Feedback on New Homes and Pre-Completion Testing

1. Feedback on new homes and pre-completion testing Adrian James www.adrianjamesacoustics.co.uk Sustainable new homes and sound insulation 2006 www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk

3. Requirement E1 Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings Dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they provide reasonable resistance to sound from other parts of the same building and from adjoining buildings. >>>Not just from other residences <<<

4. Requirement E1 Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings “A higher standard of sound insulation may be required between spaces used for normal domestic purposes and communal or non-domestic purposes…..specialist advice may be needed to determine the appropriate level” (Section 0.8)

5. Performance standards Rating for separating walls “Old” target : no values below 49 dB DnT,w To arrive at revised standard: • start with the old target value (49) • add 3dB to increase target value (52) • subtract 5dB because Ctr is typically -5dB (47) • subtract 2dB to allow for measurement uncertainty PCT standard: 45 dB DnT,w+ Ctr • built in allowance for measurement uncertainty means the test is failed if the standard is not achieved by any margin. • Does this work for Ecohomes points ?

6. Measuring airborne sound insulation

8. Measuring impact sound insulation

10. Objectives of revision • To raise standards (debatable) • To improve compliance with standards (through requirement for testing) • To extend scope of Part E beyond current limits (although protection from external noise is not included for legal reasons)

11. Types of separating wall - new build

12. Types of separating floor - new build

13. Independent ceiling treatment for conversions

14. Floating floor treatment for conversions (NB High risk approach)

15. Pre-completion testing 1 • Sound insulation testing on a sample of properties as a compliance control check • building control body designates properties to be tested • the developer arranges and pays for tests to be carried out - passes results to building control body • it remains developer’s responsibility to satisfy the Requirements for the whole development

16. Action following a failed set of tests A set of tests is failed if any of the individual tests are failed. In the event of a failed test: • remedial treatment for the rooms that failed the test • appropriate action for rooms that share same separating wall or floor • appropriate action for other units not tested

17. Robust standard details The House-builders’ Federation had “several concerns” about the introduction pre-completion testing and have developed Robust Standard Details (RSDs): - spend money on construction - not testing • high performance constructions • consistent performance • improved site checking

18. Robust standard Details

19. Accreditation for testers ADE states "Test bodies conducting testing should preferably have UKAS accreditation (or a European equivalent) for field measurements".

20. ANC Registration Scheme ODPM circular, 18 July 2003 “The ANC has set up a registration scheme for their members, and at the present time the ODPM also regards members of this scheme as suitably qualified to carry our pre-completion testing".

21. Association of Noise Consultants The only professional association for independent acoustic consultants. Objectives : • To maintain and improve the standards of conduct and competence of acoustics consultants • To represent and make known the views of its members; • To promote further education and knowledge in acoustics; • To provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information on matters of common interest.

22. ANC – Membership requirements • >50% graduates and / or MIOA or equivalent • Responsible professional practicing acousticians • Effectively independent of manufacturers • PI Insurance • Commercially self-sustaining • Compliance with ANC Code of conduct • Must submit typical reports and demonstrate technical knowledge and competence at interview (substantial rejection rate)

23. ANC Registration Scheme • Only open to ANC members (so all testers must be competent consultants) • Must test in complete accordance with BS EN ISO 140 parts 4 and 7 and Annex B of ADE • Regime of initial assessment, annual audits and witness testing + investigation of any reported anomalies in test procedures

24. ANC PCT Registration Scheme • All test results (pass or fail) have to be registered on the central database • Central checking of calculations • Third party issue of certificates • Administered by real consultants who do tests themselves • A requirement for Robust Detail Inspectors • Officially recognised by ODPM as an acceptable alternative to UKAS Accreditation

25. ANC Registration SchemeApplication process • 2 recent reports on SI tests showing methodology in complete accordance with ISO 140:4 and ISO 140:7, ISO 717 and ADE • Calculations / spreadsheets for checking • List of all equipment and calibration • CVs for named testers – must be suitably qualified, typically MIOA or AMIOA

26. ANC Registration SchemeAudits and checks • Annual audit – reports selected at random from the central database • Annual review of equipment, calibration and calculation methods • Witnessed testing by an examiner

27. Scheme Admin and checking There are 4 levels ofchecking : • Board of expert examiners • Registration Committee • Independent secretariat • Separate company to handle and process data and issue certificates

28. Statistics • Of 89 ANC member organisations, 53 are registered for PCTs with 211 individual testers • About 2,000 tests per month – over 50,000 PCTs completed to date. ADE would collapse without the Scheme • Capacity for further growth in PCTs if required • Analysis shows uneven enforcement of PCTs in different parts of the UK.

29. More Statistics • Failure rate on first-time PCTs has dropped from about 40-50% to about 10% • Failures are remedied (with advice from ANC members) and re-tested • The builder learns from this process

30. Research and round-robin tests • A series of tests on the same constructions by different ANC testers using their own methods and equipment • Results generally agreed within the expected variance published in ISO 140:2 for LABORATORY tests • No statistically significant differences between different types of source, or between swept / fixed mic positions

31. ANC Scheme – Advantages • Consistent interpretation of standards (ISO 140 and 717 are far from clear) • All testers are competent acoustics consultants • Huge amount of expertise and data available within the ANC • Administration by experts for experts • Continuing feedback, education and information for members

32. ANC Scheme – Disadvantages • It’s not UKAS accredited

33. Ecohomes 2006 - HEA2 “The assessor needs to confirm that the acoustic consultancy carrying out/ set to carry out the testing is accredited by UKAS or a European equivalent for field sound insulation testing. If the testing has been carried out/ will be carried out according to the relevant ISO requirements this will also be accepted provided that the test reports and all measurement data have been/ will be checked and verified by an organisation with UKAS accreditation for field sound insulation testing.” (In practice this is not allowed by UKAS)

34. Ecohomes 2006 - HEA2 “At present (Robust Details) are not accepted under EcoHomes as proof of compliance with Part E standards as data is not currently available to demonstrate their robustness. BRE is discussing this with Robust Details Ltd and are awaiting field test data from them.”