Menu

Tailor Made Solutions
From Industry Experts
2-Year Guarantee
Fully Insured Installers

FAQs / T & C

What is Building E Regulations


PART E – THE FACTS

The revision of Part E of the Buildings Regulations, designed to address the noise level suffered by occupants of multi-storey dwellings, had a significant effect on the use of acoustic flooring. Separating floors now have to be constructed in such a way as to achieve the sound insulation values shown in the table below.

For updated Part E regulations, please click here.


Methods of Compliance

There are two methods of compliance to Approved Document E Pre-Completion Testing and Robust Details.


Pre-Completion Testing (PCT)

Pre-Completion Testing applies to rooms used for residential purposes, houses and flats formed by the conversion of other buildings and new build houses and flats.

The required insulation values are set out in the table and apply to rooms that are completed but not furnished or occupied and that separate spaces used for domestic purposes.

Testing to show compliance with the required values must be carried out by an accredited acoustician. A copy of the results must then be passed to an approved inspector.


Materials Only

We source our materials from the leading manufactures, importers and suppliers of soundproofing products in the UK and Europe. We do not offer a material supply to the public. Please contact SRU Insulation (www.sruinsulation.co.uk) for supply of materials.


Glazing

We do not offer glazing services. We will always recommend contacting a local glazier and enquire about acoustic glazing options.


What will happen to my Skirting Boards and Coving

Most walls/ceilings will have skirting boards, picture rails coving attached. We will need to remove these before we can install our systems. We will always try to remove these with minimal damage but we cannot guarantee that they will be usable after removal. Covings will almost certainly be beyond a reusable state upon removal. Installation of these is recommend after plastering has been completed


Plastering

Ceiling and Wall surfaces will be left with a plasterboard finish. It is highly recommended to skim plaster the walls/ceilings after Soundproofing R Us finished. The surfaces will only then then be ready for a fresh coat of paint. We do not offer a plastering service but can recommend a plasterer and/or decorator. We can liaise with this company and make sure there is a smooth transition from soundproofing to other trades.


Rubble/Dust/Floor Protection

Floors in the immediate area will be covered with floor protection. Please remember that dust can spread through the property. We will always try and minimise this but can’t except any responsibility for damage caused by dust. We will leave your property clean and free from any builder’s rubble caused by us.


Skirting Boards when installing Floor solutions

Skirting Boards will be left on the wall to minimise damage to skirting and/or wall. Skirting boards can be removed upon request but arrangements will need to be made to reinstall.


Floor Levelling

We will work of current joist levels. We will only level the floor if written request has been made and discussed with us prior to installation.


Exposed Floor Boards

We will always try our absolute best to lift floorboards with minimum damage but there is always the possibility that floorboards might crack, split or break. We will try and mend broken/ cracked floorboards where possible. Please note that we remove most if not all nails and reattach the floorboards with screws to minimise future creaks. We would strongly advise you to get the floors sanded and sealed/varnished if you choose to keep the wooden floors exposed after soundproofing.


Refitting Carpets

We will leave the floor ready for carpet fitting. We will roll the old carpet back but it is highly recommended to get a professional carpet fitter in to refit the carpets. We will refit on request as best we can, but it is advisable to get the professionals in.


Ceiling Levels

Most Ceiling solutions will follow the profile of original ceiling. Please contact us if you have any questions about levelling of ceilings.


Does it affect the quality of the product by putting nails or fixings into the soundproofed areas

We always recommend using standard plasterboard fixings if you are planning to hang items or install shelving to soundproofed areas.


Lathe and Plaster and how it effects both impact and airborne noise

We always recommend keeping lathe and plaster ceilings and walls in place as it actually contains excellent soundproofing properties for airborne noise. When trying to tackle impact noise, things are slightly different – the lathe and plaster will assist with diffusing the noise travelling through property’s rather than reducing the noise. Removing these types of ceilings and walls is a messy job and dust is likely to travel into other rooms.


