Building/Party wall regs for the thickness of a party wall

tfish · 5 Feb 2014

Is there a minimum thickness required for a party wall?

Iv got a flat where the party wall is just timber frame and plasterboard.

Its terrible for noise.

I can't seem to find a thickness requirement when the party wall construction is timber frame.

Thanks.

tony1851 · 5 Feb 2014

How old is the flat?

Architexeter · 6 Feb 2014

Read through Part E of the building regulations. As Tony is asking, the age of the the flat will dictate the regulation at the time it was built as Part E was significanlty 'upgraded' about 10 years ago.

Ideally it would have two separate walls with an airspace between. See Part E on the planning portal, there are some useful diagrams. Including specific detailing at wall to floor junctions.

If you are looking for a simple fix with minimal loss to room size, I would look to use resillient bars, acoustic quilt and soundbloc plasterboard.

Hope that helps.

jeds · 6 Feb 2014

tfish said:
Is there a minimum thickness required for a party wall?

Iv got a flat where the party wall is just timber frame and plasterboard.

Its terrible for noise.

I can't seem to find a thickness requirement when the party wall construction is timber frame.

Thanks.

There is no minimum thickness. As Tony says regs are determined by when the building was submitted for building regs. If it is a developer building that could be years before the place was actually built. Modern regs prescribe either a maximum sound level or what's known as a robust detail. If the property is relatively recent you need to find out which method was used? If it's more than, say, 10 years old then you might as well start researching what you can do to sort the problem yourself.

tfish · 7 Feb 2014

Its a old stone built house converted into flats about 15 years ago.

The bedroom too small to thicken or even add anything to the wall.

Iv spoken to the landlord who owns the flat next door and he is unwilling to pull the wall down and start again.

Building Controls dont want to know either.

I can't lodge a noise complaint as it isn't 'violent' noise.

Its a bit of a nightmare as I can hear the bloke (whose head must be 2 foot from mine) farting and even breathing at night.

jeds · 7 Feb 2014

Sounds like a trip down the estate agents.

tfish · 15 Feb 2014

What about Human Rights & every home owner/tenants right to 'Right To Quiet Enjoyment‎'

There must be a legal angle to take here?

tony1851 · 15 Feb 2014

tfish said:
What about Human Rights & every home owner/tenants right to 'Right To Quiet Enjoyment‎'

There must be a legal angle to take here?

'Quiet' is a relative term.

If the noise was particularly loud, and/or at unreasonable hours, the environmental health dept. of your council would probably be able to help, though this can be a long process. But from what you describe, the council would most likely not regard it as serious enough.

While people can sympathise with your predicament, most would say that living in flats and adjoining houses does result in some noise intrusion.
Detached houses would be the ideal, if only we could all afford one!

Architexeter · 16 Feb 2014

The legal angle would be to look at it as a statutory nuisance but as Tony says this is subjective.

arkie · 23 Feb 2014

tfish said:
Its a old stone built house converted into flats about 15 years ago.

The bedroom too small to thicken or even add anything to the wall.

Iv spoken to the landlord who owns the flat next door and he is unwilling to pull the wall down and start again.

Building Controls dont want to know either.

I can't lodge a noise complaint as it isn't 'violent' noise.

Its a bit of a nightmare as I can hear the bloke (whose head must be 2 foot from mine) farting and even breathing at night.

You could take down the plasterboard on your side and use resillient bars, acoustic quilt if you can but just replacing with soundbloc plasterboard would i think have a good effect.

tfish · 10 Mar 2014

tony1851";p="3030086 said:
tfish said:

While people can sympathise with your predicament, most would say that living in flats and adjoining houses does result in some noise intrusion.
Detached houses would be the ideal, if only we could all afford one!

Click to expand...

I know iv worked in property for 20 years.

Noise is normal from either side when living attached.

Being able to hear someone breath & being woken up by his alarm clock is not.

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Building/Party wall regs for the thickness of a party wall

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