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AldIan, what you say sounds like sense, just because the i-beam joist manufacturer says they comply, doesn't mean, in the site installation it will. And even if it does, they surely have to prove compliance by performing Pre-Complesion testing as per part E regs. The Hickman document I attached was dated 2006 so is that even still valid, cos sure as hell they will have cut some costs somewhere or changed supplier.

I think 220mm

This is what they sent me. Hickman Noise Resistance.pdf

Yes in an email. They also attached a test report from the joist manufacturers saying the I-beam make up with 18mm chipboard and 15mm PB conforms to part E regs and drops 40dB. I asked for the pre completion certificate for our site, as per the regs, and no reply. I even tried asking local building control and got no reply.

Thanks Temp. I need to find out more about the regs cos it was the builders that told me it didn't apply to detached. Must admit, I did read the regs and couldn't see anything that said that was true...?

Apparently part E sound regs do not apply to detached houses? The acoustic insulation wouldn't be on a roll, it would be the higher density slab type and have heard it does push in. The builders (Persimmon) are doing the same noggin for job to many houses on the site and apparently other sites now. The ones i have spoke to say it has totally fixed the floors, no creaking and way more solid feel. Like I said before, you can value engineer a job down to save cost, but go too far and you have to accept rework cost - that's what they are having to now do.

Thanks Nod. Is this from experience of before fitted sound travel and after fitting the mineral wool?

Thanks for the replies. PeterW - the joists are the I-beam type with 'cardboard' between the small timbers. The builders say we didn't need noggins but the amount of creaking and movement has led them to now have to install them on most of this house type now. You are correct, they were only going to cut out a 300mm strip, enough to put the 4" x 2" noggins in but I have asked they widen to at least 600mm. This should allow enough to slide in the acoustic slabs. Bitpipe - yes they should and other builders have said it should have sound board as a minimum, but "value engineering" dictates it is all done as cheap as possible and then try and do as little as possible to fix it if it goes wrong. ProDave - yep!

Sorry if this is repeating a common thread. We have recently purchased a new build detached house and noticing airborn noise between the upstairs and downstairs rooms. We also have a lot of joist movement noise, but the builders are coming back in a few weeks to remedy this by installing noggings. The ceiling / floor joists are engineered timber joists with chipboard above and 15mm regular plasterboard below. Nothing inbetween, just air. As they are going to be ripping up the upstairs floors, we have an opportunity to install some acoustic insulation. I am thinking just some acoustic slabs at 100mm and 60kg/m^3 (RS60 or RW3). My question is does anyone have any experience on doing this and how much effect it actually will make. I am nervous we do this at quite a bit of cost and lots of trouble and in the end the result is minimal. Is it worth the effort? I am surprised that the part E regs do not cover detached builds at all....surely they still require airborn noise regs. Thanks.