Noise is a modern paradox: we use more noise-generating products than ever in the home yet we want increased levels of peace and quiet. The 2004 changes to Part E of the Building Regulations, which cover resistance to the passage of sound, have attempted to address this by improving sound insulation for residential buildings. Part E addresses key areas including separating walls, floors and stairs, internal walls and floors and reverberation in common areas and stipulates minimum performance criteria for airborne sound and impact sound insulation of separating floors. To achieve these standards, housebuilders can either use their own design and subject it to pre-completion sound testing or choose one of six approved separating floor "robust details" solutions, which exceed the minimum standard in Part E by a minimum of 5 dB and therefore escape pre-completion sound testing.
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