Section 0: Performance

Performance standards

0.1 In the Secretary of State’s view the normal way of satisfying Requirement E1 will be to build separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function, together with the associated flanking construction, in such a way that they achieve the sound insulation values for dwelling-houses and flats set out in Table 1 a, and the values for rooms for residential purposes (see definition in Regulation 2) set out in Table 1 b. For walls that separate rooms for residential purposes from adjoining dwelling-houses and flats, the performance standards given in Table 1 a should be achieved

0.2 Regulation 20A of the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) and Regulation 12A of the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2000 (as amended) apply to building work to which Requirement E1 applies. Regulation 20A applies where building control is being carried out by a local authority, and Regulation 12A applies where it is being carried out by an Approved Inspector. The normal way of satisfying Regulation 20A or 12A will be to implement a programme of sound insulation testing according to the guidance set out in Section 1: Pre-completion testing of this Approved Document.

0.3 The sound insulation testing should be carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex B of this Approved Document, which is the procedure formally approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of paragraph (2)(a) of Regulation 20A and paragraph (2)(a) of Regulation 12A. The results of the testing must be recorded in the manner described in paragraph 1.41 of Section 1 of this Approved Document, which is the manner approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of paragraph (3)(a) of Regulation 20A and paragraph (3)(a) of Regulation 12A. The test results must be given to the building control body in accordance with the time limits set down in Regulation 20A (for cases where building control is being done by the local authority) or Regulation 12A (in cases where it is being done by an Approved Inspector).

0.4 The person carrying out the building work should arrange for sound insulation testing to be carried out by a test body with appropriate third party accreditation. Test bodies conducting testing should preferably have UKAS accreditation (or a European equivalent) for field measurements.

0.5 Sections 2, 3, 4 and 6 of this Approved Document give examples of constructions, which, if built correctly, should achieve the sound insulation values for dwelling-houses and flats set out in Table 1 a, and the values for rooms for residential purposes set out in Table 1 b. The guidance in these sections is not exhaustive and other designs, materials or products may be used to achieve the required performance.

Table 1 a: Dwelling-houses and flats - performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function.

Table 1 b: Rooms for residential purposes - performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function.