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Simply Efficient Sound Insulation Testing
Developers Guide to Meeting Building Regulation Acoustic Requirements
Approved Document E (ADE) is the government-issued document providing guidance detailing the sound insulation requirements for conversions (dwellings formed by material change of use) and new builds (purpose built dwellings). It explains the testing requirement and provides advice and details about building procedures and materials that affect test results.
Sound travels via the flanking structures as well as walls and floors. So attention to detail is critical: the sound insulation is only as good as its weakest link, this can be the result of poor workmanship.
Good sound insulation depends on combining multiple layers of building elements that are isolated from the structure by proprietary resilient products. Between the elements there should be clear cavities or voids with the combined mass of the separating wall or floor being equal to, or exceeding the recommendation by Approved Document E (ADE)
The detail of the elements' combined mass is critical to the overall performance. Plasterboard is a key element. Choice of plasterboard can make the difference between a pass and a fail. The 3 main manufacturers of plasterboard are British Gypsum, Lafarge, and Knauf
All 3 manufacturers supply 9, 12.5 and 15 mm standard plasterboard. Each also produces a sound rated board designed to absorb the passage of sound. The chart below shows the mass differing board selection achieves:-
| Manufacture |
Standard Plasterboard |
Sound Rated Plasterboard |
Width (mm) |
Weight (kg/m2) |
| British Gypsum |
Wallboard |
- |
9.0 |
6.3 |
| British Gypsum |
Wallboard |
- |
12.5 |
8.0 |
| British Gypsum |
- |
SoundBloc |
12.5 |
10.6 |
| British Gypsum |
Wallboard |
- |
15 |
9.8 |
| British Gypsum |
- |
SoundBloc |
15 |
12.6 |
| Lafarge |
Wallboard |
- |
9.5 |
6.3 |
| Lafarge |
Wallboard |
- |
12.5 |
8.4 |
| Lafarge |
- |
dB check |
12.5 |
10.2 |
| Lafarge |
Wallboard |
- |
15 |
10.2 |
| Lafarge |
- |
dB check |
15 |
12.5 |
| Knauf |
Wallboard |
- |
9.0 |
6.2 |
| Knauf |
Wallboard |
- |
12.5 |
8.3 |
| Knauf |
- |
Soundshield |
12.5 |
12 |
| Knauf |
Wallboard |
- |
15 |
10.2 |
| Knauf |
- |
Soundshield |
15 |
13.8 |
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