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Other legislation – The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993
NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (the Workplace Regulations) contain some requirements which affect building design. The main requirements are now covered
dwellingflatssoundPart G Application and Interpretation
Regulation 48NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
48.—(1) Regulation 50 shall not apply to— (a) an internal wall that contains a door; (b) an internal wall that separates an en-suite toilet from the associated bedroom; or (c) existing walls and floor
dwellingflatssoundnon-domesticProtection against sound from other parts of the building and from adjoining buildings
Regulation 49NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
A dwelling or room for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way so as to provide reasonable resistance to the passage of sound from other parts of the same building outside
dwellingflatssoundmeans-of-escapeProtection against sound within a dwelling or room for residential purposes
50NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Within a dwelling or room for residential purposes reasonable resistance to the passage of airborne sound shall be provided by— (a) internal walls that separate— (i) a bedroom; and (ii) a room contain
dwellingflatssoundmeans-of-escapeReverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
51NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Any common internal part of a building that contains a flat or a room for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to limit reverberation around those common parts to a
flatsdwellingsoundProtection against sound from other parts of the building and from adjoining buildings
0.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 49 will be met in a dwelling or room for residential purposes where adequate provisions are made in the design and construction of
dwellingresidentialsoundseparating-elementsflanking-constructionSeparating walls and associated flanking constructions for new buildings
0.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Section 2 – Separating walls and associated flanking constructions for new buildings, gives a range of wall constructions which, if properly designed and constructed, should provide reasonable resista
dwellingnew-buildingsoundseparating-wallsSeparating floors and associated flanking constructions for new buildings
0.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Section 3 – Separating floors and associated flanking constructions for new buildings, gives a range of floor constructions which, if properly designed and constructed, should provide reasonable resis
dwellingnew-buildingsoundseparating-floorsDwellings formed by material change of use
0.2NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Section 4 – Dwellings formed by material change of use, gives one wall treatment, two alternative floor treatments and one stair treatment which, if properly designed and constructed, should provide r
dwellingmaterial-change-of-usesoundProtection against sound within a dwelling or room for residential purposes
0.3NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 50 will be met in a dwelling or room for residential purposes where reasonable provisions are made in the design and construction o
dwellingresidentialsoundinternal-wallsinternal-floorsInternal walls and floors for new buildings
0.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Section 5 – Internal walls and floors for new buildings, gives a range of wall and floor constructions which, if properly designed and constructed, should provide reasonable resistance to the passage
dwellingsoundflatsReverberation in common internal parts of residential buildings
0.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 51 will be met in a flat, maisonette or room for residential purposes where reasonable provisions are made to limit the reverberati
flatssounddwellingSound insulation testing for dwellings and residential rooms
0.9NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 53 will be met for a dwelling or room for residential purposes where sound insulation testing demonstrates that the sound insulatio
dwellingsoundIntroduction to pre-completion testing
0.10NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Pre-completion testing, for new dwellings and rooms for residential purposes (including those formed as a result of material change of use) gives the standards to be achieved, the test procedures, the
dwellingresidentialsoundNotice of sound insulation test
0.11NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 53 will be met for a dwelling or room for residential purposes where notice of any sound insulation test is given to the district c
dwellingresidentialsoundDwellings - performance standards for separating walls, separating floors, and stairs
Table 1aNI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
New dwellings: Walls - 45 dB (DnT,w + Ctr), Floors and stairs - 45 dB (DnT,w + Ctr), — 62 dB (L'nT,w). Dwellings formed by material change of use: Walls - 43 dB (DnT,w + Ctr), Floors and stairs - 43 d
dwellingsoundseparating-elementsSound insulation testing requirement
0.12NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Pre-completion testing, together with Appendix B: Procedures for sound insulation testing, defines the procedures that should be followed to conduct a sound insulation test of the dwelling or room for
dwellingsoundflatsPerformance standards for separating structures
0.13NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of Part G will be met if separating walls, separating floors, and stairs that have a separating function, together with the associated flanking c
dwellingsoundflatsTesting exemption for approved design details
0.14NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The Building Regulations Northern Ireland 2012 apply to building work to which Part G applies, and require appropriate sound insulation testing to be carried out. The exception is that, in the case of
dwellingsoundflatsTesting procedure and result notification
0.15NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The sound insulation testing should be carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Appendix B of this Technical Booklet. The results of the testing must be recorded in the manner describ
dwellingsoundflatsQualifications for testing personnel
0.16NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Sound insulation testing should be carried out by a person who is registered to test the specific class of building concerned. Sound insulation testing is to be carried out by a test body with appropr
dwellingsoundflatsScope of example constructions for sound insulation
0.17NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Sections 2 and 3 of this Technical Booklet give examples of constructions which, if built correctly, should when tested achieve the sound insulation values for dwellings and rooms for residential purp
dwellingsoundnon-exhaustivePre-made and temporary buildings compliance
0.18NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Buildings constructed from sub-assemblies that are delivered newly made or selected from stock are no different from any other new building and must comply with all requirements in the Building Regula
dwellingsoundpublic-buildingSound insulation between domestic and non-domestic spaces
0.20NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The performance standards set out in Tables 1a and 1b are appropriate for walls, floors and stairs that separate spaces used for normal domestic purposes. Specialist advice may be needed to establish
dwellingsoundnon-domesticLaboratory sound insulation values for new construction
0.21NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
It is the view of the Department that the requirements of regulation 50 will be met by the use of constructions for new walls and floors within a dwelling or room for residential purposes that provide
dwellingsoundDiagrams Illustrating Sound Protection Requirements
0.24NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Diagrams 1 to 3 illustrate the relevant parts of the building that should be protected from airborne and impact sound in order to satisfy regulations 49 and 50.
