What is the Robust Details certification scheme?

November 6, 2018

If you are involved in the construction industry then you will know the importance of meeting all building regulations.

This is especially true in terms of sound insulation in buildings such as joined houses, bungalows or flats. Meeting the minimum regulations in this area will not only keep you within the law but provide more effectively insulated properties for people to live in.

How can the Robust Details scheme help you?

Robust Details Limited operates as a non-profit company that distributes and manages their Robust Details certification scheme. The scheme was set up with the aim of providing architects and engineers with a business-savvy way to comply with standards in the home building sector. It is designed to help when separating walls or floors in certain types of dwellings. The scheme itself offers an effective alternative to the usual pre-completion sound testing that would otherwise happen. It offers a more streamlined and efficient process while still satisfying Part E of the mandatory building stipulations. It must be noted that the certification scheme is not suitable for conversions, building renovations or property extensions.

How does the scheme work?

The scheme itself is financed via fees users pay to register with it. To begin with, a user would choose the relevant details from the scheme’s handbook. They would then register their plots of land on the scheme website before commencing work on site. Users are also required to notify Building Control themselves as part of the process and construct the details according to the specification shown in the scheme handbook. It is worth noting that due to the numerous complex design solutions this offers, it is not feasible to give a guarantee that details meet other criteria within building law.

How is compliance checked?

Robust Details take great measures to ensure that any plots registered on the scheme remain compliant. Plots are inspected at random to ensure this is the case, with more than 98% meeting or exceeding the minimum standards since 2004. In addition, no detail that has been correctly built according to the scheme handbook has ever failed.

If any tests on plots do fail, then Building Control is notified. This could lead to remedial work being undertaken and/or pre-completion sound testing also.

Peace of mind for homeowners too

Naturally, the main benefit of registering on the scheme is the business-friendly solution it offers to people within the industry. However, it also gives homeowners the knowledge that their property has been constructed and tested to the necessary standards. This will give them extra confidence when thinking of whether to purchase the property or not.

Of course, for the home builder, the benefits of using this scheme are apparent. Not only will it help to avoid potential handover delays but it could help slash your compliance costs. This is especially true in remote build sites or sites that only have a small number of joined dwellings. On top of all that, it will also ensure you meet the legal requirements that any developer faces when building new homes.

ProPG: Professional Practice Guidance on Planning and Noise: A Deep Dive

ProPG (Professional Practice Guidance on Planning and Noise) is a 2017 document published jointly by the Association of Noise Consultants, the Institute of Acoustics, and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to guide acoustic professionals advising on new residential development in noise-sensitive locations. It does not replace BS8233 or BS4142; it sits alongside them, providing a two-stage approach: an initial noise risk assessment that categorises sites as negligible, low, medium, or high risk, followed by a full assessment built around good acoustic design and delivered through an Acoustic Design Statement. The assessment concludes with one of four recommendations to the decision maker: grant without conditions, grant with conditions, avoid, or prevent. ProPG is now widely cited in planning applications, environmental health responses, and appeal decisions across England. How closely it is applied varies from site to site, but it has become a common reference point for residential development in noise-sensitive locations, and many acoustic assessments engage with its framework as a matter of course.

Sustainable Acoustic Treatment: Why Material Choice Matters

Acoustic panels are rarely on the shortlist when sustainability teams review a fit-out's environmental credentials, but they should be. Conventional acoustic foam is petroleum derived, carries significant embodied carbon, and cannot be recycled at end of life. Higher quality alternatives vary considerably in their environmental profile. The questions worth asking are simple: what is the panel made from, how much of it is recycled or renewable content, is there an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) or equivalent data available, and what happens to it when the building is refitted? The Finch panel by Songbird is made with more than 60% recycled polyester fibre, achieves Class A sound absorption, and can be installed on walls, ceilings, and as suspended rafts or baffles. For projects where acoustic performance and environmental credentials are both non-negotiable, it is the obvious specification.

Pre Completion Sound Testing Explained

Pre-completion sound testing is the on-site acoustic measurement required to demonstrate that a new residential building or conversion meets Part E of the Building Regulations before it can be occupied. Tests measure airborne sound insulation (through walls and floors) and impact sound insulation (through floors). The pass thresholds for new builds are DnT,w + Ctr ≥ 45 dB for airborne sound and L'nT,w ≤ 62 dB for impact sound; for conversions, 43 dB and 64 dB respectively. Testing must be carried out by an accredited body: NOVA Acoustics holds UKAS accreditation (No. 8568) for sound insulation testing. If a test fails, building control sign-off cannot be granted until remediation is completed and a passing re-test is achieved.