straight forward pragmatic advice
Independent acoustic consultancy based in south east England, operating predominantly in London and the south east.
The service provided is both personalised and professional, focusing on acoustic survey, noise impact assessment, sound testing, acoustic design and noise control in the built environment.
Competitively priced , acoustic survey and assessment, sound testing, design and specification work carried out by Institute of Acoustics qualified experienced personnel.
sound testing :
sound insulation testing in London and the Home Counties
Sound testing undertaken in Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Third party accredited for pre completion sound insulation testing for residential building regulations compliance. If you want sound testing carried out in London, the Home Counties or the southeast of England then look no further!
Survey and noise impact assessment work is also regularly undertaken on behalf of acoustic consultancies and other colleagues in the sector.
Tailored for small and medium sized projects, consultancy services include:
- Architectural acoustics design advice
- Noise control specifications for building services
- BS4142 noise impact assessment and report
- BS8233 noise ingress assessment and report
- Discharge of planning conditions
- Office fit-out
- Specifications to achieve suitable levels of privacy within office environments
- Clinic fit-out
- Specifications to achieve suitable privacy within the health sector/clinic environments
- Reverberation control, room acoustics
- Environmental noise survey
- Plant noise assessment and report
- Noise impact assessment for planning
- Establishment of background or baseline noise levels
- Obtaining relevant acoustic data as required to support planning applications
- Preparation of acoustic reports for local authority submission
- Liaison with local authority concerning planning applications
- Third party technical review on behalf of local authorities
- Plant noise emission assessments for building services
- Retrospective noise impact assessment for building services
- BS5228 construction noise assessment and report
- Approved Document E advice
- Sound Testing
- Pre completion sound insulation testing for building regulations
- Third party accredited residential sound insulation testing
- Building Regulations requirements design advice for residential new build or conversions
- BB93 design review and advice pertaining to the acoustic design of schools
- BREEAM assessment and advice
- Sound insulation design advice
- BS8233 and the World Health Organisation guidelines advice
dBA Acoustics has worked on many, many projects in London and the south east of England. The consultancy has experience and reach working across the whole country. The consultant services offered include acoustic survey, measurement, testing, calculation, assessment, design and specification work covering most sectors.
Acoustic assessment can be required for various reasons, either to inform a design or comply with regulations. Typically, at the planning stage local authorities require evidence that a development will comply with their own, statutory or best practice targets and/or criteria. In this instance a noise impact assessment, usually in accordance with BS4142:2014, may be required. dBA Acoustics can undertake such assessments in a timely and efficient manner.
Many local authorities and particularly the London Borough's require a noise impact assessment carried out for new items of building services plant. Usually at the planning stage but also retrospectively if installed items of plant and/or noise emissions become known to the local authority. In this instance once again a noise impact assessment, usually in accordance with BS4142:2014 may be required. dBA Acoustics specialise in noise impact assessment in London and the southeast of England.
Through the design phase Clients including many Developers and Contractors, seek design advice from qualified acousticians in order to confirm the likely performance of some aspects, or indeed a whole development. From ad hoc advice to RIBA Stage design reviews, dBA Acoustics is able to input into just part of, or the whole process as necessary.
Additionally, when a development is commissioned prior to practical completion, acoustic testing may be required in order to demonstrate that the built conditions achieve those targets or criteria set out at the design stage. In this case acoustic testing will be required. This can be to the advantage of Contractors, Developers and Authorities as it not only shows that the development is compliant, but can also assist in identifying where shortfalls may exist and provide guidance for rectifying any shortcomings, should any become apparent. dBA Acoustics offers testing and troubleshooting services.
Acoustic assessment can be required for various reasons, either to inform a design or comply with regulations. Typically, at the planning stage local authorities require evidence that a development will comply with their own, statutory or best practice targets and/or criteria. In this instance a noise impact assessment, usually in accordance with BS4142:2014, may be required. dBA Acoustics can undertake such assessments in a timely and efficient manner.
Many local authorities and particularly the London Borough's require a noise impact assessment carried out for new items of building services plant. Usually at the planning stage but also retrospectively if installed items of plant and/or noise emissions become known to the local authority. In this instance once again a noise impact assessment, usually in accordance with BS4142:2014 may be required. dBA Acoustics specialise in noise impact assessment in London and the southeast of England.
Through the design phase Clients including many Developers and Contractors, seek design advice from qualified acousticians in order to confirm the likely performance of some aspects, or indeed a whole development. From ad hoc advice to RIBA Stage design reviews, dBA Acoustics is able to input into just part of, or the whole process as necessary.
