Sound Insulation Testing for Part E

Part E Sound Insulation Testing

Part E of the Building Regulations requires the walls and floors between homes to hold back sound. New-build and converted flats and attached houses need sound testing before completion, unless new-build homes are registered with Robust Details. We test and issue the report building control needs.

What is tested

• Airborne sound through party walls and party floors: speech, television and music
• Impact sound through party floors: footsteps

The figures to meet

• Airborne, walls and floors: at least 45 dB for new build, 43 dB for conversions
• Impact, floors: no more than 62 dB for new build, 64 dB for conversions

How many tests

One set of tests for every 10 homes of the same construction. For flats a set is six tests: two airborne wall, two airborne floor and two impact floor. For houses it is two airborne wall tests.

Getting the site ready

• Rooms on both sides complete, with windows and doors fitted and closed
• Floors bare, with no carpet or soft covering
• No noisy work on site during the test
• Mains power
• Access to both sides of every wall and floor being tested

If a test does not pass

We tell you where the sound is getting through and the remedial work that usually fixes it, then test again.

What we need from you

• Floor plans and sections showing the party walls and floors
• The wall and floor construction
• The number of homes and house types

Price

Priced per visit, by the number of test sets. Send the plans and we will quote.

Questions we get asked

Do detached houses need a sound test? No. Part E testing applies where homes share a wall or floor.

Can you test on the same day as the air test? Usually, yes. Tell us when you book.

Related: Air Tightness Testing, Ventilation Testing.

Email your plans or WhatsApp us to book.