(A copy of this Appendix is available on /)

Transcription

1 Sound (A copy of this is available on /).1 Requirement E1.1.1 The requirement Dwellings shall be designed so that the noise from domestic activity in an adjoining dwelling (or other parts of the building) is kept to a level that: does not affect the health of the occupants of the dwelling; will allow them to sleep, rest and engage in their normal activities in satisfactory conditions. (Approved Document E1).1.2 Meeting the requirement Walls, floors and stairs that have a separating function should achieve the sound values for dwelling houses and flats as set out in Table 1. Walls, floors and stairs that have a separating function should achieve the sound values for rooms for residential purposes as set out in Table 1. For walls that separate rooms for residential purposes from adjoining dwelling houses and flats should achieve the sound values for dwelling houses and flats as set out in Table 1. E0.1 E0.1 E0.1 Note: The sound values in these tables include a built-in allowance for measurement uncertainty and so if any of these test values are not met, then that particular test will be considered as failed. Note: Occasionally a higher standard of sound may be required between spaces used for normal domestic purposes and noise generated in and to an adjoining communal or non-domestic space. In these cases it would be best to seek specialist advice before committing yourself.

2 852 Table 1 Dwelling houses and flats performance standards for separating walls, separating floors and stairs that have a separating function Airborne sound D nt,w tr db (maximum values) Impact sound L nt,w db (minimum values) Purpose built dwelling houses and flats Walls 45 Floors and stairs Dwelling houses and flats formed by material change of use Walls 43 Floors and stairs Figure 1 illustrates the relevant parts of the building that should be protected from airborne and impact sound in order to satisfy Requirement E1. Flat or room for residential purposes; other parts of the same building Separating floor Any dwelling house, flat or room for residential purposes to which Requirement E1 applies Separating floor Separating wall Adjoining dwelling house, flat or room for residential purposes; other parts of the same building; adjoining building; refuse chutes Flat or room for residential purposes Other parts of the same building KEY: Impact sound Airborne sound Figure 1 Requirement E1 resistance to sound Material change of use In some circumstances (for example, when a historic building is undergoing a material change of use) it may not be practical to improve the sound to the standards set out in Approved Document E1 particularly if the special characteristics of such a building need to be recognized. In these circumstances the aim should be to improve sound to the extent that it is practically possible.

3 Requirement E3 853 Note: BS 7913:1998 The Principles of the onservation of Historic Buildings provides guidance on the principles that should be applied when proposing work on historic buildings..2 Requirement E2 onstructions for new walls and floors within a dwelling-house (flat or room for residential purposes) whether purpose built or formed by a material change of use shall meet the laboratory sound values set out in Table 2. E0.9 Table 2 Laboratory values for new internal walls within dwelling houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes whether purpose built or formed by a material change of use Purpose built dwelling houses and flats Walls 40 Floors 40 Airborne sound R W db (minimum values) Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the relevant parts of the building that should be protected from airborne and impact sound in order to satisfy Requirement E2. Any room to which Requirement E2(a) applies Internal wall Bedroom or a room containing a water closet Dwelling house, flat or room for residential purposes KEY: O Airborne sound Figure 2 Requirement E2a internal walls.3 Requirement E3 Sound absorption measures described in Section 7 of Approved Document N shall be applied. E0.11

4 854 Any room to which Requirement E2(b) applies Internal floor Any room to which Requirement E2(b) applies Dwelling house, flat or room for residential purposes KEY: Airborne sound Figure 3 Requirement E2(b) internal floors.4 Requirement E4 The values for sound, reverberation time and indoor ambient noise as described in Section 1 of Building Bulletin 93 The Acoustic Design of Schools (produced by DFES and published by the Stationery Office (ISBN )) shall be satisfied. E Sound testing Sound testing has to be completed for: (a) purpose built dwelling houses and flats; (b) dwelling houses and flats formed by material change of use; (c) purpose built rooms for residential purposes; (d) rooms for residential purposes formed by material change of use. The person carrying out the building work is responsible for ensuring that sound testing is carried out by a test body with appropriate thirdparty accreditation (preferably UKAS accredited) for completing field measurements. The person is also responsible for the cost of the testing. Note: The procedures for sound testing are described in Annex B to Part E of the Regulations.

5 Sound testing 855 Sound testing should be carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex B of Approved Document E. The person carrying out the building work should arrange for sound testing to be carried out by a test body with appropriate third-party accreditation. Test bodies conducting testing should preferably have UKAS accreditation (or a European equivalent) for field measurements. E0.3 E0.4 E0.4 Sound testing (to demonstrate compliance with Requirement E1) should be carried out on-site as part of the construction process (i.e. pre-completion testing). Testing should not be carried out between living spaces, corridors, stairwells or hallways. E1.2 E1.8 Tests should be carried out between rooms or spaces that share a common area of separating wall or separating floor. Tests should be carried out once the dwelling houses, flats or rooms for residential purposes either side of a separating element are essentially complete, except for decoration. Impact sound tests should be carried out without a soft covering (e.g. carpet, foam backed vinyl etc.) on the floor. E1.9 E1.10 E1.10 Note: Some properties, for example loft apartments, may be sold before being fitted out with internal walls and other fixtures and fittings. In these cases sound measurements should be made between the available spaces. Table 3 shows the types of tests that have to be carried out on dwelling houses and flats..5.1 Failed tests In the event of a failed set of tests, appropriate remedial treatment should be applied to the rooms that failed the test. After a failed set of tests, the rate of testing should be increased until the building control body is satisfied that the problem has been solved. E1.33 E1.36

6 856 Table 3 Sets of tests A test of against airborne sound between one pair of rooms (where possible suitable for use as living rooms) on opposite separating wall A test of against airborne sound between another pair of rooms (where possible suitable for use as bedrooms) on opposite separating wall Tests of against both airborne and impact sound between one pair of rooms (where possible suitable for use as living rooms) on opposite bedrooms) separating floor Tests of against both airborne and impact sound between another pair of rooms (where possible suitable for use as on opposite separating floor Sets of tests in dwelling houses (including bungalows) Sets of tests in flats with separating floors but without separating walls Sets of tests in flats with a separating floor and a separating wall Note: To conduct a full set of tests, access to at least three flats will be required..5.2 Remedial treatment Appropriate remedial treatment should be applied following a failed set of tests. Note: Guidance is available in BRE information paper IP 14/02. Where remedial treatment has been completed, the building control body should be satisfied with its efficacy normally this will be assessed through additional sound testing. Building control bodies should be satisfied that everything reasonable has been done to improve the sound. E1.37 E1.39 E1.40