SEPARATING WALLS (NEW BUILDINGS) SOUNDPROOFING

The wall finish of the framed inner leaf of the external wall should be:

  1. one layer of plasterboard, or
  2. two layers of plasterboard where there is a separating floor
  3. each sheet of plasterboard to be of minimum mass per unit area 10 kg/m2, and
  4. all joints should be sealed with tape or caulked with sealant.

Diagram 2-9: Wall type 1 – external cavity wall with timber frame inner leaf
Diagram 2-9: Wall type 1 – external cavity wall with timber frame inner leaf soundproofing

Junctions with an external solid masonry wall

2.42 No guidance available (seek specialist advice).

Junctions with internal framed walls

2.43 There are no restrictions on internal framed walls meeting a type 1 separating wall.

Junctions with internal masonry walls

2.44 Internal masonry walls that abut a type 1 separating wall should have a mass per unit area of at least 120 kg/m2 excluding finish.

Junctions with internal timber floors

2.45 If the floor joists are to be supported on a type 1 separating wall then they should be supported on hangers and should not be built in. See Diagram 2-10.

Junctions with internal concrete floors

2.46 An internal concrete floor slab may only be carried through a type 1 separating wall if the floor base has a mass per unit area of at least 365 kg/m2. See Diagram 2-11.

2.47 Internal hollow-core concrete plank floors and concrete beams with infilling block floors should not be continuous through a type 1 separating wall.

2.48 For internal floors of concrete beams with infilling blocks, avoid beams built in to the separating wall unless the blocks in the floor fill the space between the beams where they penetrate the wall.

Diagram 2-10: Wall type 1 – internal timber floor
Diagram 2-10: Wall type 1 – internal timber floor soundproofing

Diagram 2-11: Wall type 1 – internal concrete floor
Diagram 2-11: Wall type 1 – internal concrete floor soundproofing

Junctions with timber ground floors

2.49 If the floor joists are to be supported on a type 1 separating wall then they should be supported on hangers and should not be built in.

2.50 See Building Regulation Part C - Site preparation and resistance to moisture, and Building Regulation Part L - Conservation of fuel and power.

concrete slab may be carried through if mass per unit area is at least 365 kg/m2 Resistance to the passage of sound

Approved Document E 22

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