Homes need good sound insulation. Part E is one thing and the important thing but it is also necessary to consider another Part – the external one. Simply put, noise pollution from external sources must be as much a consideration of good residential design as the design of the house/apartment itself. Bad builders and developers probably couldn’t care less. Good planners and developers are good because they do.
A good example is the commissioning of acoustic consultants (24 Acoustics Ltd) who recently assessed the impact of noise from the proposed relief road at Bognor Regis upon an adjacent site which has outline planning consent for residential development of 700 new homes. Here, the work involved detailed noise modelling of the noise from the relief road together with specifying and optimising mitigation measures. These included acoustic screening and bunds and specification of acoustic glazing plus alternative means of ventilation to ensure a satisfactory internal acoustic environment in each property.
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANTS ARE RECEIVING MORE AND MORE ENQUIRIES FROM DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS LOOKING AT SITES PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED TO BE FAR TOO NOISY, SUCH AS NEAR RAILWAY LINES, BUSY ROADS AND ‘LOUD’ FACTORIES AND WORKS.
Apparently, acoustic consultants are receiving more and more enquiries from developers and builders looking at sites previously considered to be far too noisy, such as near railway lines, busy roads and ‘loud’ factories and works. Today, sophisticated house design and material specification mean that severe external pollution can now be controlled and/or eliminated.
…and the sheep?
Did you know that wool is a really good ‘new’ product and can provide an exceptionally efficient thermal and acoustic building insulation? It totally complies with Building Regulations - in between joists in ventilated and unventilated lofts, under pitched roofs and between rafters for tiled or slated pitched roofs, as well as timber frame wall applications between studding with a weather resistant cladding and a ventilated and drained cavity. Thermafleece, from Second Nature UK, is British wool insulation to be BBA certified - (02/3950).The product gained Energy Savings Recommended Approval from the Energy Saving Trust in 2007. Another major producer is Black Mountain Insulation who use the grey and black wool not used for clothing.
The interesting and important benefit of wool is that it naturally fights the problem of condensation by moving moisture. Condensation is the main contributor to Toxic Mould Syndrome – a major problem which occurs where mould growth is propograted by moisture which has been allowed to condense within the building fabric, particularly on cellulose based products. Wool can actually draw moisture from timber and other building materials. Curiously, as wool heats it evaporates the absorbed water.
