Doors and doorsets play a vital role in managing acoustics but unfortunately the Building Regulations guidance on this matter is not particularly in depth.
Noise can be a major nuisance and achieving reasonable levels of acoustic control between different parts of a building or from the outside environment is essential.
Doors present a significant channel for sound transmittance and should therefore be a critical area of consideration for any hotelier. This is particularly true in period or historic buildings, as any gaps around original doors and frames that enable leakage of air will substantially inhibit the doorset’s acoustic performance.
Statutory control of sound reduction is currently limited and much of Approved Document E relates to the acoustic performance of floors, ceilings and walls. Amends made in 2003, however, specifically detail the acoustic performance of door assemblies for the first time. Requirement E1, which includes doorsets in hotel bedrooms, states that: “Dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes, shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they provide reasonable resistance to sound from other parts of the same building and from adjoining buildings.”
Document E also goes on to give specific guidance about the acoustic performance of doorsets within communal corridors, stating that specifiers must: “Ensure that any door has good perimeter sealing (including the threshold where practical), and a minimum mass per unit area of 25kg/m2 or a minimum sound reduction index of 29dB Rw.”
When specifying internal doors for hotels, it’s important therefore to look for a manufacturer that can offer a wide range of solutions that meets this minimum standard. Longden doorsets can achieve a sound reduction value of 30RwdB incorporating acoustic seals, while up to 38RwdB is available with more specialised panelled door constructions whilst maintaining the original aesthetic appearances.
In addition, choosing a doorset over traditional door assemblies will ensure specified sound levels are easily replicated across the project. Doorsets are a fully finished unit consisting of frame, pre-hung door leaf and essential ironmongery – all matched and pre-assembled in the factory. It is delivered to site as a package for reassembly and simple installation. In contrast, traditional door assemblies consist of individual elements from various sources, with final assembly and finishing carried out on site – frequently involving different trades.
Because doorsets are engineered as complete units, designed to meet specific performance requirements and are manufactured to exacting standards under factory conditions, they ensure that certified test standards are repeated again and again, across every installation.
The significance of doorsets is acknowledged in Building Standard BS 8214: 2008 ‘Code of practice for fire door assemblies ', which states: "Ideally all fire doors should be purchased either as complete doorsets or as door assemblies. This is expected to ensure that all the correct components are fitted and that full assembly instructions are available.”
The importance of acoustic and fire performance cannot be over emphasised so it’s essential that hoteliers consider these key areas early on in the design process to ensure they offer guests the best possible visitor experience.
With so much resting on the performance of doorsets, specifiers should therefore look for specialist manufacturers that can offer high levels of craftsmanship and expertise to ensure all technical requirements are easily met.
Longden manufactures a wide range of hand finished, solid timber doorsets that are perfect for the hotel sector, and is only too happy to provide advice and guidance on finding the right specification solution.
