Impact and Airborne Sound Test Requirements

Noise pollution is a significant issue that affects our daily lives, particularly in the built environment. It is transmitted in buildings in the form of impact and airborne sound sources, which can negatively impact our health, well-being, and productivity. Building Regulations require the measurement and restriction of these sound sources to address this issue. In this blog, we will explore the impact and airborne test requirements of the Building Regulations and the guidance provided in Approved Document E to help ensure compliance with the measured limits.

Airborne sound 

Airborne sound can be generated from a variety of sources such as speech, television, and radio. It is important to note that airborne noise can travel through floor, ceiling, and wall structures, which is why it’s crucial to measure it and ensure that minimum standards are met. Building Regulations specify the minimum requirements for separating floors, ceilings, and walls between dwellings, which are also referred to as rooms for residential purposes. 

The separating structure must be of sufficient mass and volume and correctly placed to reduce airborne noise. An airborne acoustic test is typically used to measure the amount of airborne noise transmitted through a structure and determine whether it meets the required standards.

Impact sound 

It’s important to highlight the difference between airborne and impact sound, and the fact that impact sound is generated from mechanical activity such as walking or moving furniture. Unlike airborne sound, impact noise travels through the fabric of the building and is best treated at the source. One effective solution is to install a floating acoustic floor system, which is carefully selected to ensure the correct dynamic stiffness and limit the noise from exciting the fabric of the building. To ensure compliance with Building Regulations, an acoustic impact test must be passed, which measures the amount of impact noise transmitted through the structure and confirms that it meets the required standards. 

Isomass Ltd has a full range of acoustic treatments for walls, ceilings and floors to effectively address both airborne and impact sound and significantly reduce noise pollution in the built environment, and promote healthier, more comfortable living spaces.

This exploded view of a commercial property with residential accommodation above it shows the typical scope of building regulations. Requirements for new build projects are more onerous because there is greater control over quality and more opportunity to achieve a better result.

Impact and airborn test requirements 02 - We Are SDG

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