Internal walls and floors sound transmission

[nem39esis]

I have a new build bellway home and im concerned over sound transmission. Im getting the party wall tested but the builder wont test internal partitions as apparently they dont do that. NHBC guidance states building regs part E as the requirement. My floor should therefore be (from top down) carpet, floorboards/chipboard, timber joist absorbant material and single layer of plasterboard. However i appear to be missing this absorbant material layer completely. Is this right?

Second query is partition walls. Way i read it is that i should have one layer of plasterboard with mineral wool or 2 layers of plasterboard without?

Are there any alternatives, i.e. things the builder might do that is said to be instead of mineral wool or extra plasterboard that meets these requirements?

Ive asked the builder and am awaiting their response

[SteveF]

I have a new build bellway home and im concerned over sound transmission. Im getting the party wall tested but the builder wont test internal partitions as apparently they dont do that. NHBC guidance states building regs part E as the requirement. My floor should therefore be (from top down) carpet, floorboards/chipboard, timber joist absorbant material and single layer of plasterboard. However i appear to be missing this absorbant material layer completely. Is this right?

Second query is partition walls. Way i read it is that i should have one layer of plasterboard with mineral wool or 2 layers of plasterboard without?

Are there any alternatives, i.e. things the builder might do that is said to be instead of mineral wool or extra plasterboard that meets these requirements?

Ive asked the builder and am awaiting their response

Hi

I was wondering if you had any update as would be very interested in hearing what the builder had to say!!

SteveF

[nem39esis]

An update, I recieved a respons at last, im told my internall walls are as follows: Gyproc Gypwall dB plus comprising of 43mm Acoustuds at 450mm centres & 15mm Gyproc Soundbloc Rapidlining each side.

I looked up the spec on the Gyproc website. Its produced so that it complies with building regs to offer sound insulation to the levels they require. However, my observation was that this only works if it is installed correctly.

I noticed one thing that was not done. Between the bottom of the plasterboard and floor, a gyproc filler is supposed to be used. I noticed when the builders came round to fix some sqeeky floors and the skirting was removed that there is a 2 inch gap between the bottom of the plasterboard and floor which, as is in the spec for the wall, should be filled. Im also skeptical as to weather they actually used the correct plasterbaord, as it would be very easy for a contractor to use a cheaper alternaticve.

Ive passed this back to the builder for a reply, been a week waiting, but im convinced something has been done wrong, as you can hear someone quite clearly if theyre in the bathroom. I diodnt get a response regarding the floor spec however either.

Does anybody know if the pipes to and from a sink/bath in a bathroom that are within a wall should be insulated against sound?

[NewHomeExpert]

I agree the key issue here is that all the insulation should be installed correctly ie with no gaps and correct material and thickness.

You need to be careful about filling gaps between the skirting and the floor and the plasterboard and the floor as it is possible fro flooring noise to be transfeered to the wall quite easilly if the gap is not maintained.

There are specialist products such as compressible foam that can be used to fill any gaps.

Any SVP wste pipes in bathrooms should be sound insulated. Hot and cold can be insulated but not for sound.

Whether you have two layers of plasterboard or one with mineral wool sound insulation both will give a good sound reduction in my opinion.

Gyproc Soundbloc plasterboard is also better for sound insulation purposes.

[Raffles]

HI

I have the same problem with my house. I bought my new(ish) built house 2 years ago, the property is 4 years old. To cut a very long storey short, we had YUILL (never ever buy from this company by the way) come round after our numerous complaints to them and they put a camera through the wall to confirm to us that there had "not" been sound insulation put in the cavity walls. The house was suppose to be built to robust plans where there was a 10mm screen put on top of the breeze block, we found out that this was not the case after we had inlisted a private builder to sound proof our bedroom so that my husband and I could get some sleep, turned out the screening was not there. YUILL have since dragged their heels then decided to conduct a sound test on our property (using a company they already have a long term contract with), the results were that my internal party walls between the houses (my home is terrace) passes Regulation E, I do not believe the test was carried out in a fair way. Surely you are not suppose to hear your neighbours having a normal conversation through the party wall!!!! If you are getting a sound test done, make sure it is through an independant company as I truely believe my test was rigged to pass. I now have to pay for something to be done myself as I can't live with the noise transmission.

[NewHomeExpert]

You really need to take this further.

Write to Yuill's Managing Director and send a copy to the NHBC.
If Yuill have colluded with an "independant" sound tester to falsify test resuts in order to achieve Building Regulations this is a very serious matter.

If your house has sound insulation missing it is highly likely that all homes on the development will be the same.

You should get your own sound tester in to check the wall then you will have truly independant proof of what you are thinking.

Perhaps you could get some more of your neighbours to have a test too and keep costs down in the process.

You can claim the cost of the test from Yuill as part of your settlement.

[Raffles]

Apparently the rest of the development has been built to the plans that were agreed by the council, when they built my house it was used as the show homes block so they were built first. However our four homes were not built to the same specification as the others as the original plans were rejected so they omitted to include the sound insulation in my house.

We have tried the NHBC and they are not worth the paper the 10 year guarantee is written on and the managing director hasn't even given us the common decency to reply to our letter to him.

[NewHomeExpert]

Ir sounds like your house did not meet the requirements of Part E of the Building Regulations covering sound insulation.
This is why it was changed in later homes that have been built.

If, as seems very likely, this is the case, your home does not meet the standards required by the building regulations and the NHBC warranty (not guarantee!) will cover you for the required works.

The NHBC have a duty to process this claim as your defect is clearly covered by thier Buildmark Policy.

Write to the NHBC again, explain your situation (and that of the other three homes) built to the rejected plans and insist this matter is dealt with. Enclose copies of all letters to Yuill regarding your complaint.

Forget about the house builder Yuill, it is now an NHBC matter.

Try to be positive, the NHBC will help you.