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INSIGHTS FUTURE WATCH Listening to criticism


With the housing crisis forcing developers to build homes at higher density, Teodora Lyubomirova examines how architects and clients need to look beyond the limitations of current regulations to achieve good acoustics


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ince the last substantial change to Approved Document E (ADE) of the Building Regulations over a decade ago in 2003, the housing crisis has spread out of inner London and is endemic across the country. This has forced the Government to re-focus its priorities on delivering affordable homes in its latest Housing White Paper. Throughout its 100-plus pages of policies and pledges was a clear emphasis on increasing housing supply, with potential solutions referenced ranging from larger-scale high- density buildings through to modular housing and tiny one-bed ‘pocket homes.’


S


As planners push the boundaries of what’s achievable in terms of space requirements and supply volumes in the residential sector, particularly in urban districts, there is one area that can get over- looked as developers race to hit completion dates – adequate soundproofing. While noise has become an unavoidable part of life, inconsistencies in acoustic standards can exacerbate this invisible but pervasive and potentially harmful issue in terms of quality of life. The problem may be easy to identify, but for specifiers it can be difficult to tackle given the variable and some say, inadequate regu- latory framework.


ADF MARCH 2017


Regulation overview


Achieving good levels of sound insulation between dwellings is key to occupants’ physical and mental well-being. However, while minimum guidelines for airborne and impact noise exist, industry experts believe they are often treated as target numbers rather than base levels that should be expanded on.


Those standards also vary across the UK and only apply to new build residential developments or conversions. In Scotland, the minimum limit for airborne sound – the noise transmitted through the fabric of the building – is 56 dB, while the same value is set at 45 dB in England & Wales and Northern Ireland for new build developments. The minimum requirements are slightly lower for conversions in England & Wales and Northern Ireland however (43 dB), but remain at new-build levels in Scotland (56 dB). In terms of impact noise – for example, the sound of falling objects or loud footsteps – there are minimum values for insulation for separating floors and staircases (set at over 60 dB), but not for separating walls or internal structures. Structural noise is another area in residential acoustic design that’s not included in ADE, but remains a common cause of nuisance.


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