soundproofing

liz69 · 30th August 2007, 16:50

Hi, We have a Persimmon home and need some advice. One of the points on the snagging checklist is to do with soundproofing in the home ( checking for excessive transmission of noise from cloakrooms, bathrooms and ensuites)

We feel that soundproofing within all these areas for us is very bad, but how do you know what is normal levels of sound for these areas, are there any standard tests that can be carried out.

Any help would be appreciated

From Liz

willyj · 30th August 2007, 18:57

Hi
Part E of the Building Regulations does specify the performance criteria for soundproofing of bathrooms and w.c.'s from adjacent rooms.
I suggest a web search under 'Sound Testing' would give you a company local to you who could carry out tests. They should carry third party accreditation so that they can carry out sound testing.
Be warned it is not cheap, but I always think that if something looks (or sounds) wrong then generally it is wrong.

squid · 2nd September 2007, 11:01

Have you put your disatisfaction into writing yet?
If not try writing to the builder expressing your concern with the perceived excessive sound transmission and how it is affecting your enjoyment of your new home.
Also enquire how their construction has satisfied the requirements of Approved Document E2 of the Building Regulations.

For your info... ADE2 'Dwelling-houses... shall be constructed in such a way that... internal walls between a bedroom or room cotaining a wc, and other rooms... provide a reasonable resistance to sound'

There are levels of sound reduction that are described later on in the regs as reasonable and the regs then go further to describe construction methods that are acceptable in order to comply (Robust Details)that most house builders work to.

Incidentally I would be concerned that if they have ignored this requirement then maybe they have also ignored the similar requirement for the internal floors.

I would advise that you should get this sorted out within 12 months of the issue of the completion certificate by your local authority as during this time period statutory enforcement of remedial work is possible.

Hope this helps.

liz69 · 3rd September 2007, 16:09

Thanks for your help guys. I have not contacted the builder yet - but will do now. I hesitated to contact them before because after our very long snag list, we felt they would think we were looking for problems.

DrPepperVsMrSalt · 4th November 2007, 15:47

I too have just moved into a persimmon house, sadly I wish I had found this website before I did! I can say the house has been good and finished to a very good standard to the point I only had one item on my snag list! That was until the house next door became occupied and I realised how bad the sound proofing is! I can hear doors closing! Coughing! Music that I should not be able to hear! I have found out that new builds can pass a sound test simply by registering with a company and proving that they have used the correct materials without having an actual sound test! Has anybody else experienced this and what have you done?

Warwick · 6th November 2007, 09:52

take a look at this article Persimmon Homes fined

http://www.mk-news.co.uk/mknews/Disp....asp?ID=219708

Bugbait · 8th November 2007, 11:08

The neighbour and I spent over a year arguing with our builder, Nicholas King and NHBC regarding the sound proofing, or should I say lack of it. If you check the NHBC guidelines you'll find that ambient or airborne sound can reach 54dB and impact about 64dB. It doesn't take much to pass the sound testing as the bar is set very high.

We forced them to retest and it 'passed with flying colours' (so says the NHBC muppet) which translates into 'by 1-2dB' (after I hassled them for the report). Garbage!

An independant sound test will cost about £600+, if not £800+.

peteboy · 4th April 2009, 14:04

I think part E sucks as it seems anyone can pass the test with minimal need to actually make the house quiet.
.

peteboy · 9th April 2009, 03:09

After loads of letter to my developer and NHBC and tests and getting nowhere I eventually got on to a noise specialist: soundproofingforum.co.uk(Soundproofing and noise soundproofing acoustic products)
They gave some help but even experts could not get any fix from the developer.

So I had some remedial soundproofing done from my own pocket as this seemed the only way to get a decent nights sleep.

zednine · 12th May 2009, 18:32

ha .. if you have a wee in our upstairs loo the whole of the ground floor can hear it...