Sound insulation test setup between adjoining dwellings — Field test for airborne and impact sound insulation across a separating element.

Sound Insulation Testing

The aim of Irish Building Regulations Part E is to raise sound insulation standards in attached dwellings for both airborne and impact noise to provide reasonable living conditions for occupiers.

What are the benefits of sound insulation testing?

Testing verifies that separating walls and floors meet the minimum acoustic performance levels required by Part E for both airborne and impact noise, helping to avoid costly remedial works and ensuring occupants’ comfort.

How many tests are required?

The number of required sound insulation tests on new-build residential developments is stated below. Assuming no initial tests have failed, the minimum number of sets of tests for each group or sub-group is outlined in Table 3A.

Number of attached dwellings	‘Sets of tests’ required
4 or less	At least 11
Greater than 4 but ≤ 20	At least 2
Greater than 20 but ≤ 40	At least 2 + 10% × No. of attached dwellings greater than 20
Greater than 40 but ≤ 100	At least 4 + 5% × No. of attached dwellings greater than 40
More than 100	At least 7 + 5% × No. of attached dwellings greater than 100

This also satisfies the initial testing requirements (see paragraph 2.2.2).
Refer to Table 2 for number of individual tests required in a ‘set of tests’.
Round up to the nearest whole number.
Refer to paragraph 2.3 where constructions other than those detailed in Sections 3 and 4 are used.

When should a sound insulation test be carried out?

When dwellings either side of the separating element are essentially complete, except for decoration.
Test more frequently at the beginning of completions to catch issues early.
On large developments, test across a substantial part of the construction period.

What results are required to meet Part E?

All separating walls or separating floors subject to Part E should be designed and constructed to achieve:

Weighted standardised sound level difference (airborne): DnT,w ≥ 53 dB.
Weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (impact): L’nT,w ≤ 58 dB.

Schedule sound insulation testing

Share drawings, programme dates, and unit list. We’ll confirm scope, frequency, and reporting to Part E.