Hea 05 Acoustic performance
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Hea 05 Acoustic performance
No. of credits available: Building type dependent
Minimum standards: No
AimTo ensure the buildings’ acoustic performance including sound insulation meet the appropriate standards for its
purpose.
Assessment CriteriaThis issue is split into two parts:
● Pre-requisite
● Acoustic performance standards (number of credits is building type dependent)
The following is required to demonstrate compliance for:
Pre-requisite
1. A suitably qualified acoustician (see Relevant definitions) is appointed by the client at pre-bid/briefing stage
of the project to provide early design advice on:
1. External sources of noise impacting the chosen site
2. Site layout and zoning of the building for good acoustics
3. Acoustic requirements for users with special hearing and communication needs,
4. Acoustic treatment of different zones and facades.
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Acoustic performance standards
2. The building meets the acoustic performance standards and testing requirements for the relevant building
type and function areas as detailed in Table 5-4.
Table 5-4 Acoustic performance standards and testing requirements
Building typeRoom
function
Credits Criteria Testing
Requirement
Notes
Pre-schools,
schools and
sixth form
colleges
As required by
relevant
standard.
1 Achieve the
performance
standards
required by
Building Bulletin
93 based on a
sample
measurement as
described in
Section 1.3 of
Building Bulletin
931 and the ANC Good Practice
Guide.
A Suitably
Qualified
Acoustician
carries out pre-
completion
acoustic testing
to ensure that the
relevant spaces
(as built) achieve
the required
performance
standards. Where
testing identifies
that spaces do
not meet the
standards,
remedial works
are carried out
prior to handover
and occupation.
Testing must be
carried out in line
with Section 1.3 of
BB93 and the ANC
None
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Good Practice
Guide
recommendations.
Remedial works
must be carried out
in line with the
Section 1.3 of BB93.
1 Rain noise - For
roofs with a mass
per unit area less
than 150kg/m2 (lightweight roofs)
or any roofs with
glazing/rooflights,
calculations or
laboratory data
are required for
teaching/learning
spaces to
demonstrate that
the reverberant
sound pressure
level in these
rooms are not
more than 20dB
above the indoor
ambient noise
level for the
equivalent type of
room given in
Table 1.1 of
As above where
applicable.
Where is it not
considered
applicable a
justification and
alternative means
of compliance
should be
provided by the
Suitably Qualified
Acoustician.
For heavy weight
roofs, or parts of
the roof that are
heavyweight, with
a mass per unit
area greater than
150kg/m2 (including those
with sedum
planting) that do
not have any
glazing / rooflights,
calculations are
not required, as
such the credit can
be awarded on a
default basis of
compliance.
For the purpose of
assessing the
reverberant sound
pressure levels on
rooms beneath light
weight roofs and
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Building Bulletin
93 during heavy
rain.
roofs with glazing
and/or roof lights the
levels should be
calculated using
laboratory test data
from measurements
conducted in
accordance with BS
EN ISO 140-18 2
‘Heavy’ rain noise
excitation.
1 All music
accommodation
(or multi-purpose
halls in primary
schools with no
music
accommodation)
is to meet the
performance
levels set within
BB93. Where
noise levels are
expected to
exceed 95dBA (e.
g. in the case of
amplified music
and/or
percussion) the
design team must
demonstrate that
As above where
applicable.
Where is it not
considered
applicable a
justification and
alternative means
of compliance
should be
provided by the
Suitably Qualified
Acoustician.
Whilst careful
timetabling of
lessons may also
mitigate adverse
acoustics issues,
BREEAM’s focus
for new
construction is
building
performance.
Timetabling is
likely to change
over the building’s
lifetime, therefore,
it cannot be used
to demonstrate
compliance with
this criterion.
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the need for
higher sound
insulation has
been designed
out through
careful space
planning.
Further or
Higher
Education
buildings
As required by
relevant
standard.
1 Achieve the
indoor ambient
noise level
criteria for
secondary
schools in
Section 1 of
Building Bulletin
93.
