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UK Building Regulations

New Approved Document E

Building Regulations New Approved Document E came into force on 1st July 2003 with the introduction of pre-completion testing (PCT) for sound insulation as a means of demonstrating compliance, and as from 1st July 2004 the use of Robust Details (RD) in new build has been accepted as an alternative to pre-completion testing.

Requirements E1, E2 and E3 of Document E apply to the sound insulation of any type of conversion or new build used as a dwelling including; houses, apartments, hostel rooms, hotels, boarding houses, halls of residence and residential homes. Requirement E4 applies to acoustic conditions in schools.

Performance standards are given for each requirement, as follows.

Table 0.1a Dwelling-houses and flats – performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function

 
Airborne sound insulation
Sound insulation
dB
(Minimum values)
Impact
Sound insulation
dB
(Maximum values)
Purpose built dwelling - houses and flats
Walls
45
-
Floors & Stairs
45
62
Dwelling - houses and flats formed by material change of use
Walls
43
-
Floors & Stairs
43
64

Table 0.1b Rooms for residential purposes – performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function

 
Airborne sound insulation
Sound insulation
dB
(Minimum values)
Impact
Sound insulation
dB
(Maximum values)
Purpose built dwelling - houses and flats
Walls
43
-
Floors & Stairs
45
62
Dwelling - houses and flats formed by material change of use
Walls
43
-
Floors & Stairs
43
64

Table 0.2 Laboratory values for new internal walls and floors within dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes, whether purpose built or formed by material change of use.

 
Airborne sound insulation
dB
(Minimum values)
  
Walls
40
Floors
40

For further information on Approved Document E visit www.communities.gov.uk or www.planningportal.gov.uk