Approved Document E Frequently Asked Questions – Resistance to Sound Guidance
The Approved Document E Frequently Asked Questions is a supplemental technical guide issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities). Dated March 2016, this document provides official clarifications on the application of the Building Regulations concerning the resistance to the passage of sound. It specifically addresses queries related to Approved Document E (2003 edition) and its subsequent amendments in 2004, 2010, 2013, and 2015.
The document's scope includes regulatory interpretations for residential acoustics, covering new building work, conversions, and Rooms for Residential Purposes. It details specific requirements for separating walls and separating floors, the implementation of Requirement E3 regarding reverberation, and the criteria for Pre-completion testing. Key legal definitions referenced include those from the Housing Act 2004 and Regulation 2(1) of the Building Regulations, particularly as they pertain to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and specialized healthcare environments.
The guidance is structured to assist building control bodies, developers, and acoustic consultants in determining compliance across various building categories, including care homes and student halls of residence. It clarifies technical procedures for sound insulation testing and the use of Robust Details.
Care Homes and Healthcare Facilities
The application of Part E standards to care homes depends on whether the facility is classified as a dwelling or a Room for Residential Purposes. While the 2003 revision extended standards to hostel-type accommodations, specific exclusions exist for rooms used for patient accommodation.
- Hospital Exclusion: Rooms in hospitals or similar establishments used for patient accommodation may be excluded to ensure medical staff can hear sounds of distress and maintain rapid access.
- Care Home Assessment: Building control bodies must decide if a care home qualifies as a similar establishment. Residents receiving high levels of care who are unable to live independently may be categorized alongside hospital patients.
- Acoustic Privacy: The primary aim of the regulations is to ensure a reasonable degree of acoustic privacy in homes and rooms for residential purposes.
Pre-completion Testing Requirements
The Building Regulations and the Approved Inspectors Regulations mandate appropriate pre-completion testing for new developments unless robust details have been utilized. The document outlines the qualifications required for organizations performing these measurements.
- Accreditation: Organizations should preferably hold UKAS accreditation or a European equivalent for field measurements.
- ANC Registration: Members of the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) Registration Scheme are also regarded as suitably qualified to carry out testing.
- Third-Party Checks: While non-accredited organizations may work to similar standards, their operations have not been subjected to the same third-party verification as UKAS or ANC members.
Reverberation in Common Internal Parts
To satisfy Requirement E3, absorbent treatment must be applied to specific areas to protect residents from noise produced in reverberant common areas of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes.
- Applicable Areas: The requirement applies to corridors, stairwells, hallways, and entrance halls that provide access to a flat or a room for residential purposes.
- Treatment Focus: Absorbent treatment should normally be applied to common areas onto which dwellings open directly.
- Exemptions: Treatment is typically not required for common areas adjacent to separating walls that do not contain doors or windows, assuming normal usage.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)
Determining if an HMO contains Rooms for Residential Purposes as defined in Regulation 2(1) requires a case-by-case assessment based on the specific use of the premises.
- Residential Purpose Definition: This includes rooms or suites used by one or more persons to live and sleep in hostels, hotels, boarding houses, halls of residence, or residential homes.
- HMO Classification: HMOs used for purposes substantially similar to hotels or hostels are likely to be classified as rooms for residential purposes.
- Family Dwelling-House Exclusion: It is unlikely that bedrooms in an HMO consisting of a single family dwelling-house shared by a small group of students would be regarded as rooms for residential purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Building Regulations to resolve noise issues from existing neighbours?
No, Building Regulations apply to new building work and are not retrospective. Issues in existing buildings should be raised with the builder or warranty provider.
Which organizations are qualified to carry out pre-completion sound testing?
The government recommends using organizations that are either UKAS accredited for field measurements or registered members of the ANC Registration Scheme.
Is sound insulation testing required between living spaces and corridors?
Paragraph 1.8 of Approved Document E advises against testing between these spaces because the complex shape of circulation areas can lead to unreliable results and difficulty in establishing volume.
What is the purpose of Requirement E3 in common parts of buildings?
The requirement aims to protect residents from noise produced in reverberant areas such as corridors and stairwells that give direct access to their flats.
Do care home residents always require the same sound insulation as private dwellings?
Not necessarily; if residents require a high level of care and medical staff need to monitor them for distress, the facility may be excluded from certain Part E requirements, similar to a hospital.
How are small rooms handled during sound test measurements?
Sound test measurements in small rooms may have reduced accuracy; technical guidance for these scenarios is provided in paragraph B2.11 in Annex B of Approved Document E.
Must walls be designed for sound resistance if they are not being tested?
Yes, separating walls and floors subject to requirement E1 must always be designed and constructed to provide reasonable resistance to sound regardless of whether they undergo testing.
