Soundproof testing, also referred to as sound insulation testing, noise testing, pre-completion testing, and acoustic testing, is a method of assessing how sound travels within a piece of property or structure, whether internal or external. Sound testing has long been a requirement for new structures or dwellings in the UK, and it is also a requirement for a domestic conversion that produces two dwelling places that are adjoined. Your property, needless to say, will have to pass the sound test so it can adhere to Building Regulations Part E for England and Wales. But if you are unfamiliar with the entire process of sound testing and what it may require, here are the essential factors you should remember about soundproof testing for your property.

What is sound testing?

Sound testing, as already mentioned, is a requirement under Building Regulations, and it should demonstrate that your property has an acceptable noise performance. The test can assess airborne noise, which travels through the air and impact noise, which travels due to the impact on a particular surface, like footsteps on floors.

What does the test involve?

In Building Regulations Part E, it is required that floors and walls be tested, especially between two dwellings, which are adjoined, to make sure that they meet the regulations for an acceptable noise level. The precise number of property walls that will require testing will depend on the total size of your development, although a standard small- to medium-sized development with less than ten dwelling spaces will require a sound insulation test that will often include two airborne tests for walls, two airborne tests for flooring, and two impact tests.

When should I schedule the test?

Experts in sound testing, such as TheBuildingComplianceTeam.com, recommend scheduling the test as early as possible, which means that you should have your test at the beginning phase of your project or development. When you schedule your test early, you will have the greatest possible opportunity of passing it. But keep in mind that there are also some requirements in your development’s progress that can impact the tester’s ability to conduct sound testing. It would be best, for instance, that your external doors and windows are already installed and glazed and can close. Another requirement would be that your ventilation systems are already installed and that your internal doors are hung. To have a better chance of passing, you should also ensure that your electric sockets, skirting boards, and switches are already fitted, and if the structure is to undergo impact testing, that your floors are not cosmetically finished yet.

The rooms where the sound test will be performed should also be empty and free from debris, and you should make sure that there are no tradespeople working in your property when the test is being carried out. The tester will need to have access to your property from either side of the partitions, and your dwelling places should have 240-volt power as well.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the test will often depend on your development’s size, and it is usually broken down into two categories: a site charge or fee that covers the expense of expert equipment, reporting, and engineers, and another fee or charge based on how many tests you need to undergo.

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