Beam & Block Solutions for Part-E

Performance Standards

Past requirements of the Building Regulations have consistently failed to fully protect home occupiers from unwanted sound. It is no surprise to find that government studies have found as many as five million people affected by excessive noise in their homes, many suffering serious illness as a result.

As of 1st July 2003 amendments to Approved Document E: Resistance to the passage of sound, came into force to improve sound insulation between and within individual dwellings. It is now a requirement for separating floors and walls to achieve specified values of sound insulation in new and converted residential buildings, including ‘rooms for residential purposes’ such as hotels and residential homes.

	Part E (PCT) Requirements	Robust Details' Requirements
Airborne Bnt, w + Ctr	>= 45 dB	>=47dB
Impact Lnt,w	>= 62 dB	>= 60dB

The pre-completion testing regime for purpose built dwellings was applied from 1st July 2004, the onus being upon the builder to demonstrate that required levels of sound insulation are achieved as detailed in the performance table. An alternative to testing involving the use of ‘Robust Details’ was also introduced at this time. These two approaches are described in more detail below.

Routes to Compliance

Robust Details

As an alternative to pre-completion testing (PCT), a series of robust detail solutions have been developed based on meeting sound test values which are in excess of those required by Part E, 2003. Compliance with these details will negate the requirement for pre-completion site testing (in new build houses and flats only).

To design or build using Robust Details, the floor specification must be selected from the Robust Details handbook which is available from Robust Details Limited.

In order to use a robust detail as an alternative to pre-completion testing, you must:

• Register each plot with Robust Details Limited
• Give the building control body a robust details purchase statement relating to the plots before work starts
• Construct separating floors and walls strictly in accordance with the relevant robust detail specifications.

Pre-Completion Testing

Pre-completion testing has been introduced to ensure the sound insulation of dwellings/flats and 'rooms for residential purposes' (both newly built and conversions) meet the performance standards of Part E.

PCT should be carried out when the separating floors to be tested are complete, but prior to the laying of soft floor coverings (e.g. Carpets) in the case of impact sound insulation tests.

While Robust Details avoid the requirement for pre-completion testing, they only apply to new build houses and flats. In all other residential buildings from hotels, hostels, boarding houses and residential homes, through to nursing homes and student halls of residence, or when a non-Robust Details solution is preferred, pre-completion testing is the only option.

Internal Floors in Houses (not requiring PCT)

These are floors which divide the dwelling space into different functions but do not provide separation between different dwellings.

Approved Document E includes minimum airborne sound insulation standards to be achieved for internal (non-separating) floors. The minimum laboratory sound insulation value is Rw 40dB. There is no requirement to site test or to test for impact sound insulation.

Laboratory tests on beam and block floors have been carried out by the Precast Flooring Federation. The results obtained are summarised below.

Test Code	Floor Type	Floor Depth (mm)	Floor Weight (kg/m2)	Sand / Cement (mm)	Ceiling	Rw (dB)
13180A	Beam & Block	150	186	-	Single layer of plasterboard (8.02kg/m2) fixed to 50x50 timber battens at 1.2m c/c.	40
13182A	Beam & Block	150	186	40	Single layer of plasterboard (10.0kg/m2) fixed to 50x50 timber battens at 1.2m c/c.	49

Acoustic Conditions in Schools

Schools are dealt with in requirement E4 of Part E. The normal way of satisfying requirement E4 will be to meet the values for sound insulation, reverberation time and internal ambient noise which are given in Building Bulletin 93 ’The Acoustic Design of Schools’.

Collier & Henry Concrete have a range of solutions capable of meeting even the most stringent performance requirements of BB93. Exact performance requirements vary dependent on the use and size of the spaces separated.

In all but the simplest of projects it is advisable to appoint a suitably qualified acoustic consultant at an early stage of the project.

Talk to the Experts

Collier & Henry Concrete spearheaded the development of the beam and block solutions for Part E and the Robust Detail applications.

Now, following rigorous development and testing we are proud to announce that our new flooring systems have achieved Robust Detail accreditation.

Available in 150mm and 200mm depths in spans ranging up to 7.5m with a choice of approved floor finishes, the Q-Life beam and block flooring system offers a cost effective solution to Part E.

Q-Life builds on the advantages already present in our existing range of beam and block flooring…

• Wide ranging economical spans
• Awkward shaped structures tackled with ease
• Service pipes and floor penetrations easily accommodated
• Interlocked (staggered) bearing onto 100mm supporting walls
• Maintenance, rot and damp free floors
• Precast concrete stair packages - Designed - Supplied - Installed
• Increased Fire resistance

We don’t however simply offer the Q-Life product. We offer you the same excellent service you have come to expect on our existing floor ranges for over two decades…

• Fast, free quotations
• Free telephone advice
• Excellent design service
• Safe installation service
• Quick delivery times getting you the products and service you need to site on time.

If you would like any more information, please contact us directly.