We are affiliated with some of the best acoustic engineers and test facilites throughout Europe and the US. Acoustics is a very broad subject - a qualified acoustician working with avionics would not apply the same acoustic principles if asked to design a party wall for a new housing development. We work very closely with experts in their own field.

In Ireland we work with a company called dB Acoustics who specialise in field testing. We carry out the most common test ISO 140-4 and ISO 140-7 (field measurement of airborne and impact noise) for property developers, councils, local authorities and private individuals.

We also carry out Acoustic Environmental Impact Surveys for pre planning and planning permission.

Lab Testing

We only use accredited labs throughout Europe and North America. We use labs which specialise in building services and architectural acoustic testing. We also use labs which have capabilities for product development and providing acoustic mock ups for certain projects.

This particular lab has a vertcal chamber allowing the testing and development of acoustic flooring systems.

Standards

DOCUMENT E

Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document E (Doc E) sets out specific levels which must be achieved in relation to the sound insulation values of seperating wall/floors between adjoining dwellings. The construction must achieve a "reasonable resistance to airborne sound". The levels which must be achieved are by no means unreasonable.

Indeed newer more stringent regulations are in place in England & Wales which now extend to Hotels & Schools. It can only be a matter of time before similar changes are seen here.

From our experience, if a builder is using standard construction methods and materials there shouldn't be any reason to fail. So why the need for testing? As fails do occur. The reasons are varied, one in particular could be due to flanking (the indirect transmission of sound) e.g. air vents being placed beside each other, materials not performing up to spec, gaps in the wall/floor construction or poorly fitting seals. Early detection is the best clarification for the Builder/Developer. Then they know clearly if something needs to be done about it or not. Of course once a building is second fixed any gaps etc. are no longer visible to the eye, but they will still have a very negative effect on the acoustic performance. Building Acoustic Testing is therefore an asset to the project. The resultant values achieved by testing could even be used as a positive selling feature, i.e. 'all apartments/houses are sound insulated to a very high standard'. It is another quality mark of a well built structure.

We offer both airborne and impact testing to the appropriate standards,
using the latest equipment and result tools.

Below is a table of the levels required as per Doc E

Building Regulations 1997 - Sound Transmission Values Required

Test Type

Individual Values

Tests in at least 4 pairs of rooms

Tests in at least 8 pairs of rooms

Impact for Floors

Maximum 65dB L'nT,w
Maximum 61dB L'nT,w (mean)

Maximum 62dB L'nT,w (mean)

Airborne for Floors
Minimum 48 DnT,w
Minimum 52dB DnT,w (mean)

Minimum 51dB DnT,w (mean)

Airborne for Walls

Minimum 49 DnT,w
Minimum 53dB DnT,w (mean)

Minimum 52dB DnT,w (mean)

Notes on test procedure from Doc E :

Test each wall or floor between at least four pairs of rooms. Each pair should include at least one habitable room

Take only one set of measurements between the rooms in each pair

If both rooms in a pair are habitable, and one is larger, the sound source should be in the larger room

If one room in the pair is a non-habitable room, the sound source should be put into that room