When a house is converted into 2 flats, are they supposed to be soundproofed, because I can hear absolutely everything that goes on in the flat downstairs and its starting to p me off!
2007-03-01 00:59:41 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Yes!
Approved Document E of the English Building Standards and Section 5 of the Scottish Building Standards require sound separation between individual residential units, and between residential units and properties of other use.
However, it's not "soundproofing" that's required, but a reasonable level of resistance to the transmission of sound is required.
There are 3 types of sound transmission to be aware of: impact sound (noise of feet and others on the floor above a flat for instance), airborne sound (the sound of people talking for instance) and flanking sound (sound that pass through an building element such as a wall due to construction of that element). If I'm not mistaken, the level of airborne noise reduction recommended by the Scottish Building Standards for instance is 52dB, meaning any airborne noise up to 52dB should be stopped by the construction of the mutual wall/floor.
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It also depends on when the subdivision was done and how this relates to when the building regs came into force. If for instance that the property was split into 2 flats before the regs came into force requiring a particular level of sound separation, then it only needs to comply with whatever's in force at that time. Check when the alterations were done.
2007-03-01 01:13:09 · answer #1 · answered by k² 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well depending on which state you live in there are different codes for building, some states do require different things. Also depending on the city,town, or village codes too. Check with you local government.
2007-03-01 01:29:18 · answer #2 · answered by Michae N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope cause it's still legally considered a one family unit. Subdivision is up to the owner
2007-03-01 01:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nope
I live in terraced housing and either side of my bedroom i can hear everything that goes on......I mean everything ;(
2007-03-01 01:03:32 · answer #4 · answered by Dstorter 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no its not a requirement.
if you like to and you have permission you can always put a new floor down with a soundprofe pad or something under it.
2007-03-01 01:11:48 · answer #5 · answered by eclipsefreak 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Use a thick underlay and as thick a carpet as you can afford
2007-03-01 07:11:37 · answer #6 · answered by Dreamweaver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