Acoustics
Residential Acoustics Explained
The issue of noise within residential buildings is regarded not only as an irritation in today’s society but as a health and safety issue too. Occupants should be allowed to carry out their day-to-day existence, for example resting and sleeping, without deterioration to their health from external noise factors.
HOW DOES THE NOISE AFFECT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS?
Noise is transmitted in residential buildings by airborne and impact sound sources. Airborne sound sources include speech, TV noise, music and general noise. Impact sounds are sudden sound sources like footsteps. These sound sources transmit directly and indirectly through a building. Direct sound sources are easier to reduce by treating the problem area. Indirect sound transmission is harder to treat. Indirect sound transmission is more commonly known as flanking transmission. Flanking transmission is indirect sound transmission that bypasses a floor or wall system and travels through any other connected paths. UK Building Regulations require that these noises are controlled to ensure comfortable living conditions.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE NOISE LEVELS?
The best way to reduce noise levels in residential buildings is to ensure good quality products are used which comply with UK Building Regulations. The most significant regulations for residential builds are Approved Document E (England and Wales), Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards (Scotland) and Approved Part G (Northern Ireland). These regulations set out decisive criteria for sound insulation performance for all types of residential accommodation, including multi-occupancy and single dwellings.
Approved Document E (England and Wales) has various requirements relating to sound, and can be categorised into site testing and design requirements. They stipulate that residential buildings should have protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings; protection against sound within a single dwelling (eg. house); and finally reverberation in common internal parts of buildings containing flats or single occupancy rooms.
The requirements set out above are enforced by two methods - pre- completion testing (PCT) and Robust Details (RD). New build, refurbishment and change of use residential developments that aren’t built by means of Robust Details, require PCT to determine their compliance with building regulations. These have to be carried out by an accredited acoustic engineer. Robust Details are high quality separating wall and floor constructions that are built to specific requirements set out by Robust Details Ltd, and don’t need pre-completion testing. Builder’s intending to use any of the RD design details must register the project with Robust Details Ltd and follow procedures issued by Robust Details Ltd.
HOW TO PLAN FOR EFFECTIVE SOUNDPROOFING
Early acoustics advice is crucial. Architects, Contractors and Developers can benefit significantly from gaining expert soundproofing advice in the early stages of a project. By doing so this ensures compliance with UK Building Regulations and Standards, minimises the potential for failures and reduces the need for costly and disruptive remedial measures later on.
HUSH (UK) LIMITED
TEL: 0151 933 2026 41
WWW.HUSHACOUSTICS.CO.UK
The planning and design process requires Designers and Developers to consider the noise exposure of the residential site, relating to both internal and external factors. Internal factors include building layout, separating wall and floor performance, reverberation control and room acoustics, acoustic screening, and protection from communal areas. External factors include outside noises such as neighbours, road traffic, railways and other local influences.
HOW CAN HUSH ACOUSTICS HELP WITH YOUR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT?
Hush provides comprehensive technical advice and acoustic products and systems that will ensure your residential project complies with all UK Building Regulations including Approved Document E (England & Wales), Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards (Scotland) and Approved Part G (Northern Ireland), including Robust Details, BB93 and Code for Sustainable Homes parameters.
Hush’s soundproofing systems provide acoustic solutions for separating floors, ceilings and walls in new build, change of use and refurbishment projects, whether it be multi-occupancy or single dwelling premises. Our wide range of acoustic products includes Acoustic Underlay, Floating Flooring, Hush Absorber Panels, Suspended Ceilings, Resilient Bars, Flooring Battens and Supports, Joist Infills and many more.
Hush Acoustics can develop a detailed strategy for your project, Working through your specification and requirements, we can help design a solution that reduces sound control within your residential build, incorporating our Acoustic and Sound Insulation Systems. Our Systems include Floating Floors, Walls and Decoupling Ceilings.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64