Any new Domestic Dwelling Development which has its commencement notice served to the Local Authority on or after 1st. July 2015 are now governed by a mandatory requirement to carry out sound insulation testing on a proportion of all new properties built on that development under the new Building Regulations Ireland 2014. Dependent on the number and types of properties being constructed there are guidelines as to the number of sound tests to be carried out as well as the types of sound insulation tests to be carried out.
Essentially there are 2 areas of separating structure to be considered when testing, these are separating walls and separating floors.
- Sound Testing a separating Wall which divides one domestic dwelling from another domestic dwelling requires an Airborne Sound Insulation Test only.
- Sound Testing a separating floor which divides one domestic dwelling from another requires both Airborne and Impact Sound Insulation tests to be carried out.
The frequency of such tests on a new development depends specifically on the number of properties and types of properties BUT it is suggested that testing is carried out at the earliest possible stage within the first few properties completed suitable for a sound insulation test to be carried out. This is to establish that the workmanship and materials being used are suitable as well as avoid late discovery of sound insulation problems in the development which might be costly to the Developer / Builder.
The test methodology for Airborne Sound Insulation Testing on site has been changed from ISO 140 Part 4 for Airborne Sound Insulation, to ISO 16283-1 :2014 in order to provide accuracy during repeatability of testing. However the standard used for Impact Sound Insulation Testing remains unchanged presently.
The levels suggested by TGD Section E 2014 are now minimum sound insulation standards, they do not allow for any deviations or mean averages as was accepted previously. Airborne metrics for floors and walls have been standardised and are slightly more stringent than previously, whereas impact sound insulation metrics have been improved. Although unfortunately in Ireland we have still not adopted to process of low frequency measurement below 100Hz. (This often being a problem with previously constructed timber separating floor constructions).
Alternatively contact our Acoustic Consultant directly at Ph. 087 2609544
Click on the Technical Guidance Document E below to view
Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document E 2014 Appendix A – Competent Person / Certifier
A1 Extract “Sound insulation testing should be carried out by a competent person, possessing sufficient training, experience and knowledge in the measurement of sound insulation in buildings 5”
“5 Sound insulation tests carried out by a person certified by an independent third party to carry out this work offers a way of ensuring that such certification can be relied upon”
Sound Test Ireland’s Managing Director,
Mr. Ted Dalton (Senior Acoustic Consultant)
M.Sc. (App Acoustics) B.Sc. H. Dip. Con. Econ., Dip. Con. Surv. Tech., MIOA
Has taken accreditation with Sound Research Labs UK for “The Theory and Practice of Field Sound Insulation Testing” & “Advanced Sound Insulation Testing”