Approved Document E
The rulebook for how quiet your walls and floors legally have to be.
What it is
About Approved Document E
Approved Document E sets the minimum airborne and impact sound insulation performance required between separating walls, floors and rooms in new-build and converted residential buildings in England and Wales (with BB93 as the equivalent for school acoustics). Architects, acousticians and building control officers reference it constantly when specifying construction build-ups and verifying compliance through pre-completion testing.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Determine minimum sound insulation requirements for a given building type
Specify separating wall and floor construction build-ups to meet compliance
Interpret pre-completion sound test results against regulatory thresholds
Advise on Robust Details as an alternative compliance route
Support building control sign-off on residential and educational projects
How to learn it
Learning Resources
The free Approved Document E PDF on gov.uk
Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) training and guidance notes
Institute of Acoustics (IOA) courses on building acoustics
On-the-job experience reviewing construction drawings against Part E requirements
Pro Tip
Check whether the project is using the Robust Details pre-approved construction route instead of bespoke testing — it can eliminate the need for on-site sound testing altogether if the correct registered detail is used.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool