Complaints about poor sound insulation between dwellings in england and wales

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a small study, undertaken in England and Wales between April 1992 and March 1994, where we investigated complaints about poor sound insulation between dwellings. The purpose of the project was to determine the types of noise that cause complaint and to see if it was common for complainants to live in dwellings having sound insulation below the level generally regarded as reasonable. A total of 40 case studies of complaints were investigated. Each case study involved interviews with the complainant and adjacent residents, together with physical measurements of airborne sound insulation and impact sound transmission. The main noises heard by complainants are music/television/radio, voices, footfalls, closing and banging doors, sockets, switches, impacts on kitchen work surfaces and plumbing noises. Noises from modern household appliances such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and telephones are also commonly mentioned as part of a complaint about domestic sound insulation. The study has shown that, in the main, complainants do live in dwellings having sound insulation below the standard generally regarded as reasonable for Building Regulations purposes. However, the survey also indicates that some people are dissatisfied even when their home meets the intended standard—although these complaints are often concerned with banging doors and other noises not controlled by Regulations.