Sound Insulation Testing

Sound insulation testing is required to make sure that residential and adjoining commercial developments can demonstrate acceptable levels of noise attenuation performance.

Building Regulations Part E requires you undertake two different types of sound testing including airborne noise (i.e. sound/noise transmitted through the air, such as televisions and conversations between people) and impact noise (i.e. noise resulting from an impact on the floor surface, such as footsteps on the floor). By undertaking the two types of sound testing ensures the dwelling provides a reasonable resistance to the passage of sound.

Why You Should Choose Us

We’re a highly experienced team of engineers providing cost-effective sound insulation testing across the UK.

We offer fast-response sound insulation tests, and a quick turnaround of reports for the Sound testing carried out.

We can provide a design service from consultants with many years of acoustic design experience .

We (Southern Sound Testing) also offer interim construction sample tests, this enables you to see the performance of your intended design before you have gone too far with the build, In some cases this service has been invaluable when clients have used their own design and it doesn’t pass, they are able to redesign/amend with our advice to ensure they meet the standards upon completion.

When a test fails the separating structure either the floor /ceiling or the wall will need to be improved and retested.

This can be time-consuming and costly, and in the worst case can involve removing ceiling and wall linings and re-building constructions.

Not only will a test failure mean no Building Control Completion Certificates it can also bring a development to a halt whilst remedial action is being considered.

We work with developers, contractors, architects and planners throughout the UK to ensure there projects are compliant with Building Regulations Document E 2003.

Preparing for sound testing

We provide a sound testing site conditions checklist with our quotations which clarifies the site conditions required for the day of the Sound test, this enables you to achieve the very best and more importantly valid test result.

• All separating floors and walls and all flanking walls and floors should be complete.
• All wall finishes should be complete (Plaster/Skim -Painting not required)
• No carpets should be fitted, Building control can refuse the report of tested on carpet.
• Any foam/acoustic underlay must be fully boned to the constructed floor surface.
• Windows should be installed with all glass fitted.
• Trickle vents should be in place and closed.
• All doors Internal and externally doors with seals should be fully fitted and closed
• Service boxing sections should be complete and finished.
• Electrical sockets should be fitted.
• Down lighters to fitted
• 240V electricity supply in all units to be tested.
• There should be no noise during the test other than from the testing equipment.
• No personnel can be in the Units to be tested or adjacent areas within the building, no plant or power tools to be operating throughout the duration of each test.
• Site workers should not enter the building or be in the parts of the building undergoing a test.