Building Acoustics

Our Building Acoustics Services

Our building acoustics services are applicable to a broad range of project types, including:

• Residential buildings
• Commercial offices
• Education facilities
• Healthcare settings
• Leisure spaces
• Mixed-use developments

We provide practical, technically robust advice from early design through to completion and testing.

Regulatory Framework and Standards

In the UK, architectural acoustics design is informed by a combination of Building Regulations, British and international standards, and best practice guidance. Key drivers include:

• Approved Document E (ADE) — Resistance to the Passage of Sound: Specifies acoustic requirements for separating walls and floors, internal partitions, and other elements in new and converted dwellings, and sets out the requirement for pre-completion sound testing or the use of Robust Details where applicable.
• British Standard (BS) 8233:2014 — Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings, including criteria for indoor ambient noise levels and privacy.
• Robust Details: An alternative compliance route to pre-completion testing for dwellings that meet specific performance criteria.
• Additional guidance such as ProPG (Professional Practice Guidance on Planning & Noise) and emerging Best Practice recommendations support the integration of acoustics early in the design process to achieve favourable planning outcomes.

Our team stays abreast of changes in legislation, standards, and guidance, ensuring advice and assessments are aligned with current requirements.

Acoustics in Building Design

Effective acoustic design requires consideration of how sound travels through structures and how spaces are used. We assess and advise on:

• Sound insulation between dwellings and rooms: Ensuring separating elements meet regulatory requirements.
• Internal room acoustics: Providing guidance on reverberation, speech intelligibility, privacy, and occupant comfort.
• External noise impacts: Advising on façades, glazing, and insulation to control intrusion from transport and environmental noise.
• Service and structure-borne noise: Supporting design to mitigate noise from building services, plant, and circulation spaces.

Our assessments draw on recognised methodologies and modelling tools, tailored to the specific requirements of each project.

Pre-Completion Testing and Verification

For many developments — particularly residential schemes — compliance with Approved Document E requires pre-completion sound insulation testing to demonstrate that constructed buildings meet the required performance levels. Where appropriate, we can also advise on the use of Robust Details as an alternative compliance route.

Dragonfly Consulting undertakes sound insulation testing in accordance with currently recognised standards, diagnosing issues where performance falls short and advising on cost-effective remedial measures.

Practical Advice and Collaboration

We work collaboratively with design teams, architects, developers, and contractors to integrate acoustic considerations early in the design process, helping to:

• minimise costly changes later in construction;
• improve occupant experience; and
• reduce risk of planning or compliance issues.

Our services include tailored reports, design recommendations, modelling, testing, and certification where required.