AVT is one of only twelve or so UK companies that are UKAS accredited to carry out field noise tests on new and converted buildings as laid down in the amended version of Approved Document E of the UK Building Regulations. This covers schools and domestic dwellings.

In December 2002 major changes to Approved Document E of the Building Regulations were published and these came into effect on 1 July 2003. The regulations require sample post completion testing of party walls and floors prior to handover to ensure that design performance is achieved in practice. (Section 0.4 states that “Test bodies conducting testing should preferably have UKAS accreditation (or a European equivalent) for field measurements.”) Tests on sustainable homes can only be carried out by UKAS accredited bodies.

The Code for Sustainable Homes has been developed to enable a step change in sustainable building practice for new homes. It has been prepared by the Government in close working consultation with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA). Homes are awarded points for how well they address a wide range of sustainability factors, including sound insulation. Merit points are awarded for achieving higher standards of sound insulation than required by Document E of the Building Regulations.

The sound testing procedure, as detailed in BS EN ISO 140 parts 4 and 7, collects data from two separate tests. AVT firstly measure the construction’s resistance to the passage of impact sound. This is achieved by placing a tapping machine on the floor of the specimen under test and measuring the noise level in the receiving room underneath. Secondly, the construction’s resistance to the passage of airborne sound is measured. This is carried out by placing a known steady source of white noise on one side of the wall or floor, and measuring the amount of sound transmitted to the neighbouring room to determine how much noise the wall or floor attenuates. Test results are processed in accordance with ISO 717, parts I and II, to arrive at individual weighted dB values for airborne and impact sound transmission.

To carry out the tests AVT use a range of instrumentation including a Real Time Frequency Analyser, a Noise Source and a Tapping Machine. All AVT equipment is maintained within the AVT equipment management system and regularly calibrated to UKAS standards. Each instrument is used with the preamplifier and microphone allocated to it within the AVT Noise and Vibration Equipment Register, which is part of the company’s ISO9001 Quality Management System.