Acoustic Information - Legislation...             

Building Regulations Approved Document E -Resistance to the Passage of Sound

Approved Document E of the Building Regulations 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 all residential new build and conversions (including houses, flats, student residences, care homes and hotels) and set out minimum standards for sound insulation.

The Regulations focus on four main areas:

E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings (separating walls and floors).

E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling house etc (internal walls and floors).

E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes.

E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools (See Building Bulletin 93).

Approved Document E can be downloaded at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk

The builder is responsible for demonstrating to Building Control that the regulations have been met and this can be done in one of two ways: PCT (Pre-Completion Testing) Applicable to all building types and projects. On-site tests by an accredited test body on a minimum 10% of all walls and floors. Robust Details Applicable only to new build apartments and homes. Using a design registered with, and approved by, Robust Details Ltd and confirming that construction has been completed in accordance with the registered design thus eliminating the need for PCT.

H&H Acoustic Consultancy 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 regulatory framework for the acoustic design of schools in support of the The Building Regulations Approved Document E. Requirement E4 states 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 Consultancy 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 2005 came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6 April 2006 (except for the music and entertainment sectors where they came into force on 6 April 2008). The aim of the regulations is to prevent hearing loss and/or damage to workers as a result of excessive noise in the workplace.

The document The Control of Noise at Work 2005 can be read at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm.

The regulations set three "Action Levels" to assess the degree of employee exposure to noise and what procedures need to be undertaken by the employer under law in order to comply with the Regulations for example the provision of hearing protection, the fitting of noise absorbing panels to reduce sound reflection or the modification of equipment to make it quieter .

H&H Acoustic Consultancy Division can undertake workplace noise assessments in conjunction with the regulations and can advise on their findings.

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations came into force in 2005 to protect employees against risks to their health, safety and welfare arising from exposure to vibration in the workplace. There are two areas of concern, 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 set out daily exposure limits and action values . They require that a risk assessment is undertaken to identify sources of exposure, identify affected persons, evaluate effectiveness of existing control measures and determine any improvements or additional controls required.

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

Planning Policy Guidance 24

Planning Policy Guidance 24 Planning and Noise (PPG24) was published by the Department of the Environment in 1994 and sets out guidance to assist Local Authorities in evaluating planning applications for residential developments near to or affected by road, rail, air, industrial and ‘mixed’ noise sources.

PPG24 can be read at www.communities.gov.uk

A proposed development will fall into one of four Noise Exposure Categories (NECs) based on the noise levels at the site. Normally 24-hour surveys are carried out on site to establish the average (LAeq) levels for night time and day time periods.

NEC 'A' : “Noise need not be considered as a determining factor in permission, although the noise level at the high end of the category should not be regarded as a desirable level”.

NEC 'B' : “Noise should be taken into account when determining planning applications and, where appropriate, conditions imposed to ensure an adequate level of protection against noise”.

NEC 'C' : “Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where it is considered that permission should be given, for example because there are no alternative quieter sites available, conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise”.

NEC 'D' : “Planning permission should normally be refused”. H&H Acoustic Consultancy Division can undertake PPG24 surveys and assessments. H&H can also advise on ways to minimise the adverse impact of noise on proposed noise sensitive developments should an assessment suggest planning permission may be refused.

H&H Acoustic Consultancy Division can undertake PPG24 surveys and assessments. H&H can also advise on ways to minimise the adverse impact of noise on proposed noise sensitive developments should an assessment be refused.

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