Residential Buildings & Pre-Completion Testing

WBM offer a comprehensive sound insulation testing service, undertaken in accordance with current national and international standards and current Building Regulations for residential and commercial developments.  If you require information specifically on pre-completion testing for ADE 2003 please click here.

For residential type buildings, noise control or more commonly sound insulation, is covered by legislation. In July 2003 Approved Document E 2003 (ADE 2003) of the Building Regulations came into force with an amendment following in 2004. This document sets out the standards of sound insulation for separating walls and floors that must be met by both new build and 'change of use' (conversion) residential developments and tested during pre-completion testing (see above link). ADE 2003 also sets out requirements for internal walls and floors and the control of reverberation.  The requirements of ADE 2003 apply to houses and flats as well as "rooms for residential purposes", which includes hotels, residential homes and halls of residence.

WBM has significant experience within this area, having completed hundreds of projects for commercial and residential developments including new and refurbished buildings and mixed-use developments where retail, entertainment, leisure, commercial, hotel and residential demises sit side by side. We provide a bespoke professional service, advising property developers, architects, contractors, housing associations and local authorities on all inter-demise aspects of acoustics, including construction details, services plant, room finishes and compliance testing near completion.

For residential type buildings WBM can advise on all aspects of ADE 2003. WBM will work with clients on a project from inception and site feasibility stage through to the pre completion testing and will liaise closely with the Local Authority Environmental Health and Building Control officers as required. We can also provide advice when better standards than ADE 2003 are needed, for example as required by the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH).

Our experience covers both new build and conversion properties and we can also provide advice on tailored remedial measures to improve sound insulation and room acoustics for existing buildings. For example improving separation of walls and floors in flats and improving room acoustics for large home cinemas.

Click here to download a copy of this page as a pdf document.