H&H Acoustic Consultancy Division

Approved Document E of the Building Regulations (2000) came into force on July 1 2003. It is designed to meet demands for improved acoustic insulation and to combat the problems of noise pollution from neighbours.

The Regulations apply to both new build and conversion or refurbishment work and set out standards for; the sound insulation of party walls and floors between dwellings (or rooms used for residential purposes), the sound insulation of internal walls and floors, the control of reverberation within communal areas and the acoustics of schools (See Building Bulletin 93). Approved Document E can be downloaded at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk

The Regulations require the builder to undertake pre-completion sound insulation testing of a sample of party walls and party floors to demonstrate to Building Control that compliance with Part E has been achieved. A series of Robust Standard Details (RSDs), constructions that will provide the required level of sound insulation with a suitable tolerance for workmanship have been developed and adopted as an alternative to pre-completion testing.

H&H Acoustic Consultants Division can provide the following services in relation to Building Regulations Approved Document E: design advice, site inspections and ANC accredited sound insulation testing

Building Bulletin 93 - Acoustic Design of Schools

The aim of Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) is to provide a comprehensive guide for architects, building control bodies, building services engineers, and others involved in the design of new school buildings.

BB93 gives the performance targets for compliance with Requirement E4 from Part E of Schedule 1 of The Building Regulations 2000 that ‘each room or other space in a school building shall have the acoustic conditions and the sound insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to its normal use’. All school buildings must conform to BB93 and are subject to detailed design checks on on-site inspections. The document BB93 can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk/acoustics

H&H Acoustic Consultants Division can provide the following services to solve your classroom and school acoustic issues with relation to BB93: noise surveys , design services and sound testing.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations which came into effect in February 2006 replacing the previous Noise at Work Regulations have been developed in order to comply with the European Union Physical Agents (Noise) Directive (2003/10/EC) which aims to protect workers from risks to their health arising from exposure to noise. The document The Control of Noise at Work 2005 can be read at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm. There has been a transitional period for music and entertainment sectors which is now coming to an end and it is expected that these premises will be compliant by 6th April 2008.

The Regulations give several "action levels", which mean that if noise reaches a certain level, an employer must take certain action.

The first action level is that of a daily average workplace noise of 80 dB. If noise reaches this level, employers must educate their workers as to the effect of noise and what can be done to protect them. They must also provide and maintain hearing protection for all the employees affected by the noise level. The 2005 regulations also state that employers must try to minimise the level of noise in the environment before bringing in hearing protection measures. This can be achieved through various methods, such as fitting noise absorbing panels to reduce sound reflection or modifying equipment to make it quieter.

The second action level is that of an average workplace noise of 85 dB or a peak of 137 dB. These regulations state that employers must enforce the use of hearing protection if workplace noise exceeds this level. Hearing protection zones, where workers must wear ear protection, must also be clearly marked at this level of noise.

Average levels must never exceed 87dB nor peak at 140dB. This is known as the peak action level.

H&H Acoustic Consultants Division can undertake occupational noise surveys to verify compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations.

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations came into force on 6th July 2005. The regulations apply to the exposure of workers to both hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration. The Control of noise at Work can be read at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051093.htm

The Regulations require the employer to assess the risk to health created by vibration at the workplace, to eliminate the exposure or where this is not reasonably practicable to reduce it to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. In some circumstances the employer is also obliged to provide health surveillance to prevent or diagnose any health effect linked with exposure to vibration. In addition the employer is also required to provide information, instruction and training on the risks of vibration at work to their employees where there is an established risk to their health.

H&H Acoustic Consultants Division can undertake hand-arm and whole-body assessments to verify compliance with the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations.

Planning Policy Guidance 24

Planning Policy Guidance 24 Planning and Noise (PPG24) was published in 1994 and aims to provide advice on how the planning system can be used to minimise the adverse impact of noise without placing unreasonable restrictions on development or adding unduly to the administrative burdens of business. PPG24 can be read at www.communities.gov.uk

PPG24 provides specific guidance on the assessment of noise on sites proposed for residential development and references other suitable documents for the assessment of noise affecting new or existing hospitals, road & rail traffic noise and noise from aircraft together with noise from industrial sites and the leisure industry.

H&H Acoustic Consultants Division can undertake PPG24 assessments.


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