When sound testing became part of the building regulations, it was a necessary step in ensuring that everyone would have access to buildings. The construction industry has been known for not including everyone’s needs when designing their buildings which is why developers are now required to adhere to these standards when constructing new structures. This blog post will explore what sound testing is and how it can be beneficial to your project!
Sound testing has been around since the early days of building regulations. The reason sound tests are so important is because they ensure that buildings are constructed in a way that allows occupants to have reasonable levels of acoustic comfort, which means less disruption and more productivity!
In the past, there have been many cases where buildings have been constructed that were not up to the required standards. This could be because of a lack of understanding or simply that they were built before current building regulations and codes existed. The construction industry is always changing and improving, but we need to make sure we’re also paying attention to changes in legislation too!
Importance of Sound Testing
Sound testing is not only important for measuring the disruption of people’s lives but also because it can affect your compliance with building regulations. If you are found to be in breach of Part E, then there will likely be serious financial implications which could put you out of business! What this means is that by having sound testing done on site during construction and before the building is handed over to you, it can help reduce your risk of being fined.
Sound testing is now an integral part of Part E compliance and if this has not been completed or there are gaps found then there are likely to be some hefty fines involved for non-compliance with the regulations. There have even been cases where occupants have sued for damages due to noise nuisance. So, if you are a property developer or specifier make sure that sound testing is included as part of your contractual requirements with the contractor / subcontractor undertaking the work on your behalf.
As for all building works, there is now more than just construction design and build phases involved in ensuring compliance with Part E; the use and occupation of buildings is included too. So, not only is it essential that the work carried out is to the required standard but also throughout their useful life; which could be decades for some high-rise multi-occupancy residential properties.
For more information on sound testing and the building regulations, contact our team at Lighthouse Acoustics on 0161 457 0515 or email any enquiries to Enquiry@LighthouseAcoustics.co.uk.
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