Acoustic Regulations

Current UK Building Regulations require acoustically robust building standards to improve soundproofing in new homes and schools. In other words, the government has made it law that noise is dealt with adequately in the buildings we create. The acoustic Building Regulations apply to new build or conversions of buildings which are to be used as dwellings or residential accommodation where people either live or sleep. Consequently, hotels, hostels, halls of residence as well as houses and apartments, are all affected. The Regulations set requirements for the transmission of noise between separating wall and floor systems within the dwelling but do not cover the elimination of external noise penetrating the external walls. Thus, the Regulations do not significantly impact on the design of the external envelope.

Noise pollution is further covered by other legislation, such as:

• The Environmental Protection Act (1990) which deals with noise regarded as a statutory nuisance and may affect the encasement of very noisy processes.
• Health and Safety at Work legislation, which requires the minimisation of noise within the workplace.

Where these pieces of legislation may be relevant, noise-reduction measures should be considered in the design of the building envelope.