Acoustic performance in residential timber frame developments

The resistance to sound is not just a legal requirement; designers should take account of the expected transmission of sound between dwellings, between rooms and from outside, and design the walls, floors, windows and roofs accordingly.

The Building Regulations require that occupants of a dwelling be 'reasonably protected' from noise in neighbouring dwellings. The Approved Document, Technical Handbook or Technical Booklet include ways that this requirement can be achieved, as well as providing sound test performance criteria depending on where in the United Kingdom the project is located.

This Wood Information Sheet (WIS) discusses the sound insulation requirements of the Building Regulations in various parts of the United Kingdom, the basic principles of design, and focuses on how to achieve all of this on site. This WIS considers sound insulation within buildings and does not cover protection from external noise sources.

Contents:

• Building regulations
• Design considerations
• Testing procedure
• Site control

This Wood Information Sheet was reviewed in May 2021 and minor corrections were made to update references to technical guidance used across the UK, as well as to the references section at the end of the document.