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News Release from: The Concrete Centre | Subject: The concrete sound of silence
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 September 2007
The concrete sound of silence
With the rise in Complaints about antisocial noise, modern concrete masonry and precast floors provides enhanced sound insulation compared to other more lightweight construction techniques
Complaints about antisocial noise have reached record levels The push to build more homes on less land will mean that noise will increasingly become a major issue for many home owners
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 31 Jul 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Over the last year the number of complaints to local councils about noise has risen from 158,199 to 172,415.
Many councils have reported a 30% increase in noise complaints.
Some councils, such as South Bedfordshire, Sunderland and South Tyneside have reported a doubling in noise complaints, while Eastbourne in Sussex experienced an increase of over 60%.
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The pressure to increase housing density as councils try to find the land for future housing provision will increase the potential for neighbour noise pollution.
In 1997 the average density of new homes was 25 dwellings per hectare (dph).
By 2007, this had risen to 40dph.
The Government wishes to increase this still further to a target housing density of up to 50(dph).
"Councils should be bracing themselves for further increases in noise complaints as the increase in housing density will mean households living closer together", warned Guy Thompson, head of architecture and housing at The Concrete Centre.
"Those living in homes of lightweight construction could be most adversely affected".
Noise from neighbours can be a considerable problem for homes built in close proximity.
Of particular nuisance is the noise from televisions and hi-fi equipment.
The heavyweight mass of modern concrete masonry and precast floors provides enhanced sound insulation compared to other more lightweight construction techniques.
Indeed heavyweight construction can not only meet, but often exceed, the standards of noise reduction specified by Part E of the Building Regulations.
Under the Regulations, separating/party wall minimum values for airborne sound insulation are 45dB for purpose-built dwellings and 40RwdB for internal partitions within all house types.
The robust standard details developed for concrete blockwork separating walls are designed to exceed these levels and so ensure full compliance with the Building Regulations.
Robust standard details for concrete separating floors offer a similar level of sound insulation.
"The density and mass of heavyweight construction provides high levels of sound insulation".
"This means it is well-suited to reducing the potential for noise pollution from neighbouring properties", said Thompson.
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