Below are the details given for the frequency of testing required by the new Building Regulations TGD Section E 2014.
Sound Testing in Ireland requires that the criteria below is followed in order to establish compliance!
Table 2 – Number of individual Sound tests in a ‘set of tests’ (TGD SECTION E – Par.2.1.5)
| Dwelling Group Types | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Test | Dwelling Houses (Incl. Bungalows) | Apartments &Duplex Dwellings |
| Airborne Sound test of separating walls (note 1) | Yes | Yes |
| Airborne Sound test of separating walls (note 2) | Yes | Yes |
| Airborne Sound test of separating floors (note 3) | N/A | Yes |
| Airborne Sound test of separating floors (note 4) | N/A | Yes |
| Impact Sound test of separating floors (note 3) | N/A | Yes |
| Impact Sound test of separating floors (note 4) | N/A | Yes |
| Total No. of individual tests in a ‘set of tests’ (note 5) | 2 No. | 6 No. (note 6) |
NOTES:
- A test of insulation against airborne sound between one pair of rooms. Living rooms on opposite sides of the separating wall should be chosen, where possible.
- A test of insulation against airborne sound between another pair of rooms than in Note 1. Bedrooms on opposite sides of the separating wall should be chosen, where possible.
- A test of insulation against airborne and impact sound between one pair of rooms. Living rooms above and below each other should be chosen, where possible.
- A test of insulation against airborne and impact sound between another pair of rooms than in note 3. Bedrooms above and below each other should be chosen, where possible.
- To conduct a full ‘set of tests’ on any individual unit, access to at least two other adjoining units will be required.
- If no separating walls or floors exist, the total number of individual tests required may be reduced by 2 or 4 respectively.
TGD Section E – 2.2.2 Initial Sound Testing
On each site, at least one ‘set of tests’ should be carried out on a dwelling group or sub-group within the first four dwellings which are planned for completion.
TGD Section E – 2.2.2.2
This applies regardless of the size of the development.
TGD Section E – 2.2.3.1
Table 3A Below– Outlines the number of ‘sets of tests’ per development
TGD Section E – 2.2.3.3
Testing should be carried out more frequent at the beginning of the development rather than nearer the end of development where possible.
Table 3A – Minimum frequency of Sound testing per group or sub-group type (TGD Section E – Par 2.2.3)
| Number of Attached Dwellings | Minimum ‘sets of Tests’ required |
|---|---|
| 4 or less | One (Note 1) |
| Greater than 4 but less than or equal to 20 | Two |
| Greater than 20 but less than or equal to 40 | At least 2 + 10% x No. of attached dwellings greater than 20. |
| Greater than 40 but less than or equal to 100 | At least 4 + 5% x No. of attached dwellings greater than 40. |
| More than 100 | At least 7 + 5% x No. of attached dwellings greater than 100. |
NOTES:
- This also satisfies the initial sound testing requirements (see paragraph 2.2.2)
- Refer to Table 2 for number of individual tests required in a ‘set of tests’.
- Round up to the nearest whole number
- Refer to paragraph 2.3 where constructions other than those detailed in Section 3 and 4 are used.
A “dwelling” definition now includes a flat where any new work takes place on or after 1st. July 2015 as well as all house, apartment and duplex type properties. This means that previously exempt material alteration and change of use works must also now comply with the required sound insulation metrics of revised Technical Guidance Document E.