Part E Sound Testing for New Build and Conversion Projects in Yorkshire
You need to pass. We will tell you exactly where you stand before we leave site, and if something has not performed, we will tell you what to do about it.
Pre-completion sound testing is a legal requirement for most new build residential properties and conversions in England under Approved Document E of the Building Regulations. Failing a test, or using someone who misses the root cause of a failure, can delay handovers, hold up mortgage completions and create difficulties with Building Control.
Opal Acoustics provides Part E sound testing across West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and beyond. We work with housebuilders of all sizes, from single-dwelling conversions to multi-phase residential developments.
When is sound testing required?
Under Approved Document E, pre-completion sound testing is required for:
- New build dwellings where separating walls or floors exist between dwellings
- Residential conversions creating two or more dwellings from a single building
- Rooms for residential purposes, including student accommodation and care homes
- Schools and educational buildings, under BB93
Some projects may be exempt if a Robust Standard Detail (RSD) construction was used and no deviations occurred during the build. If there were any departures from the specified detail, or if Building Control has requested a test, testing will be required regardless.
Not sure whether your project needs testing? Call us and we will give you a direct answer.
What to expect during a sound test
Before we arrive
We confirm the number of plots to be tested, the construction types and whether the building is in the correct condition: complete, sealed, services installed.
On arrival
Specialist sound level meters and loudspeaker equipment are set up in the relevant rooms on both sides of each separating element: wall or floor and ceiling.
The test itself
A calibrated signal is played in the source room and measured in the receiving room. For impact sound, a standard tapping machine is used on the floor above. Each test position takes around 20 to 30 minutes.
Results on the day
We confirm pass or fail on site before leaving. You will not be kept waiting for an answer.
The test report
A full report with results in the format required by Building Control is issued within 48 hours as standard.
What happens if a plot fails?
A failed sound test does not have to mean a costly rebuild. In most cases, targeted works to address the specific cause will resolve the issue.
If a test result falls below the required performance values, we explain precisely which element failed, by how much, and why. In our experience, the cause almost always comes down to one of a small number of issues:
- Gaps or penetrations in the separating construction: service runs, socket boxes, or poorly sealed junctions
- A deviation from the specified construction detail during the build
- Flanking transmission, where sound is travelling through the structure rather than directly through the separating element
We provide practical remediation guidance in writing and can return to re-test once the works are complete. Where the failed element is isolated and the remediation is targeted, we do not charge a full re-test fee.
Testing programmes for housebuilders
For phased developments, we work with the site manager or project manager to schedule testing at the right point in the build programme for each plot, reducing the risk of delays to handover and mortgage release.
We keep a flexible diary and can generally accommodate testing within three to five working days of instruction. For urgent completions, call us to discuss availability.
- Scheduling aligned to the build programme across multiple phases
- Consistent reporting format for Building Control throughout the project
- Single point of contact from first booking to final certificate
- Remediation guidance included if needed, with no additional charge for straightforward cases