber frame add 100mm of Acoustic Wool and two layers of sound-board tacked to the bottom of the timber frame – all boards to be lapped. This should improve your sound test results by approx. 10-15dB depending on the existing site conditions and quality of the installation. Detail 2 shows this in more detail.
APT Sound Testing Ltd offers a ‘one stop solution’ for all your pre-completion sound testing services in Northampton.
If you have a single dwelling or a site containing hundreds of units, we can help you to achieve compliance and building control sign off. Offering our one stop solution we can minimise your workload by offering a single point of contact throughout the design and construction phase of your Northampton development. We also offer our one stop solution service which encompasses Air Tightness, Sound Insulation and Ventilation Testing in a single package. We can also offer SAP Calculations for domestic properties and SBEMs calculations for commercial properties.
If you would like advice on your acoustic design or require sound insulation testing in Northampton, please contact us now on 01525 303905 or contact us at info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk.
Alternatively for more information, please visit our website at www.aptsoundtesting.co.uk or to help you prepare for your sound insulation test, please download our Sound Test Checklist