Contents

Use of Guidance							3
The Requirements						5
Section 0: Performance						8
Performance standards						8
Section 1: Pre-completion testing				12
Introduction							12
Grouping							12
Sub grouping for new buildings					12
Sub grouping for material change of use				13
Sets of tests in dwelling-houses
(including bungalows)						13
Sets of tests in flats with separating floors
but without separating walls					13
Sets of tests in flats with a separating floor
and a separating wall   					13
Types of rooms for testing					13
Sets of tests in rooms for residential
purposes							13
Properties sold before fitting-out				13
Normal programme of testing					14
Action following a failed set of tests				14
Remedial treatment						14
Material change of use						14
Approved manner of recording
pre-completion testing results					14
Section 2: Separating walls and
associated flanking constructions
for new buildings						16
Introduction							16
Junctions between separating elements
and other building elements					16
Mass per unit area of walls					17
Plasterboard linings on separating and
external masonry walls						17
Cavity widths in separating cavity masonry walls		17
Wall ties in separating and external cavity masonry walls	17
Corridor walls and doors					18
Refuse chutes							18
Wall type 1: Solid masonry					18
Junction requirements for wall type 1				20
Wall type 2: Cavity masonry					24
Junction requirements for wall type 2				26
Wall type 3: Masonry between independent panels			29
Junction requirements for wall type 3				32
Wall type 4: Framed walls with absorbent material		35
Junction requirements for wall type 4				36
Section 3: Separating floors and
associated flanking constructions
for new buildings						38
Introduction							38
Junctions between separating floors and
other building elements						38
Beam and block floors						39
Mass per unit area of floors					39
Ceiling treatments						39
Floor type 1: Concrete base with ceiling
and soft floor covering						40
Junction requirements for floor type 1				41
Floor type 2: Concrete base with ceiling and floating floor	44
Floating floors (floating layers and resilient layers)		45
Junction requirements for floor type 2				47
Floor type 3: Timber frame base with ceiling and platform floor	49
Junction requirements for floor type 3				50
Section 4: Dwelling-houses and flats
formed by material change of use				53
Introduction							53
Work to existing construction					54
Corridor walls and doors					54
Wall treatment 1: Independent panel(s) with absorbent material	55
Floor treatment 1: Independent ceiling with absorbent material	56
Floor treatment 2: Platform floor with
absorbent material						57