RDL Background
On 5 July 2002, Chris Leslie MP, the Minister then responsible for the Building Regulations (England and Wales) outlined measures to be included in the new Part E (resistance to the passage of sound). These measures involved pre-completion sound testing (PCT) for certain types of homes.
Following representations from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), the house-building industry was invited to develop an alternative to pre-completion sound testing, called 'Robust Details', for new build separating walls and floors for houses and flats - the principle being that Robust Details would provide consistently good performance eliminating the need for pre-completion sound testing.
Following the ministerial announcement, the Building Performance Centre at Napier University was appointed by HBF to manage the project. A steering group supported by four working groups was formed to oversee the whole project. Three of these working groups represented each of the industry sectors for masonry/concrete, timber and steel construction, and a fourth dealt with regulatory issues.
The steering group included representatives from:
Association of Noise Consultants
Napier University Building Performance Centre
Building Research Establishment
Construction Products Association
Home Builders Federation
Housing Corporation
NHBC (National House-Building Council)
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM)
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Building Control Forum
The objectives of the project were to demonstrate that Robust Details could:
- Provide consistent levels of performance that exceed the performance standards given in Part E
- Be compatible with other regulations (eg Part L and Health & Safety)
- Include a safety margin to allow for normal workmanship variance
- Reduce the effect of any design/material weaknesses
- Include a broad range of industry products and practices
- Provide sufficient clarity and instruction for correct implementation on site
- Be acceptable to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC), ODPM and the industry.
After an intense programme of identifying and assessing a number of potential designs, proposals were submitted to ODPM in May 2003 and published for public consultation. These proposals included 13 Robust Details which met the stringent performance criteria established by the project. The introduction of pre-completion sound testing in new homes was postponed until July 2004 to allow time for a Robust Details Scheme to be implemented in the event that ministerial approval was given.
After the public consultation results were assessed by ODPM and BRAC, the Minister responsible for Building Regulations announced in January 2004 that he would allow Robust Details to be used as an alternative to pre-completion sound testing as a means of satisfying Part E of the Building Regulations. This would take effect from 1st July 2004 to coincide with the introduction of pre-completion sound testing.
RDL opened for business in May 2004 in order to allow builders and designers to obtain copies of the Handbook and Plot Registrations in advance of the start of building work.
