APPROVED DOCUMENT E; RESISTANCE TO THE PASSAGE OF SOUND

As of the 1st July 2003 the revisions to this document make reference to the acoustic performance of floors, walls, ceilings and doorsets and specify the performance level that MUST be achieved in order remain compliant with The Building Regulations.

The fundamental requirement is for the protection against sound from other parts of the building or adjoining buildings for houses, flats and other rooms for residential purposes, including student and nurses’ accommodation, hostels, hotels or any building where more than one person or family is living.

For the first time, in these regulations, doorsets are specifically referenced and their acoustic performance is specified, dictating that the door density should be at least 25kg/m2 or a minimum sound reduction index of 29dB/Rw as per the criteria defined in BS EN ISO 140 and rated as per the requirements of BS EN 717.

Doc E recognises that a doorset without acoustic seals around the perimeter and the threshold will be unlikely to meet the requirement without the addition of a proven acoustic sealing system. In Requirement E4, Doc E reference ‘’new acoustic conditions in schools’’ covering all educational

establishments and addressing the very specific requirements of Building Bulletin 93 ‘’The Acoustic Design of Schools’’ where doorsets are to achieve 30 dB/Rw for all areas except music room where 35 dB/Rw is specified.

The requirements of Document E now very specifically place acoustic performance requirements on the doorset in order for the building to comply with the duty of care imposed by The Building Regulations.

What is the easiest way to meet the requirements of Doc E?

Achieving the requirements of Doc E is not complicated. The ground rules to remember for good acoustic sealing of doorsets are within these four basic guidelines:

1. Ensure the door construction is of solid core construction and, at least, meets the density requirement of the Approved Document.

   Approved Document E, Document M, Document B and seals

2. Specify a suitable acoustically rated perimeter seal to go around the head and jambs, for example Raven RP120 [12mm x 12mm] Delta seals™.

3. Ensure the threshold/door bottom is sealed with a Raven automatic door bottom seal such as the RP8si onto a threshold plate, for example, an RP66 for carpeted areas or RP82 for hard floor surfaces

4. To meet the requirements of the extra weight of the door leaf due to extra width and reduced door closure forces as required for Part M compliance and the increased weight of the door construction as required by Part E and B, ensure you specify the appropriate hinge for the performance requirements.

With all these elements in place and correctly adjusted then the expected performance based on a nominal thickness 44–45mm thick door leaf will be 32dB/Rw. Document E calls for 29dB/Rw but practical evidence means you should usually allow for the loss of 1–2 dB/Rw on-site due to performance losses through the floors, walls and ceilings.

Royde & Tucker offer 3 standard Raven Acoustic Control Packages to meet the requirements of Doc E, these being:

• ACP1 for non-fire rated acoustics only e.g. RP8Si (820mm), RP82 and RP120

• ACP2 for FD30S 1/2 hour fire/smoke + acoustics

• ACP3 for FD60S 1 hour fire/smoke + acoustics

Where seals meet the requirements under Doc E, products or solutions are denoted with an acoustic symbol.