Approved Document E covers resistance to the passage of sound under the Building Regulations in England. It is particularly relevant to new dwellings, flats, certain residential conversions and separating walls or floors where acoustic performance forms part of compliance.
Important: this page is general product guidance, not a project compliance specification. Confirm the applicable requirement with Building Control, your acoustic consultant or your test provider before ordering a compliance-critical system. Requirements and guidance also differ across the UK.
Before You Price the Materials
- Confirm whether the project is a new build, conversion or other change of use.
- Identify the element being treated: separating wall, separating floor, internal wall or internal floor.
- Confirm the construction—masonry, timber, steel or concrete.
- Establish whether airborne sound, impact sound or both are relevant.
- Check the required build-up, junctions, service penetrations and flanking details.
- Know who is responsible for design approval, testing and sign-off.
Typical Product Categories
Part E-related specifications can involve several components rather than one “compliance product”. Depending on the approved design, these can include acoustic mineral wool, dense plasterboard, acoustic membranes, resilient bars or clips, acoustic underlays and perimeter sealing products.
Choose the Building Element
Walls
For separating or internal wall products, start with the wall construction and approved build-up.
Floors
For separating floors, confirm airborne and impact requirements as well as the final floor finish.
Ceilings
Ceiling components may form part of a tested or specified floor/ceiling build-up.
Have a Specification or Drawing?
Send us the product schedule, quantities and delivery postcode. We can quote the materials you have been specified and discuss suitable product equivalents where appropriate.