Additionally, when a development is commissioned prior to practical completion, acoustic testing may be required in order to demonstrate that the built conditions achieve those targets or criteria set out at the design stage. In this case acoustic testing will be required. This can be to the advantage of Contractors, Developers and Authorities as it not only shows that the development is compliant, but can also assist in identifying where shortfalls may exist and provide guidance for rectifying any shortcomings, should any become apparent. dBA Acoustics offers testing and troubleshooting services.
dBA Acoustics is third party accredited (ATTMA sound testing scheme) to undertake pre completion sound insulation testing for building regulations in new and converted residential developments. Sound insulation testing undertaken in London and the Home Counties. Competitive prices quoted for sound testing in Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Fast turn around with report and results issued following the sound test.
Pre completion testing
As of 2003, Building Regulations part E1 requires that all new or converted residential dwellings (including adjoined houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes) achieve certain levels of sound insulation. The required sound insulation performance can be verified in one of two ways. Either through the adoption and validation of specific construction details used in their construction, known as Robust Details. Or alternately, if Robust Details are not adopted, the sound insulation performance of the development must be validated by means of on-site pre-completion testing. If this approach is adopted, it is the responsibility of the builder to arrange for suitable on-site pre-completion testing to be carried out by a suitably qualified and accredited tester or testing body.
There are three types of sound insulation test: an airborne wall test, an airborne floor test and an impact floor test. A full set of tests is comprised of 2 airborne wall tests, 2 airborne floor tests and 2 impact floor tests. For up to 10 dwellings 1 full set of tests is normally required. Tests are not required for adjacencies that do not exist i.e. for flats where there are no separating walls I set of tests is normally comprised of 2 airborne floor tests and 2 impact floor tests. Similarly, for semi-detached houses where there are no separating floors, 1 set of tests would normally be comprised of just 2 airborne wall tests. Tests are undertaken only between adjacent habitable rooms (i.e. living rooms and bedrooms). Testing is at the discretion of Building Control.
Procedure
The testing and rating procedure currently used is set out in the Standards BS EN ISO 140-4:1998; BS EN ISO 140-7:1998; BS EN ISO 717-1:1997 and BS EN ISO 717-2:1997
Pass or Fail?
Once testing has been completed a report and certification will be provided which can be submitted to Building Control. Should any part of the testing program fail to achieve the requirements then remedial measures will need to be implemented and re-testing undertaken to the satisfaction of Building Control.
As of 2003, Building Regulations part E1 requires that all new or converted residential dwellings (including adjoined houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes) achieve certain levels of sound insulation. The required sound insulation performance can be verified in one of two ways. Either through the adoption and validation of specific construction details used in their construction, known as Robust Details. Or alternately, if Robust Details are not adopted, the sound insulation performance of the development must be validated by means of on-site pre-completion testing. If this approach is adopted, it is the responsibility of the builder to arrange for suitable on-site pre-completion testing to be carried out by a suitably qualified and accredited tester or testing body.
There are three types of sound insulation test: an airborne wall test, an airborne floor test and an impact floor test. A full set of tests is comprised of 2 airborne wall tests, 2 airborne floor tests and 2 impact floor tests. For up to 10 dwellings 1 full set of tests is normally required. Tests are not required for adjacencies that do not exist i.e. for flats where there are no separating walls I set of tests is normally comprised of 2 airborne floor tests and 2 impact floor tests. Similarly, for semi-detached houses where there are no separating floors, 1 set of tests would normally be comprised of just 2 airborne wall tests. Tests are undertaken only between adjacent habitable rooms (i.e. living rooms and bedrooms). Testing is at the discretion of Building Control.
Procedure
The testing and rating procedure currently used is set out in the Standards BS EN ISO 140-4:1998; BS EN ISO 140-7:1998; BS EN ISO 717-1:1997 and BS EN ISO 717-2:1997
Pass or Fail?
Once testing has been completed a report and certification will be provided which can be submitted to Building Control. Should any part of the testing program fail to achieve the requirements then remedial measures will need to be implemented and re-testing undertaken to the satisfaction of Building Control.
Experienced and trustworthy third party acoustic consultant offering invaluable survey, assessment, testing and design advice. Based in London and the south east of England and operating across the country, dBA Acoustics is here to help.
In house testing and survey equipment is calibrated at least every two years to either fully traceable, or elevated UKAS calibration requirements. All sound level meters employed are Class 1. Clients can be assured that the instrumentation dBA Acoustics deploys is more than adequate for the task.
... and in case your were wondering about the background picture. It shows the massive 9 storey basement of the Caprice Gold, Istanbul, the first muslim hotel in Turkey, the largest hotel in Europe and purportedly 7 star rated! I took the photograph during a site meeting to discuss acoustic aspects of the internal building fabric and specifically the partitions separating bedrooms. Unfortunately, the project stalled not long before completion due to legal issues with the developer.