Resistance to passage of sound The building regulations have requirements aimed at reducing to acceptable level s the amount of noise

which may be transmitted from one dwelling to its neighbour. Man y dwellings have been found not to meet the performance standards set by earlier regulations; in fact the BRE in Digest 252 reported that half of the dwellings i nvestigated during a survey failed to meet party wall requirements. Put in its broadest context noise is a sound which is undesirable to the recipie nt. This simple description indicates quite adequately the cardinal fact that noise is pe rsonal to each individual. It is possible to measure the energies and frequencies of simple and complex sou nds, but it is impossible to foretell with any precision what a particular person s rea ction to a specific noise may be. Almost every activity is likely to produce noise of one kind or another. Control of noise at source is the best answer if it is possible, but failing this it may be controlled by absorption during transmission. Here we have very wide questions including build ing construction. Solutions are available, but require infinite care in application. Materials containing lots of voids, which are generally very good thermal insula tion materials, are also good absorbers of sound waves. Thus if they are used for lin ing wall and ceiling surfaces inside a room they reduce the level of sound within that ro om. But, on the other hand, these materials have a negligible effect upon the sound insul ation properties of a dividing wall. As an example, a 25mm thick layer of mineral wool has an absorption of about 80% of sound waves. However, if the same material is used as a separating medium betwee n two rooms the sound passing through is reduced only slightly (about three decibels). It is rare to find good sound insulation and good thermal insulation together. A heavy structure is rather poor from the point of view of thermal insulation, yet excel lent as insulation against airborne noises. Then again, if the cavity between two brick leaves is filled with thermal insulation material, the thermal insulation properties of th e wall are improved enormously, while the acoustic insulation is only improved fractionally . Sound consists of elastic waves which may be propagated through gases, liquids o r solid materials. The maximum frequency range which can be detected by the human ear is limited. The frequency of sound is the number of pulsations or waves that occur in a give n period, and is expressed in Hertz. This used to be described as cycles per second and Hertz (written Hz) is the metric equivalent. 1 Hz is equal to 1 cycle per second

. Sound pressure levels are measured on a scale of decibels (dB). It is a logarith mic scale representing the ability of the listener to recognize changes in pressure. The intervals on a decibel scale represent equal proportional changes and not equal absolute changes. Thus when the intensity of sound waves is doubled the dB value is increased by approximately three. An increase of 10dB means that the intensity of sound has i ncreased 10-fold. When a wall has an insulation value of 30 dB, only about 0.1% of the so und intensity is transmitted through the wall. It is possible to classify sounds according to their intensity or sound pressure ; the human ear differs in its sensitivity to sounds of different frequencies. Sounds in the middle range, but possessing low intensities may appear as loud as sounds at low frequencies, but of high density. It is therefore necessary to give not only the number of dB of insulation of a wall, but also the range of frequencies, and were found in Part G of the early regulations. There are no similar tables included in the approved docu ment to Part E of the 1991 Regulations. Frequently the expression dBA may be seen. This means that a correction factor has been included in particular circumstances. Part E contains provisions devised to secure that only a limited amount of noise penetrates from one dwelling to its neighbour. Sound penetration of walls is mai nly dependent upon the number and size of direct openings, and the fact that sound h as the ability to outflank a wall or a floor. When sound waves reach a porous surface such as carpets, curtains, plaster or ro ugh cast stone work, some of the sound energy is changed into heat and dispersed. It is for this reason that an occupied dwelling is always less noisy than one which is bar e. The sound insulation standard of a given wall is only as good as its least effec tive part. This may be a door in the wall, penetration by pipes, inadequately filled mortar joints, or poor edge sealing. Flanking sound is a problem which can easily be overlooked, and it is possible f or noise travelling in this manner to act so as to almost neutralize the sound limi tation value of a wall altogether. As an example, sound can travel into a cavity of a suspend ed ceiling or below floor boards, to produce a noise on the other side of a wall. This is a chieved if there is inadequate party wall construction adjoining the cavities. Other exampl es where the sound insulation of walls and floors is put at risk is where there are commo n ducts or pipes penetrating the elements of structure. Noise will also travel through a wi ndow and enter another closely adjoining window in the same wall.