ACOUSTIC TESTING SERVICES

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Acoustic Testing 'Frequently Asked Questions'
Enclosed within this download are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions in matters relating to acoustic testing services provided by Air Pressure Testing <view document>.

Building Regulations Approved Document E
Approved Document E of the Building Regulations (2000) came into force on July 1 2003. It is designed to meet demands for improved acoustic insulation and to combat the problems of noise pollution from neighbours.

The Regulations apply to both new build and conversion or refurbishment work and set out standards for; the sound insulation of party walls and floors between dwellings (or rooms used for residential purposes), the sound insulation of internal walls and floors, the control of reverberation within communal areas and the acoustics of schools (See Building Bulletin 93). Approved Document E can be downloaded at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk

The Regulations require the builder to undertake pre-completion sound insulation testing of a sample of party walls and party floors to demonstrate to Building Control that compliance with Part E has been achieved. A series of Robust Standard Details (RSDs), constructions that will provide the required level of sound insulation with a suitable tolerance for workmanship have been developed and adopted as an alternative to pre-completion testing.

APT Acoustics can provide the following services in relation to Building Regulations Approved Document E: design advice, site inspections and UKAS accredited sound insulation testing
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Building Bulletin 93 - Acoustic Design of Schools
The aim of Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) is to provide a comprehensive guide for architects, building control bodies, building services engineers, and others involved in the design of new school buildings.
BB93 gives the performance targets for compliance with Requirement E4 from Part E of Schedule 1 of The Building Regulations 2000 that 'each room or other space in a school building shall have the acoustic conditions and the sound insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to its normal use'. All school buildings must conform to BB93 and are subject to detailed design checks on on-site inspections. The document BB93 can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk/acoustics

APT Acoustics can provide the following services to solve your classroom and school acoustic issues with relation to BB93: noise surveys , design services and sound testing.
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The Control of Noise at Work Regulations
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations which came into effect in February 2006 replacing the previous Noise at Work Regulations have been developed in order to comply with the European Union Physical Agents (Noise) Directive (2003/10/EC) which aims to protect workers from risks to their health arising from exposure to noise. The document The Control of Noise at Work 2005 can be read at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm. There has been a transitional period for music and entertainment sectors which is now coming to an end and it is expected that these premises will be compliant by 6th April 2008.

The Regulations give several "action levels", which mean that if noise reaches a certain level, an employer must take certain action.

The first action level is that of a daily average workplace noise of 80 dB. If noise reaches this level, employers must educate their workers as to the effect of noise and what can be done to protect them. They must also provide and maintain hearing protection for all the employees affected by the noise level. The 2005 regulations also state that employers must try to minimise the level of noise in the environment before bringing in hearing protection measures. This can be achieved through various methods, such as fitting noise absorbing panels to reduce sound reflection or modifying equipment to make it quieter.

The second action level is that of an average workplace noise of 85 dB or a peak of 137 dB. These regulations state that employers must enforce the use of hearing protection if workplace noise exceeds this level. Hearing protection zones, where workers must wear ear protection, must also be clearly marked at this level of noise. Average levels must never exceed 87dB nor peak at 140dB. This is known as the peak action level.

APT Acoustics can undertake occupational noise surveys to verify compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations.
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The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations came into force on 6th July 2005. The regulations apply to the exposure of workers to both hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration. The Control of noise at Work can be read at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051093.htm

The Regulations require the employer to assess the risk to health created by vibration at the workplace, to eliminate the exposure or where this is not reasonably practicable to reduce it to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. In some circumstances the employer is also obliged to provide health surveillance to prevent or diagnose any health effect linked with exposure to vibration. In addition the employer is also required to provide information, instruction and training on the risks of vibration at work to their employees where there is an established risk to their health.

APT Acoustics can undertake hand-arm and whole-body assessments to verify compliance with the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations.
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Planning Policy Guidance 24
Planning Policy Guidance 24 Planning and Noise (PPG24) was published in 1994 and aims to provide advice on how the planning system can be used to minimise the adverse impact of noise without placing unreasonable restrictions on development or adding unduly to the administrative burdens of business. PPG24 can be read at www.communities.gov.uk

PPG24 provides specific guidance on the assessment of noise on sites proposed for residential development and references other suitable documents for the assessment of noise affecting new or existing hospitals, road & rail traffic noise and noise from aircraft together with noise from industrial sites and the leisure industry.

APT Acoustics can undertake PPG24 assessments

It is strongly recommended you use a UKAS Accredited company

APT Acoustics is UKAS accredited (4340) for Sound Insulation Testing to Building Regulations Approved Document 'E'.

Sound testing is required by an UKAS Accredited (or similar) company to show compliance with the Building Regulations Approved Document E 'Resistance to the Passage of Sound' criteria. Testing is conducted on party floors and walls which separate dwellings from one another. Sound Testing is used to assess the performance of the insulation and its associated flanking elements.

Pre Completion Testing has been a mandatory requirement since July 2003. All new build properties and conversions which were built after this date require 10% of each party wall/floor construction type to be tested. Testing is to be carried out between pairs of rooms separated by party walls or floors, in most cases the rooms to be tested will be the two main habitable rooms which would be living rooms and bedrooms. The test procedure involves setting up a noise source in a room on one side of the party wall or floor and measuring the noise on both sides of the partition.

APT Acoustics site testing is undertaken to a stringent internal quality system following the guidance from ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

The testing methods for airborne and impact sound insulation is in full accordance with the suggested methods presented in BS EN ISO 140-parts 4 and 7: 1998. The results of the tests are analyzed in accordance with BS EN ISO 717 parts 1 and 2: 1997.

Call now to get your free quotation on 0777 562 3464. With consultants nationwide we can offer an extremely good service and an extremely good price. All our prices are specific to your site and needs.

APT Acoustics undertakes UKAS accredited Acoustic Testing

APT Acoustics is a UK based company which prides itself on being Proactive and working with our clients to achieve a successful outcome to all your Acoustic requirements

By Mobile - 07967 233836 or 07775 623464 (available 7am to 10pm)

By E-mail - info@airpressuretesting.net

ACOUSTIC TESTING SERVICES

APT ACOUSTIC TESTING SERVICES
Head Office: Sayells Farm, 7 Harlington Road, Upper Sundon, Bedfordshire, LU3 3PE
Tel: 07967 233836 or 07775 623464
Email: info@airpressuretesting.net

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