sounddwellingmeans-of-escapeRegulation 49 - Airborne and Impact Sound Insulation
Diagram 1NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Diagram 1 Requirement of regulation 49. Flat, maisonette or room for residential purposes. Other parts of the same building. Floor of open access balcony. Any dwelling or room for residential purposes
sounddwellingflatsLaboratory Values for Airborne Sound Insulation in Dwellings
Table 2NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Airborne sound insulation (minimum values) Rw dB. Walls 40. Floors and stairs 40. Table 2 Laboratory values for new internal walls and floors within dwellings and rooms for residential purposes, wheth
sounddwellingflatsAirborne sound insulation - internal walls in dwellings (regulation 50(a))
regulation 50(a)NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Airborne sound insulation required for: Dwelling or room for residential purposes; Internal wall; Bedroom or a room containing a water closet
sounddwellingmeans-of-escapeAirborne sound insulation - internal floors in dwellings (regulation 50(b))
regulation 50(b)NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Airborne sound insulation required for: Dwelling or room for residential purposes; Internal floor; Any room to which regulation 50(b) applies
sounddwellingDefinitions
1.1NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
In this Technical Booklet the following definitions apply – Absorption – conversion of sound energy to heat, often by the use of a porous material. Absorption coefficient – a quantity characterising t
sounddwellingnon-domesticDefinitions: Dwellinghouse
NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Dwellinghouse – means a dwelling on one or more storeys which is detached or forms part of a building from other parts of which it is divided only vertically and does not include a flat or maisonette.
dwellingDefinitions of Building Elements and Spaces
NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Separating wall and separating floor means respectively a wall or floor (including a stair) separating a dwelling or room for residential purposes from – (a) another dwelling or another building; or (
sounddwellingexternal-spaceDefinitions of General Acoustic and Building Concepts
NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Noise – noise is unwanted sound. Sound pressure level – a quantity related to the physical intensity of a sound. Mass per unit area – mass per unit area is expressed in terms of kilograms per square
sounddwellingPre-completion testing - general requirements
1.2, 1.3, 1.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
This section provides guidance on an appropriate programme of sound insulation testing to demonstrate compliance with the requirement of Part G. Compliance can also be demonstrated through application
sounddwellingScope of pre-completion testing
1.5NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Testing should be carried out for – (a) new build dwellings; (b) dwellings formed by material change of use; (c) new build rooms for residential purposes; and (d) rooms for residential purposes formed
sounddwellingPerformance standards for pre-completion testing
1.7NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The performance standards that should be demonstrated by pre-completion testing are set out in Tables 1a and 1b. The sound insulation values in these tables have a built-in allowance for measurement u
sounddwellingEnsuring Proper Construction and Specialist Advice
1.8NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The person carrying out the building work should ensure that the guidance on construction given in this Technical Booklet, or in another suitable source, is followed properly to minimise the chances o
sounddwellingflatsExclusion of Tests Between Living Spaces and Circulation Areas
1.9NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Tests should not be carried out between living spaces and corridors, stairwells or hallways.
sounddwellingflatsTests Between Rooms with Common Separating Elements
1.10NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Tests should be carried out between rooms or spaces that share a common area of separating wall or separating floor.
sounddwellingflatsTiming and Condition of Sound Testing
1.11NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Tests should be carried out once the dwellings or rooms for residential purposes either side of a separating element are essentially complete, except for decoration. Impact sound insulation tests shou
sounddwellingflatsGrouping Test Results by Construction Type
1.12NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The results of tests only apply to the particular constructions tested but can be indicative of the performance of others of the same type in the same development. Therefore, in order for meaningful i
sounddwellingflatsGrouping Criteria by Building Type
1.13NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Grouping should be carried out according to the following criteria. Houses, flats, maisonettes and rooms for residential purposes should be considered as four separate groups. In addition, if signific
sounddwellingflatsSub-grouping for New Buildings by Separating Elements
1.15NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
For dwellinghouses, sub-grouping should be by type of separating wall. For flats and maisonettes, sub-grouping should be by type of separating floor and type of separating wall. Rooms for residential
sounddwellingflatsSub-grouping Based on Flanking Elements and Junctions
1.16NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The construction of flanking elements (e.g. walls, floors, cavities) and their junctions are also important. Where there are significant differences between flanking details, further sub-grouping will
sounddwellingflatsExceptions to Sub-grouping Requirements
1.17NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Sub-grouping may not be necessary for dwellings and rooms for residential purposes that have the same separating wall and/or separating floor construction, with the same associated flanking constructi
sounddwellingflatsSub-grouping for dwellings with unfavourable features
1.18NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Some dwellings or rooms for residential purposes may be considered to have unfavourable features: an example could be flats or maisonettes with large areas of flanking wall without a window at the gab
dwellingflatssoundSub-grouping for material change of use
1.19NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
The same principles as for new buildings apply, but in practice significant differences are more likely to occur between separating wall and/or separating floor constructions as well as the associated
dwellingsoundSets of tests in dwellinghouses
1.20NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Normally, one set of tests should comprise two individual sound insulation tests (two airborne tests) – (a) a test of insulation against airborne sound between one pair of rooms (where possible suitab
dwellingsoundReduced testing for single room pair layouts
1.26NI-wide·Technical Booklet G Resistance to the Passage of Sound
Where the layout has only one pair of rooms on opposite sides of the entire area of separating wall or floor between two dwellings or rooms for residential purposes then the number of airborne and imp
dwellingflatssoundtesting