Bridging the Gap Between Design and Reality

12 December 2025 by Elise Phoenix

Acoustic Commissioning and Post-Completion Testing

Acoustic commissioning is the most effective way to verify that a building’s acoustic performance matches the design expectations set at the start of the project. For architects, main contractors, developers, and M&E consultants, it acts as a final line of assurance that the building performs as expected, complies with regulations, and avoids costly remedial work at handover.

Without commissioning, specifiers lack the assurance that façades, partitions, floors, doors, mechanical services, and room finishes meet the project standards. This can leave them exposed to failures against regulatory requirements (commonly Planning which often uses BS 8233 and BS 4142, Environment Agency standards, Building Regulations Approved Document E for residential buildings or BB93 for schools), contractual standards (such as BCO Guidelines, HTM 08-01 and client specific ERs) or simply comfortable use.

Spectrum Acoustic Consultants’ work and experience across architectural, construction, industrial, manufacturing and offshore environments confirms that even well-designed projects can experience performance drops late in a project.

Acoustic commissioning and post-completion testing ensure those gaps are found early, understood clearly, and resolved practically, keeping delivery programmes on track.

This aligns directly with Spectrum’s core value of reducing uncertainty through clarity, collaboration and deep technical expertise.

Why acoustic commissioning matters

Acoustic performance affects user comfort, regulatory compliance, and the long-term usability of a building. Commissioning provides independent verification and can include checking that:

• Internal sound insulation meets Approved Document E requirements, including airborne and impact sound insulation in residential and mixed-use schemes.
• Ventilation and building services noise remain within the project limits, which might follow BS 8233, BS 4142, Approved Documents F and/or O, or guidance from CIBSE, a common failure point when late-stage value engineering affects equipment selection or ductwork design.
• Environmental noise ingress does not compromise habitable or sensitive spaces, particularly in sites near transport, mechanical plant or commercial activity. Again, BS 8233 is key here, and this is often picked up by BREEAM or other Wellbeing/Sustainability standards
• Acoustic conditions support the final use of the building, whether that is privacy in open plan offices or between meeting rooms, acoustic comfort in breakout areas or hospitality spaces, or compliance with specialist criteria such as industrial developments, offshore platforms, or healthcare spaces.

By identifying issues at a stage where corrective action is still feasible, commissioning avoids rework, delays, and disputes. Especially in projects where multiple contractors and suppliers work together.

Common gaps between design intent and site performance

Even with detailed acoustic design completed at RIBA Stages 2-4, work on site can lead to deviations from the initial specification which compromise acoustic performance. Common causes include:

1. Buildability decisions that alter acoustic performance
Changes to partition types, wall build-ups, ceiling interfaces or junction details can significantly reduce sound insulation if not checked against the acoustic design. These changes often occur without realising their acoustic impact.

2. Late-stage equipment substitutions
Mechanical and electrical equipment is swapped for alternatives due to availability pressures or ‘value engineering’ measures without checking the replacement equipment is “similar approved” in acoustic performance. These substitutions can introduce higher noise levels or different frequency characteristics, affecting compliance with BS 8233/CIBSE/ADF/ADO, HTM 08-01 in healthcare projects or BB93 in education projects.

3. Installation quality
Small installation errors, including untaped boards, discontinuous acoustic seals, and incorrect stud spacing or increased stiffness from noggins or pattressing can significantly reduce performance. Commissioning identifies these issues early, so targeted remedial work can be completed without major disruption.

With over 35 years’ specialist experience in noise and vibration, Spectrum’s experience produces clear, defensible reporting across building projects. This enables early identification of risks and provides practical solutions to resolve them.

How Spectrum Acoustics helps you work towards compliance with BS 8233, BB93, HTM 08-01 and Approved Document E

Spectrum Acoustics’ commissioning and testing approach is aligned with the key regulations and standards required for acoustic sign-off.

Approved Document E – Sound Insulation

We are registered under the ANC Scheme, which means our engineers can carry out pre-completion tests for residential buildings (which includes rooms for residential purposes, student accommodation, HMOs and hotels), confirming that party walls, floors and internal partitions meet the minimum performance standards. Where test results fall short, our engineers are able to support diagnostic investigations to identify the root cause and guide remedial works.

BS 8233, BB93, HTM 08-01 – Internal Ambient Noise Levels

Commissioning validates that ventilation systems (MVHR, AHUs, fans) meet internal noise limits, while external noise ingress is controlled through façade, glazing and ventilation design.
Noise levels in sensitive spaces such as consultation rooms, bedrooms and offices remain within recommended ranges.

The value of early collaboration and diagnostic testing

Early collaboration ensures all disciplines involved in a build project understand the acoustic requirements from the outset, reducing the risk of specification drift and late-stage non-compliance.

By reviewing design changes, equipment substitutions and installation quality as the project progresses, Spectrum can identify potential issues long before completion testing begins.

Diagnostic tests carried out during construction provide clear, practical insight into how the building is performing, allowing targeted adjustments rather than disruptive remedial work at handover.

This proactive approach gives contractors, developers and M&E consultants confidence that acoustic performance will meet the required standards without becoming a programme or cost risk.

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Bringing design and delivery together in practice

At Norfolk Park Medical Centre in Sheffield, Spectrum supported both the design and delivery teams to ensure the new 2,000m² NHS LIFT facility met all acoustic, planning and healthcare requirements.
Working with Blue Sky Design Services, we developed the acoustic strategy required for planning approval and compliance with BREEAM and HTM 08-01, addressing noise ingress, internal sound insulation, room acoustic finishes and building services noise.

During construction, we worked closely with Kier Northern to review installation quality and manage acoustic risks as the build progressed.

Final commissioning measurements confirmed that all acoustic conditions were achieved, enabling the medical centre to open with full compliance and confidence in its long-term performance.

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Final thoughts

Acoustic commissioning and post-completion testing provide a level of certainty that design work alone cannot achieve. They confirm that acoustic performance meets the required standards, protect project schedules, and prevent costly remedial work at handover.

For main contractors, developers, architects and M&E consultants, this process offers a clear route to compliance and confidence that the building will perform as intended for its end users.

Spectrum Acoustics’ deep expertise and detailed service brings this competence to every project. Not only do we work well with specifiers from the outset on routine projects, we are often called in to resolve complex or problematic acoustic issues. Situations where designs have drifted, installations have fallen short, or previous assessments have failed to meet regulatory expectations.

Clients rely on our detailed reporting, deep technical knowledge and practical problem-solving to bring clarity to challenging scenarios and ensure successful project outcomes.

If you want to reduce risk, strengthen compliance or gain early certainty on your project’s acoustic performance, we can help. Contact our team by telephone 01767 318871, by email or alternatively fill out our contact form and we will contact you as soon as we can.