Code for Sustainable Homes

EcoHomes

The EcoHomes scheme balances environmental performance with the need for a high quality of life and a safe and healthy internal environment. The issues that are assessed within this regulation are grouped into seven categories: one of these is health and well-being and this is where sound issues are addressed.

Between 1 and 4 credits are available based upon frequency of pre-completion sound testing and a commitment to achieve and exceed the current Building Regulations for sound insulation.

EcoHomes XB has been developed to allow existing stock to be assessed and monitored. This facilitates the tracking of improvements made during routine maintenance and minor refurbishment.

This regulation is being superseded.

Improvement on Part E
Credits Minimum No. of tests per 10 dwellings Airborne Impact
1 2 0 0
2 3 0 0
3 3 +3 -3
4 3 +5 -5

Code for Sustainable Homes

From April 2007 the Code for Sustainable Homes comes into operation. This code builds upon the EcoHomes standard and also includes new areas of sustainability.

The Code has a scoring system of six levels based on achieving the mandatory minimum standards together with a proportion of the remaining ‘tradable’ standards with Level 3 being approximately equal to the Eco Homes VERY GOOD score.

Category 7 “Health and Well-being” includes a section on sound insulation. Between 1 and 4 points are awarded for achieving higher standards of sound insulation than required by Part E of the Building Regulations.

Instacoustic can provide technical assistance to enable Contractors and Developers to farm the desired credits from EcoHomes and the Code for Sustainable Homes. For further information please contact the Instacoustic Technical Team.