Building Regulations and Acoustic Standards»

Acoustic noise control in buildings for residential use is regulated using Approved Document E. This Building Regulation now applies to any kind of building used as a dwelling, including houses and apartments; and rooms for residential purposes, such as students and nurses accommodation, nursing homes and hotels. It also applies to dwellings that have been created as a result of a conversion or material change of use.

The aim of the regulation is to protect residents from the noise of activities in other rooms or adjoining properties. This has been highlighted as a major cause of tension between residents.

 

 

It is widely recognised that improving acoustic separation within a school can significantly improve children’s ability to learn without distraction from activities in other areas of the buildings. Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) gives guidance on the performance of separating structures within schools depending on the noise level or sensitivity of the activities occurring on either side of it.

 

The relationship between DnT (Tmf,max),w and DnTw is dependent upon the required reverberation time in the receiving room. For most teaching rooms DnTw = DnT (Tmf,max),w + 2/3dB, though for rooms requiring higher reverberation times, such as gymnasiums and music performance rooms, the relationship can be as high as DnTw = DnT (Tmf,max),w + 5dB. Similarly, for impact sound insulation, the relationships should be L’nTw = L’nT (Tmf,max),w - 2/3 dB and L’nTw = L’nT (Tmf,max),w -5dB respectively.

 

Click here to see an example calulation from Bulletin 93 - Acoustic Design of Schools

 

 

Hospitals: HTM 2045/HTM 56

 

Requirements for acoustic separation in hospitals and buildings used for health care is given in HTM 56, and also in HTM 2045. Within hospitals acoustic separation is required for areas of privacy as well as treatment rooms and the comfort of in-patients.