Independent Acoustic Consulting · Chile
Know what you'll hear
before you sign.
We measure real sound insulation between apartment units in new buildings — with calibrated equipment, compared against NCh 352 — and give you a clear report in plain language before the final deed.
NCh 352 Compliance — We verify whether the building meets Chilean acoustic standards and explain exactly what the results mean for your daily life.
Independent of developers. We work for you — the buyer — not the construction company.
Acoustic quality in new buildings is often unknown until you move in.
Developers present floor plans, finishes, and amenities. What they rarely show is how much sound travels between units. By the time you discover the walls are thin, you've already signed.
Chilean building regulations require minimum acoustic performance under NCh 352, but compliance isn't always verified independently before handover.
Walls that don't meet NCh 352 minimums can transmit speech clearly between units.
Footsteps, dropped objects, and chair movements are common complaints in buildings with inadequate floor isolation.
Disputing acoustic defects post-deed is complex. Knowing before is the only reliable approach.
Airborne Sound Insulation
We measure how much sound — voices, music, TV — travels through walls and floors between adjacent units.
Impact Noise Isolation
We evaluate how much impact noise (footsteps, impacts) transmits from the unit above to yours through the floor slab.
Compliance Report
A written report comparing measured values against NCh 352 minimums, with a clear pass/fail conclusion per measurement point.
Acoustic measurement services for apartment buyers
Each service is designed around a specific moment in the buying process — from pre-handover inspection to co-investment group verification.
Pre-Handover Acoustic Inspection
Before you sign the final deed, we enter the building and measure actual sound insulation between your unit and adjacent units. Results are compared to NCh 352 and presented in a written report.
- Measurement of DnT,w (airborne) and L'nT,w (impact)
- Comparison against NCh 352 minimum values
- Written report with clear conclusions
- Calibrated class 1 sound level meter
Co-Investment Group Verification
When multiple buyers are acquiring units in the same building, we coordinate a comprehensive acoustic inspection covering all relevant unit pairs, providing a consolidated report for the group.
- Multiple measurement pairs in a single visit
- Consolidated report for the group
- Suitable for use in negotiations with developer
- Coordination with building administration
Post-Occupancy Acoustic Assessment
If you've already moved in and are experiencing noise issues, we can measure and document the actual acoustic performance of your unit, providing an objective basis for any formal claim.
- Documentation of non-conformance
- Comparison against contractual and regulatory standards
- Report suitable for legal or administrative use
Technical Consultation
Before committing to a purchase, we can review available building specifications, material datasheets, and construction drawings to give an informed preliminary assessment of expected acoustic performance.
- Review of construction specifications
- Assessment of declared materials
- Written preliminary opinion
From first contact to final report
A straightforward process designed to give you clear acoustic information at the right time.
Initial Consultation
You tell us the building, the unit, and the timeline. We assess feasibility and coordinate access with the building or developer.
On-Site Measurement
Our engineer visits the building with calibrated equipment and performs standardized acoustic measurements between units.
Analysis & Comparison
Measured values are analyzed and compared against NCh 352 minimum requirements for the building type.
Written Report
You receive a clear, written report stating whether the building complies, with the measured values and what they mean in practical terms.
What is NCh 352 and why does it matter?
NCh 352 is the Chilean standard that establishes minimum acoustic performance requirements for residential buildings. It defines how much sound insulation walls, floors, and ceilings must provide between dwellings.
When a building is built to the minimum NCh 352 standard, you should not be able to hear normal speech from adjacent units. When it falls short, everyday sounds become intrusive.
DnT,w — The weighted standardized level difference. Measures how much airborne sound (voices, music) is reduced between units. Higher values mean better insulation.
L'nT,w — The weighted standardized impact sound pressure level. Measures impact noise (footsteps). Lower values mean better isolation from the unit above.
NCh 352 sets minimum thresholds for both values. We measure actual performance and compare it directly against these thresholds.
Coverage across Chile's main residential markets
We operate primarily in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and extend to key urban areas where new residential development is concentrated.
Primary operations based in Santiago — Román Díaz 117, Providencia
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Primary ZoneFull service coverage across all comunas. Providencia, Las Condes, Ñuñoa, Santiago Centro, Vitacura, Miraflores, Lo Barnechea, Maipú, Peñalolén, and surrounding areas.
Valparaíso & Viña del Mar
Extended CoverageAvailable for new residential buildings in the Valparaíso Region, including coastal developments and urban residential projects.
Concepción Metropolitan Area
Extended CoverageCoverage for new apartment buildings in Concepción, Talcahuano, and the broader Biobío metropolitan area.
Other Regions
On RequestMeasurements in other Chilean cities are available on request. Contact us to discuss logistics and feasibility for your specific building.
A report that says clearly: complies or doesn't.
We don't write reports full of technical jargon that require an engineer to interpret. Our reports are written in plain language for the person making the purchasing decision.
Actual DnT,w and L'nT,w values obtained during the inspection, per measurement pair.
Direct comparison of each measured value against the applicable regulatory minimum.
A clear statement per measurement point: complies, does not comply, or marginal.
What the numbers mean in everyday terms — what you will and won't hear from adjacent units.
Reference to calibration certificate of the measurement equipment used.
Verifying quality before the definitive handover.
Co-investment groups acquiring multiple units in the same building have a particular need to verify acoustic quality before the final reception — before the developer's responsibility window closes.
We coordinate measurements across multiple units in a single visit, produce a consolidated report for the group, and provide documentation that can be used in formal communications with the developer.
Coordinated inspection for groups of 2 or more units in the same building.
Single consolidated report covering all measured unit pairs.
Timed to fit the pre-handover window — before the final deed is signed.
The most useful moment is after the building has passed its final construction inspection (recepción final) but before you sign the escritura de compraventa. At this stage, all units are complete and accessible, and you still have the option to negotiate or withdraw if the results are unsatisfactory.
We coordinate access with the building administrator or the developer. In most cases, the buyer requests access as part of their pre-handover inspection rights. We can advise on how to formally request access if needed.
We use a calibrated sound source in one unit and a calibrated Class 1 sound level meter in the adjacent unit. For impact noise, we use a standardized tapping machine on the floor above. Measurements follow ISO 16283 methodology, which is the basis for NCh 352 compliance testing.
A standard inspection covering one pair of adjacent units (airborne and impact) typically takes 2–3 hours on site. For co-investment groups covering multiple unit pairs, we schedule a half-day or full-day visit depending on the number of measurement points.
Our report documents the non-compliance with measured values and comparison against NCh 352. This gives you an objective, technical basis for formal communication with the developer. How you use that information — whether to negotiate, request remediation, or reconsider the purchase — is your decision. We provide the technical facts; we do not provide legal advice.
No. Qovlixe is fully independent. We have no commercial relationship with any developer, construction company, or real estate agency. Our only client is the person or group commissioning the inspection.
Find out what you'll hear — before you sign.
Contact us to discuss your building, timeline, and measurement needs. We'll explain the process and what to expect from the report.