Where appropriate
indoor ambient
noise levels in all
non-teaching
spaces i.e. spaces/
rooms not covered
in BB93, comply
with the "good
practice" criteria
levels of
BS8233:19993,
Tables 5 & 6. For
the purposes of
acoustic
measurement and
A suitably
qualified
acoustician
carries out pre-
completion
acoustic testing
to ensure that the
relevant spaces
(as built) achieve
the required
performance
standards. Where
testing identifies
that spaces do
not meet the
standards,
remedial works
are carried out
prior to handover
and occupation.
The procedures
outlined in BB93
and the ANC Good
Practice Guide can
None
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calculation these
spaces should be
considered
unoccupied.
be followed if/where
appropriate.
1 All areas used for
teaching, training
and educational
purposes (such
as classrooms,
seminar rooms
and lecture
theatres) achieve
reverberation
times compliant
with Table 1.5 of
BB93.
None
Healthcare
buildings
As required by
relevant
standard.
1 The values for
noise intrusion
from external
sources in Table
1 of HTM 08-01
Acoustics4 are not exceeded.
The values for
internal noise from
mechanical and
electrical services in
Table 2 of HTM 08-
01 Acoustics are
not exceeded.
The weighted
A suitably
qualified
acoustician
carries out pre-
completion
acoustic testing
in accordance
with HTM 08-01
Acoustics,
Chapter 7
Testing and
Validation.
The relevant
spaces (as built)
achieve the
Deviations from
the values in Table
1 are acceptable
only in the
circumstances
specified by HTM
08-01. The design
team must use the
recommendations
specified in HTM
08-01 to justify any
deviation.
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standardized level
differences
measured between
rooms on site are
not lower than the
values of the sound
insulation ratings
(dB DnT,w) in Table
4 of HTM 08-01:
Acoustics (the
values in Table 4
are determined
according to the
privacy
requirements, noise
generation of the
source room and
noise sensitivity of
the receiving room
as specified in
Table 3 of HTM 08-
01:Acoustics)
Impact noise is
controlled at source
and the weighted
standardised impact
sound pressure
level (L’nT,w) does
not exceed 65dB in
noise sensitive
required
performance
standards. Where
testing identifies
that spaces do not
meet the standards,
remedial works are
carried out prior to
handover and
occupation.
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rooms
1 Sound-absorbent
treatment is
provided to
control
reverberation in
rooms and
circulation spaces
in accordance
with paragraphs
2.110 of HTM 08-
01 Acoustics.
None None
Multi-
residential
buildings
Individual
bedrooms &
self contained
dwellings
1 Airborne sound
insulation values
are at least 3dB
higher and impact
sound insulation
values are at
least 3dB lower
than the than the
performance
standards in the
Building
Regulations or
Standards.
A programme of
pre-completion
testing is carried
out by a
compliant test
body based on
the normal
programme of
testing described
in the Building
Regulations or
Standards for
every group or
sub-group of
dwelling-houses,
flats or rooms for
residential
purposes; this
must
Testing should be
between habitable
rooms on the
Ground Floor and
at higher storey
levels if applicable.
Where there are
insufficient suitable
separating walls or
floors in a
development to carry
out the number of
tests specified in the
appropriate Building
Regulations or
Standards, all of the
available suitable
separating walls or
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demonstrate that
the performance
standards
detailed within
this table are
achieved.
OR
Use of
constructions for all
relevant building
elements have
been registered
with and assessed
and approved by
Robust Details
Limited (RDL) and
found to achieve
the performance
standards required
for the number of
credits sought (see
additional
information section
for further
information on
Robust Details).
floors must be tested.
3 Airborne sound
insulation values
are at least 5dB
higher and impact
sound insulation
values are at
least 5dB lower
than the than the
performance
standards in the
Building
Regulations or
Standards.
Alternative to pre-
completion testing
or RDL approval
includes, where
separating walls or
floors only occur
between non-
habitable rooms. In
such cases, three
credits can be
awarded by default.
4 Airborne sound
insulation values
are at least 8dB
higher and impact
sound insulation
values are at
least 8dB lower
than the than the
performance
standards in the
Building
Regulations or
Standards.
Alternative to pre-
completion testing
or RDL approval
includes, where
the dwellings are
detached. In such
cases, four credits
can be awarded by
default.
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Office,
Industrial,
Retail,
Prisons,
Courts and
other (non
residential)
building
types.
