Our Belfast Office
You will find us on the 3rd Floor, Arnott House, 12-16 Bridge Street, Belfast, BT1 1LU. Our Belfast number is +44 (0)28 9620 5570 and enquiries can also go to info@wdacoustics.com.
The office supports clients in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. Its city centre position suits projects in the city core, the Titanic Quarter and the harbour, while road links make it easy to reach sites elsewhere in the province.
Typical clients include developers, architects, contractors and building owners who need acoustic advice at planning, design or completion stage, as well as contractors who need construction noise and vibration monitored on busy city sites.
Services From Our Belfast Office
Our Northern Ireland clients have access to the following services:
Local Regulations and Planning
Northern Ireland has its own Building Regulations, and sound insulation is dealt with under Part G. The supporting guidance is Technical Booklet G, which sets the performance standards for separating walls and floors in dwellings and in rooms for residential purposes. These differ from the rules in England and in the Republic, so design and testing need to follow the Northern Ireland documents. Our sound insulation testing is SITRI and SITMA certified.
For planning, councils may ask for a noise assessment where new homes are proposed near roads, industry or entertainment uses, or where a new commercial use could affect neighbours. We prepare these assessments with reference to the relevant British Standards, such as BS 8233 and BS 4142.
Hotels, Student Housing and Education
City centre development in Belfast often places bedrooms close to busy streets, bars and late night activity. For hotels, student accommodation and apartments, we assess external noise at the site, specify glazing and ventilation so internal levels are suitable for sleep, and design walls and floors between rooms to the required standard. For universities and schools we advise on room acoustics, speech intelligibility and building services noise, and can carry out the testing needed for BREEAM credits.
We can also advise on refurbishments and conversions of older buildings, where existing floors and party walls frequently need upgrading to meet current standards.
Recent Projects in Belfast
Our Belfast portfolio includes:
Why Work With a Local Team
Projects in Northern Ireland need advice written against the right regulations, and a Belfast based team works with Technical Booklet G and local planning requirements day to day. Being in the city also means we can attend site inspections and test days without long journeys.
For clients developing on both sides of the border, the same company can cover Part G in the North and Part E in the Republic, keeping reporting consistent across a portfolio.
Construction sites in the city centre are often hemmed in by occupied offices, homes and hotels. Where monitoring is needed, a nearby team can install equipment, respond to alerts and attend liaison meetings without delay to the works.
How to Get a Proposal
Please share the site location, the type of building and the stage the design has reached, together with any drawings or planning conditions. Phone +44 (0)28 9620 5570 or email info@wdacoustics.com and a member of the team will prepare a proposal for you.
If you are not sure what the council or your client needs, send us the relevant condition or brief and we will explain what is involved before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regulations apply to sound insulation in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland follows Part G of its own Building Regulations, with Technical Booklet G giving the guidance and performance standards. It is separate from Approved Document E in England and TGD E in the Republic of Ireland, so designs and tests should reference the Northern Ireland document.
Do you provide pre-completion sound testing in Belfast?
Yes. We carry out airborne and impact sound insulation testing on new and converted dwellings and rooms for residential purposes across Northern Ireland. Our testing is SITRI and SITMA certified, and if a result falls short we can investigate the cause and advise on remedial work.
Can you help with BREEAM acoustics in Belfast?
We provide BREEAM acoustic design advice and commissioning testing, as we did for QUB Management School at Riddel Hall. This covered sound insulation, internal ambient noise and room acoustics, with tests carried out on completion to confirm the credits.
Do you cover projects outside Belfast?
Yes. The Belfast office supports projects throughout Northern Ireland, and our offices in Dublin, Cork, Wexford and London can help on cross-border or multi-site portfolios, so clients deal with one consultancy across different jurisdictions.