Part E Acoustic Test — What to Expect and How to Pass
Written by our acoustic insulation specialist — 15+ years experience. About our experts.
Pre-completion acoustic testing under Building Regulations Approved Document E is mandatory for new separating floors and walls. In our experience advising developers and contractors, many projects fail their first test — and most failures are avoidable.
What the Test Involves
A UKAS-accredited acoustic tester visits the site and measures the actual performance of your separating floors and walls using specialist equipment. The test takes approximately 2-3 hours per set of measurements. Results are expressed as DnT,w (airborne) and L'nT,w (impact) and compared against the Part E minimums.
Why Projects Fail
- Flanking transmission — sound bypassing the main treatment through junctions and services
- Inadequate resilient layer — underlay with insufficient ΔLw for the floor construction
- Sound bridges — rigid fixings penetrating the acoustic layer
- Unsealed perimeter gaps — acoustic sealant not applied at junctions
How to Pass
Use a tested system — not individual products without system data. Our 12mm acoustic flooring system is designed to achieve Part E compliance when correctly installed. Seal all perimeter junctions with acoustic sealant. Ensure no rigid fixings bridge the resilient layer. Treat flanking paths.
Browse our acoustic underlay range or contact our experts for a free recommendation.