The Noise Insulation Regulations 1975

PART I

Interpretation

1.  In this Schedule—

“qualifying door” means an external door opening directly into an eligible room and which—

(a)

except in relation to insulation work carried out pursuant to Regulation 4(4) or 5, is in that part of a facade in respect of which the relevant noise level satisfies the requirements of Regulation 3(2);

(b)

in relation to work carried out pursuant to Regulation 4(4), is in a position which, in the opinion of the appropriate highway authority, is physically comparable with that of a qualifying door or qualifying window in another eligible building;

(c)

in relation to work carried out pursuant to Regulation 5, is or will be, in the opinion of the appropriate highway authority, subject to noise caused in the manner and at a level described in Regulation 5(1);

“qualifying window” means a window in an eligible room which—

(a)

except in relation to insulation work carried out pursuant to Regulation 4(4) or 5, is in that part of a facade in respect of which the relevant noise level satisfies the requirements of Regulation 3(2);

(b)

in relation to work carried out pursuant to Regulation 4(4), is in a position which, in the opinion of the appropriate highway authority, is physically comparable with that of a qualifying door or qualifying window in another eligible building;

(c)

in relation to insulation work carried out pursuant to Regulation 5, is or will be, in the opinion of the appropriate highway authority, subject to noise caused in the manner and at a level described in Regulation 5(1).

Items required to be included in Insulation Work

2.  Insulation work shall include the following items—

(a) the replacement by or conversion to double windows in accordance with the specifications in paragraph 4 of this Schedule of all qualifying windows in each eligible room;

(b) the provision and installation in each eligible room of a sound attenuating ventilator unit, in accordance with the specifications in paragraph 6 of this Schedule, including connecting the ventilator unit by wiring of not less than 5 amps capacity to the nearest convenient point in the existing electric supply circuit, or to the electric mains switchboard (provided that if the ventilator unit includes an electric heater, the wiring shall be of not less than 10 amps capacity);

(c) the provision in an external wall of each eligible room of an air supply duct (with external cowl or grille), in accordance with the specification in paragraph 6 of this Schedule, for supplying fresh air to the ventilator unit from outside, and the blocking up of any existing airbrick in an external wall of the room (but flues and direct inlet ducts to combustion appliances shall not be blocked);

(d) the provision in an external wall of each eligible room—

(i) where there is no combustion appliance in the room or where any one of the following combustion appliances and no other combustion appliance is in the room—

(A) a flued combustion appliance of total output rating less than 11.8 kw,

(B) a room sealed appliance,

(C) an open fire which is not capable of being used as a closed stove, or

(D) a gas cooker,

of a permanent vent type A, conforming to the specifications in paragraph 7(5)(a) of this Schedule, communicating directly with the external air at the highest level which is reasonably practicable;

(ii) where a flued combustion appliance of output rating of 11.8 kw or more is present in the room, of either—

(A) an appropriate number of permanent vents type A, each conforming to the specifications in paragraph 7(5)(a) of this Schedule, communicating directly with the external air and at the highest level which is reasonably practicable, to provide a total effective area which shall not be less than the effective area in square millimetres calculated from 550H minus 3250 (where H is the total output rating in kilowatts of flued combustion appliances present in the room) provided that—

(I)

the total effective area provided shall not be less than 3250 square millimetres, and

(II)

the total effective area provided in square millimetres added to 3250 shall not be less than the cross-sectional area of flue connection in square millimetres; or

(B) a permanent vent type B, conforming to the specifications in paragraph 7(5)(b) of this Schedule, communicating directly with the external air at the highest level which is reasonably practicable and of an effective area which meets the requirements for total effective area in paragraph 2(d)(ii)(A) above;

(iii) where more than one combustion appliance is present in the room, of either—

(A) a permanent vent type A or an appropriate number of permanent vents type A conforming to the specifications in paragraph 7(5)(a) of this Schedule, or

(B) a permanent vent type B conforming to the specifications in paragraph 7(5)(b) of this Schedule,

communicating directly with the external air and at the highest level which is reasonably practicable, so as to introduce combustion air ventilation into the room in sufficient quantity to ensure the safe operation of the combustion appliances, provided that the total effective area provided by the permanent vent or vents shall not be less than 3250 square millimetres;

(e) the provision where practicable of a second door behind each qualifying door, the shortest distance between the two doors to be not less than 150 millimetres, and at least one of the doors to be weather stripped, and the ceiling and walls between the doors to be lined with sound absorbent material; or, where it is not practicable to provide a second door, either—

(i) the provision of a new single door with improved noise insulation properties and, where appropriate, the weather stripping of the new door, or

(ii) the fitting of a second panel of glass behind any existing glazed panel in an existing door and the weather stripping of the door;

(f) the provision of a venetian blind conforming to the specifications in paragraph 5 of this Schedule for each qualifying window which faces a direction within the 270° are between north-east and north-west;

(g) where an eligible room contains a gas cooker and all the windows in that room are double windows, the provision of a fan failure valve for the gas cooker, which valve shall be so connected to the ventilator unit that the gas supply to the cooker will be cut off if the fan is not providing an adequate output for the room concerned, and so constructed that the re-starting of the fan after such failure cannot, of itself, re-start the flow of gas;

Provided that—

(a) where a room to be insulated under these Regulations contains no combustion appliance or only a room sealed appliance the airpath through the ventilator system and vent type A may be made capable of being easily closed by a suitable means readily accessible within the room if in all other respects, including standard of construction and installation, the ventilator system and vent type A when opened to the maximum extent conform to the standards of ventilation and acoustic performance specified in paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Schedule, and, whether the airpath is opened or closed, meet the requirements for electrical and fire safety referred to therein;

(b) where, in the opinion of the appropriate highway authority, it is not reasonable to require provision of any of the items specified in paragraph 2(b), (c) or (d) above the ventilation works may consist of the most practicable alternative works, so long as adequate provision is made for ventilation and for sufficient combustion air for the safe operation of any combustion appliances in the room; and

(c) a claimant for insulation work who, having reasonable alternative means of solar control, desires to refuse an offer of venetian blinds, may do so without prejudicing his right to insulation work or a grant.