Vertical sound laboratories at the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) Garston site are attracting increasing interest from timber and wood-based flooring manufacturers following the introduction of more stringent acoustic performance standards in the Building Regulations.
The laboratories, which opened earlier this year, can test internal or separating floors as well as floating floors and other coverings. Airborne and impact sound insulation for several types of flooring, including OSB, plywood and chipboard, have been measured so far.
Robin Hall, senior consultant and laboratory projects manager at BRE Acoustics, said the laboratories had been in constant use since opening, with airborne sound values of up to 70dB recorded so far.
He said: “There has been a lot of interest in the laboratory because of the new Approved Document E (sound insulation).”
The BRE made a substantial investment in setting up the facilities, which were built in collaboration with different sections of the industry.
