Sound Control in Buildings

by M. W. Simons (BSc, MSc, PhD, MIOA, MCIOB, Senior Lecturer, Coventry University ); J. R. Waters (Coventry University)

• ISBN13: 9781405118835
• ISBN10: 1405118830
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Unwanted noise can be a significant nuisance in buildings, particularly dwellings. Part E of the Building Regulations for England and Wales has therefore introduced substantially improved standards for noise control and stringent new requirements for the testing of completed buildings. This new book explains the regulations in detail and provides recommendations for good design and construction. It explains those aspects of sound transmission necessary for an understanding of Part E of the Regulations.

Author Biography

J. R. Waters is Honorary Research Fellow at Coventry University, where he was formerly Head of Building Services Engineering.

Table of Contents

Preface	xii
Acknowledgements	xiv
PART 1 BACKGROUND ACOUSTICS	1	(50)
1 Introduction and Background to the Regulations	3	(8)
1.1 Noise sources and the purpose of the regulations	3	(2)
1.2 The relevant legislation etc.	5	(1)
1.3 Frequency distribution and the response of the human ear	6	(1)
1.4 Sound levels and frequency characteristics of noise sources	7	(1)
1.5 Noise nuisance	8	(1)
1.6 Noise control principles for dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes	9	(2)
1.6.1 Direct sound transmission	9	(1)
1.6.2 Flanking transmission	9	(1)
1.6.3 Building services	10	(1)
1.6.4 External noise paths	10	(1)
1.6.5 Separation of noisy areas from noise sensitive areas	10	(1)
2 Sound Absorption and Room Acoustics	11	(9)
2.1 Definition of sound absorption and sound absorbing materials	11	(2)
2.2 Reverberation of sound in a room	13	(1)
2.3 Typical reverberation times	14	(2)
2.4 Sound levels in rooms	16	(2)
2.5 Controlling noise levels by means of absorbing materials	18	(2)
3 The Principles of Airborne Sound Insulation	20	(20)
3.1 Sound reduction indices	20	(3)
3.2 Sound reduction through a panel made up of several separate elements	23	(1)
3.3 The theoretical sound reduction index of a single panel	24	(4)
3.4 Maximising the sound reduction index of single panels	28	(1)
3.5 Reducing the coincidence effect in single panels	29	(1)
3.6 The theoretical sound reduction index of a double panel	30	(1)
3.7 Maximising the sound reduction index of double panels	31	(1)
3.8 The effect of wall ties in a double panel	32	(1)
3.9 Other indices of sound reduction between rooms	33	(1)
3.10 Conversion of sound reduction indices to single number quantities	34	(1)
3.11 The spectrum adaptation term	35	(3)
3.12 Reducing airborne sound transmission - implications for building design	38	(2)
4 The Principles of Impact Sound Insulation	40	(11)
4.1 Impact sound reduction indices	40	(2)
4.2 Conversion of impact sound indices to single number quantities	42	(1)
4.3 The spectrum adaptation term	43	(1)
4.4 Reduction in impact sound due to an added floor covering	44	(1)
4.5 Reducing impact sound transmission - the theory of vibration isolation	45	(3)
4.6 Reducing impact sound transmission - implications for building design	48	(3)
PART 2 APPROVED DOCUMENT E	51	(110)
5 Performance Requirements	53	(6)
5.1 Sound insulation between dwelling places AD E: 0.1-0.8	53	(3)
5.2 Sound insulation within dwelling places AD E: 0.9-0.10	56	(1)
5.3 Reverberation in common spaces and acoustic conditions in schools AD E: 0.11-0.12	57	(2)
6 Measurement Procedures	59	(27)
6.1 Types of measurement	59	(1)
6.2 Sound pressure level	59	(2)
6.3 Reverberation time	61	(1)
