Product category:
Technical Equipment
News Release from: AV Technology | Subject: Noise and vibration consultancy specialists
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 April 2007
Noise compliance tests on sustainable
homes
AV Technology have recently carried out noise compliance tests on four eco or sustainable homes built by the Eden Housing Association in Cumbria.
AVT is one of only 12 or so UK companies that are UKAS accredited to carry out field noise tests on new and converted buildings as laid down in the amended version of Document E of the Building Regulations In December 2002 major changes to Approved Document E of the Building Regulations were published and these came into effect on 1 July 2003
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The regulations require sample post completion testing of party walls and floors prior to handover to ensure that design performance is achieved in practice.
(Section 0.4 states that "Test bodies conducting testing should preferably have UKAS accreditation (or a European equivalent) for field measurements.") Tests on sustainable homes can only be carried out by UKAS accredited bodies.
The Code for Sustainable Homes has been developed to enable a step change in sustainable building practice for new homes.
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Homes are awarded points for how well they address a wide range of sustainability factors, including sound insulation.
Merit points are awarded for achieving higher standards of sound insulation than required by Document E of the Building Regulations.
The sound testing procedure, as detailed in BS EN ISO 140 parts 4 and 7, collects data from two separate tests.
AVT firstly measure the construction's resistance to the passage of impact sound.
This is achieved by placing a tapping machine on the floor of the specimen under test and measuring the noise level in the receiving room underneath.
Secondly, the construction's resistance to the passage of airborne sound is measured.
This is carried out by placing a known steady source of white noise on one side of the wall or floor, and measuring the amount of sound transmitted to the neighbouring room to determine how much noise the wall or floor attenuates.
Test results are processed in accordance with ISO 717, parts I and II, to arrive at individual weighted dB values for airborne and impact sound transmission.
To carry out the tests AVT use a range of instrumentation including a Real Time Frequency Analyser, a Noise Source and a Tapping Machine.
All AVT equipment is maintained within the AVT equipment management system and regularly calibrated to UKAS standards.
Each instrument is used with the preamplifier and microphone allocated to it within the AVT Noise and Vibration Equipment Register, which is part of the company's ISO9001 Quality Management System.
Acoustic consultant Paul Francis confirmed that AVT had been carrying out the testing since the regulation amendments came into effect in July 2003 and as he explains: "AVT have considerable experience in conducting the airborne and impact sound insulation testing that is required by the building regulations".
"We pride ourselves on our quality of service and are accredited by UKAS to undertake this type of work." The Eden Housing Association is very pleased with the fast, friendly and efficient service provided by AVT and as their Development Project Officer Steve Wake concludes: "AVT exceeded our expectations in this project". Request a free brochure from AV Technology ...
"They responded rapidly to our initial quotation request and carried out the tests expediently and professionally, providing the finished report ahead of schedule.".
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