Much tougher soundproofing rules for all new homes are now in force. Now a new team of inspectors is ready to ensure they make the grade.
In the four month period since changes to the Building Regulations Part E (sound insulation), Robust Details Ltd (RDL) has been processing plot registration applications made by housebuilders in England and Wales. Registered houses and flats will include separating walls and floors built using one of the patterns contained in the 'Robust details handbook', published in May. For developers, the Robust Details (RD) approach avoids mandatory pre-completion sound testing.
As soon as they register with RDL, housebuilders are advised that, during construction, their sites may be selected for sample testing and/or inspection by acoustic experts appointed by the new company.
Now that a number of RDL-registered homes are under construction, the newly formed inspectorate is ready to start work. The RD inspectorate consists of about 20 consultant acousticians, each of which covers a geographic area and has targets for sampling new homes built under the scheme. Ultimately, their duties will include sample sound testing of RD homes, but for the first month or two they will visit sites to make visual checks.
Chairman of the inspectorate Phil Dunbavin explains: "The inspectors' role is paramount in ensuring that the whole system works as intended. The inspectors will initially be undertaking visual inspections and one of our prime targets is to provide a good measure of knowledge transfer. The inspectors are highly qualified and professional acousticians and will provide help and guidance on how to comply with the robust details process."
Mike Freshney, director of RDL and chairman of its assessment and approval committee puts the work of the inspectorate into perspective: The proof that robust details are truly 'robust' in practice is key to the final success of the scheme. The audits now being undertaken will provide that proof or, at worst, reveal weaknesses in site practice that will need to be addressed as the new system matures. This is a very important stage for builders using the robust details scheme."
Clearly, information gained during the course of these inspections, and data collected during on-site sound tests, will be essential in demonstrating the effectiveness of the RD approach. David Holliday, chairman of RDL, sees it very much from the customers point of view: I am very pleased that the inspectorate has commenced its monitoring and auditing duties. This represents the vital next step in ensuring that the robust details system, developed jointly by the industry, its suppliers and its regulators, can bring forward the benefits that we are all expecting of it a significant improvement in standards of sound insulation for occupiers of newly built houses and flats.
Coming soon - new robust details
Following successful field tests, the board of directors of Robust Details Limited (RDL) has approved a number of candidate robust details to progress to final publication. The next stage will be to draft and distribute the necessary details, drawings and checklist and to consult with members of RDLs expert panel prior to release of the new robust details documents. If all goes according to plan, the date for publication will be 24 January 2005.
Purchasers of the first edition of the RD handbook will receive a free update with new robust details, together with other amendments and additional text relating to the existing RD.
However, notwithstanding the fact that these candidate robust details have reached an advanced stage in the approval process, until the final version of the new document has been published (including all details, appendices and site checklists), it will not yet be possible for users to register plots with RDL showing these constructions. This should minimise uncertainty amongst RD customers, building control bodies, warranty providers and others who will need access to all of the information contained in the document. Accordingly, RDL has advised manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that product literature and/or promotional material contains advice to this effect.