Site Conditions Required for Sound Testing (Pre Completion Testing)
A Quiet Site
Some of the measurements we take are very sensitive to noise and the presence of seemingly insignificant noises such as someone talking in an adjacent room, hammering, grinding, walking up and down stairs, use of a compressor / generator or other external groundwork’s, etc., can adversely affect the test results. The best arrangement is for all trades to be suspended for the duration of the testing (about 2 to 3 hours for a typical set of tests), or to send the staff to another part of the site where their work will not affect the test area. We can, of course, plan to undertake the Sound Testing out of normal working hours i.e. during an evening (provided adequate light is available) or over a weekend.
Completion
Rooms should be available in pairs, either vertically (separated by the party floor) or horizontally (separated by the party wall) as appropriate and should be ‘complete but unfurnished’. This means that all wall and ceiling surfaces must be complete and skimmed etc., skirting boards, architraves and covings fitted, all kitchen units in place (in kitchen/dining areas), electrical sockets and switches etc. in place, windows in place and fully closeable with fully working trickle vents, and internal doors in place and fully closeable. External doors to flats and houses must also be fitted.
Floor finishes
Carpets and laminates should not be fitted as impact testing should take place on the bare floor i.e. directly on the surface of the chipboard floating floor or on the surface of the concrete floating screed. If a proprietary ‘acoustic underlay’ is used as an impact layer on a timber floor, then this can be left in place but check the Building Control Officer is happy with this arrangement.
Another variation is ‘Type 1’ floors which are of solid concrete with a ‘soft covering’. If a laminate or timber floor finish is to be supplied by the builder/developer, then impact testing should be carried out on a sample of the floor finish (at least 1 square meter)
Access and preparation
The test engineer will use his discretion to select rooms for testing unless specific arrangements have been made with the building control officer. There must therefore be reasonable and safe access to all parts of the building to be tested. Rooms should be cleared of all building materials, tools etc. and the floors swept clean. Staircases and corridors must be free of obstructions which could make safe access difficult when carrying heavy equipment, or create a tripping hazard.
Please ensure 240v power is available in all rooms to be tested.
Plans and other details
To prepare a full report, we will need plans of the building showing the room layouts and flat or plot numbers, we will need full details of the floor construction, the ceiling construction and wall construction, including densities of plasterboard and concrete etc. We will require the full names and addresses of the client, the builder/developer and the principal contractor.
Safety
All test personnel will provide their own safety equipment e.g. hard hat, safety shoes and high-viz vest or coat and will comply with all site safety requirements.
Premier Measurements requires that you provide its staff, whilst on your sites, with any instruction, required under health and safety at work legislation, as if they were your own employees or subcontractors.
Commercial Spaces
Should testing be required to a commercial space such as a shop, bar, restaurant, or office space then it is your responsibility to obtain permission to access. We require unrestricted access and the commercial space must be clear of staff and customers. The best arrangement is for all work/access/use to be suspended for the duration of the testing (about 2 to 3 hours for a typical set of tests). We can, of course, plan to undertake the Sound Testing out of normal working hours i.e. during an evening (provided adequate light is available) or over a weekend.