6.4 The measurement of airborne sound transmission	61	(2)
6.5 The measurement of impact sound transmission	63	(2)
6.6 Calculation of single number quantities	65	(8)
6.7 Dynamic stiffness	73	(1)
6.8 Pre-completion testing	74	(5)
6.8.1 Requirements AD E: 1.1-1.10	74	(1)
6.8.2 Grouping for tests AD E: 1.11-1.18	75	(1)
6.8.3 Sets of tests AD E: 1.19-1.28	76	(1)
6.8.4 Testing programmes AD E: 1.29-1.31	77	(1)
6.8.5 Failure of tests AD E: 1.32-1.39	78	(1)
6.8.6 Recording of pre-completion test results AD E: 1.41	78	(1)
6.9 Summary of the requirements for testing and test reports	79	(7)
6.9.1 General requirements AD E: B1.4, B2.1 & B3.2	80	(1)
6.9.2 Field measurement of the sound insulation of separating walls and floors AD E: 0.1	80	(1)
6.9.2.1 Airborne sound insulation of separating walls or floors AD E: B2.2-B2.8	80	(1)
6.9.2.2 Impact sound transmission through separating floors AD E: B2.9	81	(1)
6.9.2.3 Measurement of reverberation time AD E: B2.10	81	(1)
6.9.2.4 Room types and sizes AD E: B2.11	81	(1)
6.9.2.5 Room conditions for tests AD E: B2.12-B2.17	82	(1)
6.9.2.6 Accuracy of measurement AD E: B2.18-B2.19	82	(1)
6.9.2.7 Measurement using moving microphones AD E: B2.20-B2.21	82	(1)
6.9.3 Laboratory measurement procedures AD E: B1.2 & B3.1-B3.2	82	(1)
6.9.3.1 Floor coverings and floating floors: AD E: B3.3-B3.6	82	(1)
6.9.3.2 Dynamic stiffness AD E: B3.7-B3.8	83	(1)
6.9.3.3 Airborne sound insulation of wall and floor elements AD E: B3.9	83	(1)
6.9.3.4 Flanking laboratory measurement AD E: B3.10-B3.14	83	(1)
6.9.4 Test report information	84	(1)
6.9.4.1 Field test report information AD E: B4.1	84	(1)
6.9.4.2 Laboratory test report information AD E: B4.2	84	(2)
7 Separating Walls and their Flanking Constructions - New Buildings	86	(25)
7.1 Construction forms AD E: 2.1-2.17	86	(2)
7.1.1 Wall ties in separating and external masonry walls AD E: 2.18-2.24	88	(1)
7.2 Design of wall Type 1 - solid masonry AD E: 2.29-2.35	88	(1)
7.2.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 2.36-2.39	88	(2)
7.2.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 2.40-2.41	90	(1)
7.2.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 2.42	91	(1)
7.2.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 2.43	91	(1)
7.2.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 2.44	91	(1)
7.2.6 Junctions with internal timber floors AD E: 2.45	92	(1)
7.2.7 Junctions with internal concrete floors AD E: 2.46-2.48	92	(1)
7.2.8 Junctions with timber ground floors AD E: 2.49	92	(1)
7.2.9 Junctions with concrete ground floors AD E: 2.51-2.53	93	(1)
7.2.10 Junctions with ceilings and roofs AD E: 2.55-2.59	93	(1)
7.2.11 Junctions with separating floors AD E: 2.60	94	(1)
7.3 Design of wall Type 2 - cavity masonry AD E: 2.61-2.72	94	(1)
7.3.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 2.73-2.76	94	(3)
7.3.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 2.77-2.78	97	(1)
7.3.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 2.79	98	(1)
7.3.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 2.80	98	(1)
7.3.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 2.81-2.83	98	(1)
7.3.6 Junctions with internal timber floors AD E: 2.84	98	(1)
7.3.7 Junctions with internal concrete floors AD E: 2.85	98	(1)
7.3.8 Junctions with timber ground floors AD E: 2.86	98	(1)
7.3.9 Junctions with concrete ground floors AD E: 2.88-2.89	98	(1)
7.3.10 Junctions with ceilings and roofs AD E: 2.91-2.95	99	(1)
7.3.11 Junctions with separating floors AD E: 2.96	100	(1)
7.4 Design of wall Type 3 - masonry walls between independent panels AD E: 2.97-2.107	100	(2)
