Acoustic design review for architects and developers
The cheapest acoustic remediation is the one you never need. Early design review costs a fraction of post-completion fixes.
An acoustic design review examines the construction specifications, identifies where acoustic risks lie, and provides recommendations that can be built into the technical drawings before anything is on site. The work can be carried out at any stage including RIBA stages, though the earlier the better.
We work with architects, designers, developers and directly with builders across Leeds, Yorkshire and the wider UK on residential, education, commercial and hospitality projects.
Why get an acoustic consultant involved at design stage?
The acoustic performance of a building is largely determined during design. The choice of wall, floor and ceiling constructions, the treatment of junctions, the management of flanking paths, all of these are design decisions that help ensure you comply with Building Regulations and pass your Pre-Completion sound insulation testing. Once the building is up, the options narrow sharply.
Remediation after construction is often expensive, disruptive and incomplete. A design review can prevent a remediation exercise that runs into thousands of pounds, plus programme delays at the worst possible moment.
With a specialist review
With a design stage review, risks can be identified and resolved before they become an issue.
Without a specialist review
Acoustic risks in the design may not be visible until the building is tested and fails. Post-construction remediation potentially ten times the cost and it's disruptive.
What an acoustic design review covers
Separating walls and floors
We review proposed construction details for walls and floors between dwellings or mixed-use settings against relevant performance targets including Approved Document E, BREEAM, local authority and project specifications, recommending alternatives where details fall short.
Flanking paths
Flanking transmission, where sound travels through structural connections rather than directly through the separating element, is the most common cause of sound test failure. We identify flanking risks at design stage, before they become costly failures.
Room acoustics and reverberation
For education, office and commercial projects, we assess room absorption characteristics against relevant standards including BB93 and BREEAM Hea 05, specifying acoustic treatment where required.
External noise and facade design
Where transportation or other external noise affects a building, we assess the facade against planning or building regulation noise criteria and provide revised specifications where needed, often alongside a noise impact assessment.
Project types we regularly advise on
How we work with design teams
We will review the proposed drawings and details of the project and work directly with the architect, developer or builder to advise on any potential issues or required improvements. Site visits can be arranged and we are happy to attend design team meetings where required, turn queries around by email, and update our comments as the design develops.
The aim is to be a useful, responsive member of the design team, not a compliance exercise at the end of the programme.