All room
functions
1 Indoor ambient
noise levels
comply with the
“good practice”
criteria levels of
BS8233:1999,
Tables 5 & 6 (see
additional
information
section) unless
otherwise stated
within this table.
See also additional
criteria below for
sound insulation.
Where the room
types below are
present, the
appropriate
requirements for
sound insulation
must also be
achieved.
A suitably
qualified
acoustician
carries out pre-
completion
acoustic testing
to ensure that the
relevant spaces
(as built) achieve
the required
performance
standards. Where
testing identifies
that spaces do
not meet the
standards,
remedial works
are carried out
prior to handover
and occupation.
For the purposes
of acoustic
measurement and
calculation these
spaces should be
considered
unoccupied.
Typical,
appropriate noise
levels are given in
the table below
(additional
information
section), the list is
not intended to be
exhaustive.
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Educational
space
(teaching &
lecture
spaces)
Achieve the
airborne and
impact sound
insulation criteria
in Health
Technical
Memorandum 08-
01 .
See Compliance
notes for definition
of “acoustically
sensitive rooms”.
Medical
treatment
rooms
Achieve the
airborne and
impact sound
insulation criteria
in Health
Technical
Memorandum 08-
01 .
None
Acoustically
sensitive
rooms
The sound
insulation
between
acoustically
sensitive rooms
and other
occupied areas
complies with
section 7.6.3.1 of
BS8233 , as
follows, Dw +
LAeq,T > 75
See Compliance
notes for definition
of “acoustically
sensitive rooms”.
Dw is the weighted
sound level
difference between
the two spaces
LAeq,T is the
measured indoor
ambient noise level
in the acoustically
sensitive room (for
the purposes of
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awarding design
stage credits, the
design ambient noise
level can be used).
The source and
receive room sound
pressure levels from
which Dw is derived
must be measured in
accordance with BS
EN ISO 140-4:1998
and the guidance in
Annex B of Approved
Document E.
Measurements must
be based on finished
but unfurnished
rooms, accounting
for any carpets and
acoustically
absorbent ceilings
specified.
Rooms/areas
used for
speech or
performance,
including
public
speaking
1 Achieve
reverberation times
compliant with
Table 8 of BS8233
1999.
In addition, or
alternatively, if
relevant to
As above. Where the
reverberation time
required by the
relevant standard
is not appropriate
for the type of
space/building
assessed, the
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assessed building;
classrooms,
seminar rooms and
lecture theatres
achieve
reverberation times
compliant with
Table 1.5 of BB93.
acoustician must
confirm why this is
the case. In
addition the
acoustician must
set alternative
appropriate
reverberation
times and provide
these to
demonstrate
compliance.
Compliance notes
Shell only Where it is not possible to define the type of office
space due to the speculative nature of the
development, i.e. open plan or cellular, it must be
assumed that it will be open plan with an occupancy
rate of 1 person per 10m2. Assessments of buildings that are not fully fitted do not need
to assess the criteria associated with sound insulation of
acoustically sensitive rooms.
Building types without areas “used
for speech”
Where a building type (other than education,
healthcare, multi-residential types) does not have
areas “used for speech”, it does not need to comply
with the relevant reverberation criteria. In these
instances, the two available credits can be awarded
where the building complies with the indoor ambient
noise level and, if relevant, sound insulation criteria.
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BB93 relaxation of requirements for
schools in Northern Ireland
The Department for Education Northern Ireland
(DENI) issued a note to designers in November 2006
detailing relaxations in compliance with BB93. The
relaxations were made to facilitate the particular
design requirements for new schools in Northern
Ireland (as recommended in the various DENI
Building Handbooks). Subsequently, where an
assessed school in Northern Ireland has cited the
note and applied the relaxation of BB93
requirements, they are not prevented from achieving
the available BREEAM credits provided, in all other
respects, the building complies with BB93 (and the
above BREEAM requirements).
BB93 alternative performance
standards
BB93 recognises alternative standards and details
what is required should these be used within the
building project, where appropriate this approach may
also be used to demonstrate compliance with
BREEAM criteria.
