Stroma – taking the pain out of compliance
Approved Document Part E (Resistance to the Passage of Sound) and the Approved Document Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) place substantial compliance burdens on designers and contractors, which generally have to be confirmed through on-site testing.
Achieving compliance poses real challenges, often with heavy time and financial implications, but this need not be the case, according to Stroma - one of the UK’s leading air-tightness and acoustic testing and consultancy firms.
In addition to Part E, Stroma’s Sound Insulation Testing services are used on EcoHomes and Code for Sustainable Homes developments. Stroma can also expertly define appropriate testing regimes and is involved in initial testing of proposed Robust Details, as well as the testing of separating elements in schools (BB93) and offices.
Acoustic performance can be a critical factor in assessing whether a building is fit for purpose. Poorly designed and built structures and details can cause areas of buildings to be unsuitable for the function they were intended to perform.
Stroma can provide advice on noise control measures associated with industrial and commercial noise control issues, together with noise and vibration measurements within building services.
Stroma also offers guidance to ensure adequate façade reductions take place in order to achieve the required internal noise levels and speech intelligibility standards as set out in international documentation.
As well as acoustic testing, the accredited Stroma team uses thermography to survey and record the thermal properties of buildings, identifying typical weaknesses in the thermal integrity of a building, such as thermal bridging, insulation defects and air leakage.
Stroma Director Rob Coxon comments: “To assess thermal integrity we use sophisticated thermal imaging cameras that are able to reliably determine surface temperatures through detection of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum. Working in accordance with recognised methodologies, our experienced thermographers can offer interpretations of the features presented in thermographic images. It works amazingly well.”
Just a part of the company’s wide-ranging services to the construction industry, Stroma offers ‘design review workshops’ to ensure the proposed construction details will meet the requirements of Building Regulations.
Rob continues: “The best method of achieving compliance with Building Regulations is to ensure from the design stage that standards will be comfortably and cost effectively achieved. However, it doesn’t always work out that way so we also offer solutions to those who need to take remedial action.”
Stroma Contracting is another part of the Group that can make a key contribution to improving thermal and acoustic performance. Stroma Contracting is a specialist contractor focusing on the installation of insulating materials, acoustic barriers, air-sealing works, and fire protection treatments. Major building contractors rely on Stroma Contracting to install these key compliance-related works.
Rob concludes: ”Whatever the regulatory requirement, Stroma’s testing, consultancy and contracting teams are well placed to assist, possessing both the accreditation and the expertise necessary to provide essential design advice, formal testing and on site improvement works. We take the pain out of compliance.”
For further information visit www.stroma.com
Ends
Notes To Editors
1. Launched in 2002 in the UK, Stroma consists of Stroma Accreditation, Stroma Technology, Stroma Architecture, Stroma LZC and Stroma Contracting.
2. Stroma is a rapidly evolving company and the preferred partner of many of the UK’s leading housebuilders and contractors.
3. Stroma Accreditation provides training, assessment and licensing of Code for Sustainable Homes, as well as other energy assessment disciplines including SAP, DEA, SBEM and DEC.
4. Stroma Accreditation delivers training courses and accreditation schemes to suit professional backgrounds. The company’s particular strength lies in its use of innovative web-based solutions to deliver real productivity and ease-of-use benefits to its Scheme Members.
5. Further information can be obtained by visiting Stroma’s website at www.stroma.com