7.4.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 2.108-2.112	102	(1)
7.4.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 2.113	103	(1)
7.4.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 2.114	103	(1)
7.4.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 2.115-2.117	103	(1)
7.4.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 2.118	103	(1)
7.4.6 Junctions with internal timber floors AD E: 2.119-2.120	103	(1)
7.4.7 Junctions with internal concrete floors AD E: 2.121-2.122	103	(1)
7.4.8 Junctions with timber ground floors AD E: 2.123-2.124	104	(1)
7.4.9 Junctions with concrete ground floors AD E: 2.127-2.131	104	(1)
7.4.10 Junctions with ceilings and roofs AD E: 2.133-2.139	104	(1)
7.4.11 Junctions with separating floors AD E: 2.140	105	(1)
7.5 Design of wall Type 4 - framed walls with absorbent material AD E: 2.141-2.147	105	(1)
7.5.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 2.148	106	(1)
7.5.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 2.149-2.150	106	(1)
7.5.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 2.151	107	(1)
7.5.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 2.152	107	(1)
7.5.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 2.153	107	(1)
7.5.6 Junctions with internal timber floors AD E: 2.154	108	(1)
7.5.7 Junctions with internal concrete floors AD E: 2.155	108	(1)
7.5.8 Junctions with timber ground floors AD E: 2.156	108	(1)
7.5.9 Junctions with concrete ground floors AD E: 2.158	108	(1)
7.5.10 Junctions with ceilings and roofs AD E: 2.160-2.163	108	(2)
7.5.11 Junctions with separating floors AD E: 2.164	110	(1)
7.6 Walls separating habitable rooms from other parts of a building AD E: 2.25-2.28	110	(1)
7.7 Construction procedures	110	(1)
8 Separating Floors and their Flanking Constructions - New Buildings	111	(19)
8.1 Construction forms AD E: 3.1-3.7 & 3.9	111	(4)
8.1.1 Floor penetrations AD E: 3.41-3.43, 3.79-3.82 & 3.117-3.120	113	(1)
8.1.2 Ceiling construction AD E: 3.17-3.22	113	(1)
8.1.3 Junctions and flanking transmission AD E: 3.10	113	(2)
8.2 Design of floor Type 1 - concrete base with ceiling and soft floor covering AD E: 3.23-3.30	115	(4)
8.2.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 3.31-3.35	116	(1)
8.2.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 3.36	117	(1)
8.2.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 3.37	117	(1)
8.2.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 3.38	117	(1)
8.2.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 3.39-3.40	118	(1)
8.2.6 Junctions with solid masonry (Type 1) separating walls AD E: 3.44-3.45	118	(1)
8.2.7 Junctions with cavity masonry (Type 2) separating walls AD E: 3.46-3.48	118	(1)
8.2.8 Junctions with masonry between independent panels (Type 3) separating walls AD E: 3.49-3.54	119	(1)
8.2.9 Junctions with framed with absorbent material (Type 4) separating walls AD E: 3.55	119	(1)
8.3 Design of floor Type 2 - concrete base with ceiling and floating floor AD E: 3.56-3.60	119	(1)
8.3.1 Floating floors AD E: 3.62-3.66	120	(1)
8.3.2 Floor, floating floor, ceiling combinations AD E: 3.67-3.68	121	(1)
8.3.3 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 3.69-3.73	122	(1)
8.3.4 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 3.74	122	(1)
8.3.5 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 3.75	123	(1)
8.3.6 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 3.76	123	(1)
8.3.7 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 3.77-3.78	123	(1)
8.3.8 Junctions with solid masonry (Type 1) separating walls AD E: 3.83-3.84	123	(1)
8.3.9 Junctions with cavity masonry (Type 2) separating walls AD E: 3.85-3.86	123	(1)