Acoustically sensitive rooms Where the term ‘acoustically sensitive rooms’ is
referenced in this BREEAM issue, it refers to any
room/space the design team or client deems to be
acoustically sensitive for the purposes of privacy
which may include the following types of space/rooms
(where specified);
1. Cellular offices,
2. Meeting/interview/consulting/treatment rooms
In addition;
1. Court buildings: Witness/consultation rooms
and Judges’/magistrates’ chambers and jury
retiring rooms.
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2. Prison buildings: Care/listener suites, Official
visit rooms, ‘Closed visits’ rooms.
Unoccupied spaces Where the term ‘unoccupied space’ is referenced in
this BREEAM issue it refers to the nature of the
space for the purpose of carrying acoustic
calculations or measurements i.e. such
measurements must be carried when the space is
unoccupied and therefore devoid of sources of noise.
Multi-residential developments with
CSH assessed dwellings
Building’s with self-contained dwellings also being
assessed under the Code for Sustainable Homes
(CSH), the following applies:
The number of credits achieved for the self-contained
dwellings assessed under the CSH issue Hea 2 (Sound
Insulation) can also be applied to this issue of the Multi-
residential assessment for those dwellings. Other residential
and non-residential areas, not forming part of a self-
contained dwelling, must meet the above requirements in
order for this credit to be awarded.
Robust Details It must be noted that the Robust Details scheme is
not applicable in the assessment of forms of
construction which fall into the categories of material
change of use or rooms for residential purposes.
(Refer to additional Guidance section for more detail/
definition of Robust Details.)
Schedule of EvidenceReq Design Stage Post Construction Stage
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All Professional report / study and
calculations from the acoustician.
Letter of appointment or other
confirmation demonstrating when the
acoustician was appointed.
Relevant section/clauses of the building
specification or contract and/or formal
letter from the project team regarding
commitments
Professional field report / study and
calculations from the acoustician
post construction.
Evidence, such as a formal letter from
the acoustician or their test report
confirming that they meet BREEAM’s
definition of a suitably qualified
acoustician.
A letter from the design team or main
contractor confirming that any and all
required remedial works have been
carried out in accordance with the
acoustician’s recommendations.
Multi-Residential
only
Where pre-completion testing will
be carried out a letter from the
developer confirming the intent to:
1. Meet the relevant sound
insulation performance levels
2. Use a Compliant Test Body to
complete testing
Where Robust Details will be used;
1. Confirmation that the Robust
Details chosen will achieve
the required performance
standards for sound insulation
(as applicable)
2. Confirmation that the relevant
plots are registered with RDL
(the Purchase Statement)
Either
1. Copies of the sound insulation
field test results and/or a letter
of confirmation that the
required sound insulation
performance standards as
detailed in the assessment
criteria have been achieved
AND
2. Evidence that the tests have
been carried out by a
Compliant Test Body
OR
3. Completed Robust Details Ltd
Compliance Certificate signed
by the developer for all
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relevant constructions relating
to the plots being assessed
Additional Information
Relevant definitions
Building Bulletin 93 revision (schools): BB93 is under revision (as of March 2010) and may change its
title to Guidelines for acoustic design of schools to include criteria for refurbishment and conversion work as well
as new build.
Building Regulations / Standards: For England and Wales – Approved Document E 2003 edition, with
amendments 2004 – Resistance to sound, for Northern Ireland – DOE Technical Booklet G - Sound, for Scotland
– Technical Handbook Section 5 - Noise
Compliant Test Body: is defined as those organisations:
1. Having UKAS accreditation to the appropriate scope, or who are accredited by a member of the
International Accreditation Forum (IAF - iaf.nu) to the appropriate scope OR
2. Who can provide evidence that they follow the relevant principles of BS EN ISO 17024 (Conformity
assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons)5 in relation to BREEAM
requirements.
Groups and Sub-groups: As defined in the Building Regulations for England and Wales Approved Document
E: Resistance to the Passage of sound, section 1 (paragraphs 1.11 – 1.17). For example, flats and study
bedrooms are usually considered as two separate groups, and if there are significant differences in construction
type then the groups will need to be broken down into sub groups. In addition to this, where there are steps or
staggers greater than 300mm between dwellings, dwellings without steps/staggers should be treated as a
different sub-group to those with step/staggers. This is because the presence of steps/staggers is likely to
improve performance.
