Entry Routes

There are currently two routes to testers to gain access into the scheme. All testers are required to fill out the application form which is available here. 

Testers may be associated with a company, however the certification remains with the tester.

Pre-requisites

Before joining the scheme, testers must have the following;

  • Insured with both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity

    Note that the limits are not defined by SITMA but by the customers that SITMA members work for. SITMA members must ensure they are suitably covered for all eventualities

  • Own or Rent all equipment required for testing

    Equipment must have had UKAS or iLAC calibration carried out in accordance with scheme document PUS007 - Equipment and Calibration Requirements

  • Have completed training or have prior experience, as per routes below

Entry Route 1: Training and Assessment

Attend a training course with a SITMA Approved Training Partner (ATP) which can be found here

To complete the course, you must take and pass the exams and practical assessments. Blow is the SITMA Task Examination Categories and Knowledge Criteria

Category Task Description No. of Questions Percentage Examined
Lodgement & Reporting The job must first be added on to the SITMA Lodgement portal before midnight of the night before the test to ensure SITMA staff are aware of the job 2 6%
  All uncertainties of measurement are recorded in the SITMA portal    
Scheme Rules The tester understands where to find the scheme rules, and has read them prior to starting in the SITMA Scheme 1 3%
Sampling The tester must correctly interpret the correct sampling regime as defined by the Building Regulations of the home national the tester will be operating in. 2 6%
Sampling The tester must have the ability to read, understand and interpret information without any external help or support.    
Calibration The tester must understand the calibration requirements of the scheme, how to book in their equipment calibration and when to do it to ensure testing is only conducted with calibrated equipment.  4 11%
Calibration The tester must understand the frequency of calibration required for their equipment.    
Calibration The tester must calibrate their equipment before and at the end of each testing day, as well as during any periods where their equipment is either not manned (lunch breaks) or there is a rapid temperature change.    
Calibration The tester must only use a calibrated calibrator    
Acoustic Terminology The tester must demonstrate that they understand basic acoustic terminology to ensure that they are able to correctly setup their equipment before each test. This includes, but is not limited to:
– Source and Receive Room
– Reverberation Time
– Background Noise
– Frequency
– Build up Time		 5 14%
Equipment The tester must demonstrate what speaker is acceptable in accordance with which standard (box speakers vs multi-direction speakers) and the frequency response expected. 2 6%
Equipment The tester needs to understand the need to have individual noise sources driving each speaker, where multiple speakers are used.    
Setup The tester has the ability to setup the speaker correctly, check the speaker is working correctly and producing enough noise. 7 19%
Setup The tester needs to have the ability to recognise when the speaker is not producing enough noise and why this might be the case.    
Setup The tester understands that unusual situations can be supported by referring to ISO 140-14, and that they have access to a copy at all times.    
Setup Testers must measure room volumes with a view to both document the sizes and to calculate the largest room to become the source room    
Setup Testers must actively reduce background noise levels by checking the doors, windows, fire alarms, trickle vents are all switched off and closed as necessary to reflect the real-world conditions.    
Setup The tester must understand that the speaker position is to be moved between each source position (horizontally and vertically).    
Setup The impact (tapping) machine is correctly setup in accordance with the standard    
Measurement Testers must also know to conduct their testing when the background noise will not influence the test (i.e. not test when machinery is running outside). 8 22%
Measurement The tester must understand that measurements must be taken in accordance with the standard, particularly that the SLM is kept correct distance from walls, ceilings, objects and is away from body.    
Measurement Testers must measure background noise for an appropriate length of time    
Measurement Testers must understand that parallel frequency readings must not be greater than 6 dB in the 125 Hz octave band, 5 dB in the 250 Hz band, and 4 dB in bands of higher centre frequencies.    
Measurement Testers may understand the reasoning for parallel frequencies being controlled    
Measurement Reverberation time measurements are correctly carried out using the appropriate number of positions.    
Measurement The correct number of impact measurements are measured    
Measurement The tester understands the conditions that are acceptable to conduct impact testing    
Calculations The testers should have an idea of the calculations for background noise levels and at what point and how the 6dB background rule applies 3 8%
Calculations The testers should have an idea of basic acoustics and logarithmic calculations    
Calculations The testers should have an idea of the sound testing calcualtion, including the way the calculation is built up in components    
Performance Criteria The testers should have an idea of the performance criteria for airborne tests in England, & Northern Ireland & Wales 2 6%
Performance Criteria The testers should have an idea of the performance criteria for airborne tests in Scotland    
Performance Criteria The testers should have an idea of the performance criteria for impact tests in England, & Northern Ireland & Wales    
Performance Criteria The testers should have an idea of the performance criteria for impact tests in Scotland    

 

Entry Route 2: APEL (Advanced Prior Experience/Learning)

It is possible to enter the scheme by demonstrating that you have prior experience of the competence level you are aiming for. This is known as APEL. For a tester to be considered for APEL they will need to have completed at least two of the four criteria:

Degree in Acoustics or Acoustic Discipline

Such as but not limited to;

Environmental Acoustics
Acoustical and Audio Engineering

Diploma in Acoustics

Issued by the Institute of Acoustics

Completed Testing

Completed and Documented more than 500 sound insulation tests from at least 100 site visits

Member of another Sound Insulation Test Scheme

Such as but not limited to;

Association of Noise Consultants

APEL is not a route for testers who have no experience or have been trained in-house. Testers may be requested to sit the exam from a SITMA Approved Training Partner at their cost to prove competence in this instance.

APEL applicants are still required to undergo auditing and assessment before entry to the SITMA scheme is granted.