8.3.10 Junctions with masonry between independent panels (Type 3) separating walls AD E: 3.87-3.92	123	(1)
8.3.11 Junctions with framed with absorbent material (Type 4)separating walls AD E: 3.93	124	(1)
8.4 Design of floor Type 3 - timber frame base and platform floor with ceiling treatment AD E: 3.94-3.102	124	(5)
8.4.1 Junctions with external cavity walls which have masonry inner leaves AD E: 3.103-3.108	125	(1)
8.4.2 Junctions with external cavity walls which have timber framed inner leaves AD E: 3.109-3.112	126	(1)
8.4.3 Junctions with solid external masonry walls AD E: 3.113	127	(1)
8.4.4 Junctions with internal framed walls AD E: 3.114-3.115	127	(1)
8.4.5 Junctions with internal masonry walls AD E: 3.116	127	(1)
8.4.6 Junctions with solid masonry (Type 1) separating walls AD E: 3.121-3.122	127	(1)
8.4.7 Junctions with cavity masonry (Type 2) separating walls AD E: 3.123-3.126	127	(2)
8.4.8 Junctions with masonry between independent panels (Type 3) separating walls AD E: 3.127-3.128	129	(1)
8.4.9 Junctions with framed with absorbent material (Type 4) separating walls AD E: 3.129-3.130	129	(1)
8.5 Construction procedures	129	(1)
9 Dwelling Houses and Flats Formed by Material Change of Use	130	(9)
9.1 General requirements AD E: 4.1-4.21	130	(2)
9.2 Wall treatment 1 - independent panel(s) with absorbent material AD E: 4.22-4.24	132	(1)
9.3 Floor treatment 1 - independent ceiling with absorbent material AD E: 4.26-4.29	133	(1)
9.4 Floor treatment 2 - platform floor with absorbent material AD E: 4.31-4.33	133	(3)
9.5 Stair treatment - stair covering and independent ceiling with absorbent material AD E: 4.35-4.38	136	(1)
9.6 Specific junction requirements in the event of change of use AD E: 4.39-4.50	136	(2)
9.7 Construction procedures	138	(1)
10 Internal Walls and Floors for New Buildings	139	(1)
10.1 General requirements AD E: 5.1, 5.2 & 5.9-5.12	139	(1)
10.2 Internal walls AD E: 5.4, 5.5 & 5.8	140	(1)
10.2.1 Type A and B internal walls AD E: 5.17-5.18	140	(1)
10.2.2 Type C and D internal walls AD E: 5.19-5.20	141	(1)
10.3 Internal floors AD E: 5.6-5.8	141	(1)
10.3.1 Type A and B internal floors AD E: 5.21-5.22	142	(1)
10.3.2 Type C internal floor AD E: 5.23	142	(1)
10.4 Internal wall and floor junctions AD E: 5.13-5.16	142	(2)
11 Rooms for Residential Purposes	144	(1)
11.1 General requirements AD E: 6.1-6.3 & 6.16-6.18	144	(1)
11.2 New buildings containing rooms for residential purposes	144	(1)
11.2.1 Separating walls AD E: 6.4	144	(1)
11.2.2 Separating floors AD E: 6.8	145	(1)
11.3 Corridor walls and doors AD E: 6.5-6.7	145	(1)
11.4 Material change of use - rooms for residential purposes AD E: 6.9-6.10	146	(1)
11.5 Junctions AD E: 6.11-6.15	146	(2)
12 Reverberation in Common Parts of Buildings	148	(1)
12.1 General requirements AD E: 7.1-7.9	148	(1)
12.2 Sound absorption properties of materials	149	(1)
12.3 Calculation of additional absorption - Method A AD E: 7.10-7.12	149	(1)
12.3.1 Entrance halls, corridors, hallways	149	(1)
12.3.2 Stairwells and stair enclosures	150	(1)
12.4 Calculation of additional absorption - Method B AD E: 7.13-7.21	150	(2)
12.5 Example of absorption calculation	152	(3)
12.5.1 Application of Method A	152	(1)
12.5.2 Application of Method B	152	(3)
12.6 Report on compliance AD E: 7.22	155	(1)
13 Robust Standard Details	156	(1)
13.1 Introduction	156	(1)
13.2 Robust standard details	156	(1)
13.3 The House Builders Federation robust standard details project	157	(3)
14 School Acoustics	160	(1)
Appendix The calculation of mass	161	(3)
British Standards	164	(3)
References	167