Habitable rooms: For the purpose of this issue, habitable rooms include any room where individuals will sit or
lie down and require a reasonably quiet environmental to concentrate or rest. Such rooms are bedrooms, living
rooms, dining rooms, studies as well as kitchen-dining and kitchen-living rooms.
Material change of use: is where there is a change in the purpose for which or the circumstance in which a
building is used e.g. where a building has been converted from a non dwelling (school, church etc.) to a dwelling.
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Multiple occupancy offices: Office space that is not cellular in nature i.e. it is open-planned, and designed
to accommodate more than two desk spaces/workstations.
Non-habitable rooms: For the purpose of this issue, non-habitable rooms include any room that is not
considered as defined above, such as kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, hallways, garages and laundry rooms.
Occupied spaces: Refer to BREEAM issue Hea 01 and note that for Hea 05 there is a specific, unrelated,
definition of 'unoccupied' with reference to acoustic testing and measurement, see Compliance notes for details.
Robust Details: Robust Details (RDs) are construction solutions that provide an alternative to pre-completion
sound insulation testing as a method of complying with Requirements E1 of Approved Document E (2003
edition) of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). The relevant plots on a development must be
registered with RDL and built in accordance with the RD specification. To give a reasonable level of assurance
that these details will achieve the required minimum standards, RDL carry out random inspections during
construction and random sound insulation tests after construction. A Robust Detail is deemed to be approved for
BREEAM (Multi-residential building) credits only when it achieves a specified performance level as assessed by
RDL. Robust Details can only be used in relation to assessment for new build dwellings and cannot be used to
assess the performance of construction details in rooms for residential purposes or material change of use.
Room for residential purposes: is defined within the Building Regulations for England and Wales
Approved Document E as a room, or a suite of rooms which is not a dwelling-house or a flat and which is used
by one or more persons to live and sleep and includes a room in a hostel, hotel, a boarding house, a hall of
residence or a residential home, whether or not the room is separated from or arranged in a cluster group with
other rooms, but does not include a room in hospital, or other similar establishment, used for patient
accommodation.
Specified performance level: Robust Details are approved for credits under the Code for Sustainable
Homes (CSH), where the specified performance levels set out below are met. Construction types that meet these
levels are listed on the Robust Details website www.robustdetails.com on the CSH page. Where assessing self
contained dwellings in multi-residential buildings that are not defined as material change of use or rooms for
residential purposes, Robust Details that meet the specified performance level as set out below can also comply
with the credit criteria for self contained units in multi-residential buildings and reference must be made to the
CSH page on the Robust Details website:
1. Mature Robust Details (published for over 12 months and at least 100 test results) – regular assessment
based on the 90th percentile of results from the last 100 site tests
2. Low use Robust Detail (published for over 12 months but fewer than 100 test results) – initial assessment
based on the first 30 tests needed to qualify for the Robust Details scheme and the site tests available, and
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reviewed regularly as new test results become available, until it becomes a mature Robust Detail or is
rejected.
3. New Robust Detail (published for less than 12 months and fewer than 100 test results) – initial assessment
based on the first 30 tests needed to qualify for the Robust Details scheme, and reviewed regularly as new
test results become available, until it becomes a mature Robust Detail or is rejected.
It should be noted that not all RDs will necessarily achieve the performance levels required to achieve multi-
residential credits. If in doubt, please check the list of currently approved details with RDL directly at www.
robustdetails.com or on 0870 240 8210.
Suitably qualified acoustician: An individual who holds a recognised acoustic qualification and
membership of an appropriate professional body. The primary professional body for acoustics in the UK is the
Institute of Acoustics.
Single occupancy offices: Cellular office space designed to accommodate one or two desk spaces/
workstations (typically no greater than 10m2).
Weighted standardized level differences (DnT,w): HTM 08-01 defines this as the ‘unit for rating airborne
sound insulation on site’.
Weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L'nT,w): HTM 08-01 defines this as the ‘unit for
rating impact airborne sound insulation on site’.
