Acoustic regulations

Buildings, particularly residential buildings, must satisfy minimum requirements for sound insulation set out in the relevant national building regulations.

UK — Approved Document E

Approved Document E of the Building Regulations sets out minimum standards for resistance to the passage of sound in dwellings, hotels, residential care homes, student halls and similar buildings. Pre-completion testing or Robust Details are used to demonstrate compliance.

Glazing in noisy environments

Where buildings are located in noisy environments (close to busy roads, railways or airports), enhanced acoustic glazing should be specified. Selection should be based on the noise spectrum, the orientation of the facade and the required internal noise level.

Typical performance

Standard double-glazing: Rw approximately 30–32 dB
Acoustic double-glazing with asymmetric panes: Rw 35–38 dB
Acoustic double-glazing with laminated acoustic interlayer: Rw 40–45 dB