Under Approved Document E, all residential properties must provide a good level of acoustic
insulation between dwellings.
The table summarises the required decibel standards of
performance for compliance.
Element of Construction
internal walls that include a door are
exempt from this requirement. |
Airborne sound
insulation (site test result)
minimum value
DnT,w+Ctr dB |
Impact sound
insulation (site test result)
maximum value
L’nT,w dB |
Airborne sound
insulation (lab test result)
minimum value
Rw dB |
 |
Separating walls between dwellings |
|
|
|
Separating walls between rooms
used for residential purposes |
|
|
|
Separating walls between rooms
created by a change of use |
|
|
|
Separating floors between dwellings
and rooms used for residential purposes |
|
62 Max |
|
Separating floors between rooms
created by a change of use |
|
64 Max |
|
An internal wall or floor between a
bathroom/W.C. and a habitable room.
Also between bedrooms and between
bedrooms and any other room in the dwelling |
|
|
40 Min |
| |
The key differences between Approved Document E and Section 5 are summarised in the following table. Section 5 requires adequate resistance to sound for both walls and floors separating a dwelling from other parts of the same building in different occupations and from other adjoining buildings, so they are deemed to satisfy.
|
Airborne Sound
Minimum values of weighted standardised level difference (DnT,w) as defined in BS EN ISO 717-1:1997) |
|
Impact Sound
Maximum values of weighted standardised level sound
pressure level (L’nTw) as defined in BS EN ISO 717-2:1997) |
|
|
|
|
There are currently two methods available to
show compliance to Approved Document E.
These are Robust Details and
Pre-Completion Testing.
Both methods have complex considerations. Briefly …
Robust Details
The appropriate detail is
selected from the Robust Details handbook.
contact Robust Details Ltd at www.robustdetails.com or 0870 240 8210
for details of the scheme.
Pre-Completion Testing
An appropriate
system is installed which must then be
tested by an accredited testing service to
show compliance.
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