Checklists and Tables
Table 5-5 A selection of good practice indoor ambient noise levels from BS8233:1999
Function of area Indoor ambient noise level*
Single occupancy offices ≤ 40dB LAeq,T
Multiple occupancy offices 40-50dB LAeq,T
General spaces (staffrooms, restrooms) ≤40dB LAeq,T
Spaces designed for speech e.g. seminar/lecture
rooms
≤35dB LAeq,T
Informal café/canteen areas ≤ 50 dB LAeq,T
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Catering kitchens ≤ 50 dB LAeq,T
Restaurant areas 40-55dB LAeq,T
Manual workshops ≤55 dB LAeq,T
Courtrooms with no public address ≤30dB LAeq,T
Courtrooms with public address ≤40dB LAeq,T
Consulting/treatment rooms ≤35dB LAeq,T
Sound recording studios ≤30dB LAeq,T
Bars 40-45dB LAeq,T
Laboratories ≤40 dB LAeq,T
Lecture theatre/seminar room ≤35dB LAeq,T
Concert hall/theatre/auditoria ≤30dB LAeq,T
Bedrooms ≤35dB LAeq,T
Library areas 40-50 LAeq,T
Open visit areas (Prisons) ≤45 LAeq,T
* Where ranges of noise levels are specified where privacy is not deemed by the final occupier to
be an issue, it is acceptable to disregard the lower limit of the range and consider the noise level
criteria to be lower than or equal to the upper limit of the range.
Calculation procedures
Testing, measurement and calculation procedures
Where specific guidance on testing, measurement and calculation is not stated in the criteria table above for the
relevant building type, or within the relevant standard/guidance referenced, the following procedures can be
followed by the acoustician when measuring or calculating the levels required to demonstrate compliance with
this BREEAM issue:
1. Noise from both internal sources (e.g. mechanical ventilation systems, plant noise) and external sources (e.
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g. traffic noise transmitted via the building façade) should be included, and, where windows are openable
as part of the ventilation strategy, these should be assumed to be open for the purposes of calculations
and open for measurements.
2. Noise from occupants and office equipment (e.g. computers) should not be included in the measurements.
3. Measurements should be made in at least four rooms in which noise levels can be expected to be greatest
either because they are on the noisiest façade or because they are on a naturally ventilated façade.
4. Where different ventilation strategies are used, measurements should be conducted in rooms utilising each
strategy. Otherwise, measurements should be made in rooms on the noisiest façade.
5. T in LAeq,T is taken as the duration of the normal working day (typically 8 hours between 09.00 and 17.00).
6. Measurements need not be made over a period of 8 hours if a shorter measurement period can be used.
In this case, measurements should be made when external noise levels are representative of normal
conditions throughout the day.
7. Measurement periods less than 30 minutes may give representative values for indoor ambient noise levels
and may be utilized where this is the case. However measurement periods shorter than 5 minutes should
not be used.
8. Measurements should be taken in a minimum of 3 locations in rooms at a height of 1.2 m above the floor
level and at least 1 m away from any surface.
9. Where relevant, measurement of airborne sound insulation between teaching spaces should be conducted
between one in four pairs of adjacent rooms (or teaching spaces) of each room type or performance
requirement category and construction type.
10. Where relevant, measurement of impact sound pressure level should be conducted in one in four teaching
spaces (separated from rooms above) of each room type or performance requirement category and
construction type.
The above is intended as guidance for undertaking acoustic testing/measurement to demonstrate compliance
with the performance requirements in BREEAM. If the acoustician has felt it necessary to deviate from the above
procedures, they should provide a reason for doing so and confirm that the alternative procedures are adequate
for demonstrating that the building meets the acoustic performance requirements.
Other information
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NR curves
Noise assessments based on NR curves are often used by building services consultants to predict internal noise
levels due to mechanical ventilation systems. However, the BREEAM requirement uses the indoor ambient noise
level, LAeq,T which includes external noise transmitted via the façade as well as internal noise such as that from
mechanical ventilation systems. In the absence of strong low frequency noise, LAeq,T can be estimated from the
NR value using the following formula: LAeq,T ≈ NR + 6 dB. Therefore, if the NR value is known, but not the
sound pressure levels in the individual frequency bands, an estimate for the indoor ambient noise level LAeq,T
can still be determined from the NR value for the building services noise. The LAeq,T for the external noise
transmitted via the façade must then be combined with the LAeq,T for the building services
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