HI All
I thought i would offer some free information about converting house to flats to all those who might be considering it.
First of all just to be clear, i am a qualified Acoustic Consultant, Robust Detail Senior Inspector and i run acoustic consultancy company, i have designed and tested the acoustic separation of flats, hotels, schools, hospitals, both new builds and conversions. I have nearly 20 years experience of this completing well over 2000 projects all over the country and so am well qualified to give advice, i thought i would try and assist on a no strings attached basis.
Basically Building Regulations Approved Document E requires that if you are converting a house into flats then you need to acoustically separate those flats both from other flats and communal spaces, there are other requirements so if its a bigger project then you should get professional advice.
Once you have completed works a sound test will be required the minimum performance required is as follows
Flat conversions
Airborne floor tests need to achieve min 43 dB DnTw + Ctr
Impact Floor Tests need to achieve max 64 dB LnTw
Airborne Wall Tests need to achieve min 43 dB DnTw + Ctr
New build flats
Airborne floor tests need to achieve min 45 dB DnTw + Ctr
Impact Floor Tests need to achieve max 62 dB LnTw
Airborne Wall Tests need to achieve min 45 dB DnTw + Ctr
If any tests fail to meet these figures then reworks need to take place and then a retest is required. The only exceptions are for Listed Buildings but that gets a little complicated so again specialist advice will be required.
Some buildings are easier to convert than others, newer buildings less than 30 years old can be expensive to convert because of the way they were built. Concrete floor buildings are easier generally and buildings of around 100 years old are also easier to deal with.
Does anyone have any questions relating to the above?
Many Thanks
Mark
I thought i would offer some free information about converting house to flats to all those who might be considering it.
First of all just to be clear, i am a qualified Acoustic Consultant, Robust Detail Senior Inspector and i run acoustic consultancy company, i have designed and tested the acoustic separation of flats, hotels, schools, hospitals, both new builds and conversions. I have nearly 20 years experience of this completing well over 2000 projects all over the country and so am well qualified to give advice, i thought i would try and assist on a no strings attached basis.
Basically Building Regulations Approved Document E requires that if you are converting a house into flats then you need to acoustically separate those flats both from other flats and communal spaces, there are other requirements so if its a bigger project then you should get professional advice.
Once you have completed works a sound test will be required the minimum performance required is as follows
Flat conversions
Airborne floor tests need to achieve min 43 dB DnTw + Ctr
Impact Floor Tests need to achieve max 64 dB LnTw
Airborne Wall Tests need to achieve min 43 dB DnTw + Ctr
New build flats
Airborne floor tests need to achieve min 45 dB DnTw + Ctr
Impact Floor Tests need to achieve max 62 dB LnTw
Airborne Wall Tests need to achieve min 45 dB DnTw + Ctr
If any tests fail to meet these figures then reworks need to take place and then a retest is required. The only exceptions are for Listed Buildings but that gets a little complicated so again specialist advice will be required.
Some buildings are easier to convert than others, newer buildings less than 30 years old can be expensive to convert because of the way they were built. Concrete floor buildings are easier generally and buildings of around 100 years old are also easier to deal with.
Does anyone have any questions relating to the above?
Many Thanks
Mark