Technical - Building Regulations

This page gives information on the following :

Part E (England & Wales) and
Scottish Building Standards – Section 6 (Formerly Part J, Scotland)

Part E

Part E took effect in July 2003 primarily as a response to the increasing number of complaints about noise, a higher density of housing per hectare (PPG) and the recognition of the potential risk from noise to health and well-being

Approved Document E is split into four sections:

• E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings.
• E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling/house etc
• E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
• E4 - Acoustic Conditions in Schools

In respect of E1 and E2 the document gives examples of constructions which if built correctly should achieve the sound insulation values set out in Table 1a and 1b below. Sales staff at Kitsons Thermal Supplies are trained and conversant with Part E and can help you select the right material to use when building to these types of constructions.

A major constituent of Approved Document E1 and E2 is Pre-completion testing , a minimum of one in every 10 dwellings of the same house type are required to be tested and depending on the mix of different types of dwelling in a development, testing will be required on 10% - 30% of the development. For example if a development has only one type of house or flat within it, only 10% will require testing, if like most developments there is a mixture of different types of houses or flats the percentage of dwellings requiring testing is likely to be greater. No testing is required for construction work done in accordance with Approved Document E3.

Tables 1a and 1b below illustrate the airborne sound insulation and impact sound insulation values required in the various types of dwellings. Please note that in the case of Airborne sound insulation, DnTw is the measurement used, however as low-frequency sound is the most difficult frequency range to stop a Ctr (correction factor) is used to take this into account. LnTw is the measurement used to measure the impact sound insulation of floors (on site).

With Airborne Sound, the higher the DnTw + Ctr figure the better, and with Impact sound the lower the LnTw figure the better.

As an alternative to pre-completion testing there is the option to use Robust Details which was accepted as an alternative to pre-completion testing on the 1st July 2004. This new way of working is controlled by Robust Details Ltd, which is a non-profit making organisation comprising representatives from amongst others Building Control, Warranty providers, Acoustic advisors and the ODPM (Office Deputy Prime Minister).

Robust Details has already published specifications for Robust Details for Walls and Floors in the various construction types mainly giving generic specifications but also providing specific manufacturer solutions. Robust Details Ltd do however assess new candidate Robust Details and form a link with Building Control to maximise quality control.

All Kitsons Thermal Supplies branches have a copy of the Robust Detail handbooks and can advise you which material to use when building to any of the Robust Details listed.

Scottish Building Standards
Section 6 (Formerly Part J, Scotland)

Section 6 (2005) is currently under review, with the changes to be introduced in 2007.

New Build and Extensions

Existing Buildings

Alterations and renovation work should aim at achieving the U-Values set out for new build construction.  Although due to the existing building type, era of when it was built and other construction considerations, the U-Values to be achieved may be relaxed.

However, the lowest U-Values to be achieved should be no worse than:-