How final layer flooring affects the soundproofing

In most cases we would recommend installing a thick underlay and carpet as this will help to diffuse sound in problem rooms. However, if you would like to install engineered wood floors or keep the original floorboards – we have systems that can help with noise reductions whilst not compromising your choice of final layer flooring.


Upgrades and how they work

The upgrades help to add more mass to your final solution and soundproofing is more successful when there are a variety of masses included. Each of these masses can help to reduce a wider range of frequencies, providing you with a much more rounded level of soundproofing for both low end and high end noise frequencies.
*Recommended* DB Boards – Is a high density sand filled board which can help to reduce both Airborne and Impact noise. These boards are 15mm thick and have a corrugated sand filled carcass. The DB board can used on floors, walls and ceilings and has both soundproofing and thermal properties (on timber or steel framed structures). It can also be used on floors when installing underfloor heating as the sand retains heat.

Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV50 & MLV100) – is a thin rubber sheet that comes in a 2.5mm or a 5mm thick sheet. The 2.5mm sheet can used on floors, walls or ceilings and the 5mm thick sheet can be used on floors separately or alongside the thinner version. The membrane is made from recycled materials and works as an excellent barrier to airborne noise.
Green Glue – is layered between the two layers of board. The science behind green glue is that when soundwaves hit the glue, it disperses these vibrations into smaller vibrations within the boards. These then shear along the two sides of the boards, causing friction and the glue to changes these vibrations into heat. The heat dissipates, which reduces the vibration. This conversion of energy from sound vibration to heat is called damping and this is what lays at the core of this product.


Flanking Noise

We say that 70-80% (+/-) of noise travels directly through walls and the remaining 20-30% (+/-) is a result of noise travelling through the structure of the building; also known as “flanking noise”. This flanking noise can travel through floors, walls and ceiling.


Terms and Conditions

By paying Soundproofing R Us the booking deposit we assume that the client has read through the quotation and Terms and agrees to them.


Sound Reduction Guarantee

Please note that all reductions mentioned on literature by Soundproofing R Us is for information purposes only and describe what can be achieved and has been achieved by our systems, but cannot be guaranteed. Sound is very subjective and results might differ from person to person and/or building to building. The only way to really know exactly what results were achieved or can be achieved is to measure the problematic areas before and after treatment with the correct methods and calibrated equipment. We can recommend UKAS registered testers to carry out these tests

Booking Deposit and Payment Schedules

  • Small Installs – 1 day50% Booking Deposit – 50% on Completion of quoted works
  • Installs – 2 days and over30% Booking Deposit – 35% On Start Date – 35% on completion of quoted works
  • Projects – 3 weeks or longer30% Booking Deposit – Rest of payments will be discussed with client.

Cancellations and refunds of booking deposits

The client has got the right to cancel or postpone works after booking deposit has been paid. The refund amount will be a percentage of total monies received as set out below

  • 30 or more calendar days before work commences 100% refund
  • 20-29 calendar days before work commences 75% refund
  • 10-19 calendar days before work commences 50% refund
  • 0-9 calendar days before work commences 0% refund

We will provide up to date insurance documents upon request


Preparations by client before install commence

We respectfully ask that all movable furniture be removed prior to our arrival. Our teams can help with heavier items but we cannot accept any liability or responsibility for any damage caused to objects/furniture if we must move these items.

Please let us know if there is any furniture that can’t be moved. Please make sure these items are covered and protected. We will work very carefully around these items but will not except liability for damage.

Dust can escape the immediate area of works and we will suggest taking precautions before work commence. We will always attempt to keep dust and debris to a minimum and clean the immediate working area to the best of our ability. We cannot expect any responsibility for damage caused by dust.

Soundproofing R Us will in no way whatsoever accept liability or responsible for any verbal statements made by a representative or any employee of the company which are contradictory to the terms of this document.


Floor protection

Adequate floor protection will be installed by us before works commence. This protection will be removed after works unless client request it to be left in place for other trades.