ACOUSTIC TESTING

If you’re looking for acoustic testing services for your newly built property, we can help. With specialist engineers providing advice on-site, we can provide acoustic testing for new builds across the UK. Our support helps ensure that you are compliant with acoustic testing building regulations.

Read on to see how we can easily help you pass regulations with our acoustic testing services.

What is Acoustic Testing?

Acoustic testing involves testing walls and floors to comply with Part E Building regulations, “Resistance to the passage of sound.” Complying with this regulation is important, as not doing so could be costly in the long run. Unlike Air Tightness Testing (which applies to all new-build houses), acoustic testing applies only to new-build properties that share walls and floors (semi-detached houses or flats, for example).

Acoustic testing checks for the travel of sound through new and existing buildings. This may affect party walls and floors between new and existing buildings or spaces within a new development. Acoustic testing can be a worry for developers of new builds, but with our expert’s help, you’ll have everything you need to pass regulations. Click here to download the acoustic checklist. 

Acoustic Testing process for new builds

To comply with Part E Regulations, you must undertake acoustic testing. This involves testing partition walls and floors. Each of these separating elements has its own testing requirements. Walls need one airborne test, and floors need airborne and impact testing.

Airborne tests

The Airborne test uses a loudspeaker as a steady sound source on one side of the wall or floor. Our expert engineers then measure this, and readings are taken from the other side of the wall to measure the passage of sound. This reading also shows the resistance to noise from a partition.

Impact Tests

A tapping machine is placed on the floor, and the engineer records the readings from the room below. This test considers the impact of vibration and measures how much resistance the floor provides from this.

Who Requires Acoustic Testing?

If your project fits any of the following criteria, it will need acoustic testing:

• Building a block or blocks of flats
• Building terraced or semi-detached houses
• Converting a former single dwelling into flats
• Building a hotel, hostel or house of multiple occupancy

One exception to this rule is if your wall or floor is approved by Robust Details and certified as a Robust Detail (RD).

Number of Acoustic Tests needed for new builds

Your new build will need one set of tests for every ten dwellings, at minimum. This number can change if building control sets out other specific requirements.

A full set of tests includes 2 floor tests and 2 wall tests. When undertaking acoustic testing for new builds, you should discuss any requirements with your regulator. This ensures that you can demonstrate compliance with all elements that building control requires.

Expert advice on acoustic testing for new builds

At Airtight Testing Staffordshire, we understand that complying with regulations can be difficult for developers. So, we are here to help you navigate the process easily. Our experienced test engineers can offer expert advice to help you effectively achieve compliance.

We can also offer a wide range of services to help you pass building regulations more easily than ever!