Is the soundproofing in the ground floor condominium sufficient?

Thank you very much for your answers. As I already feared, the soundproofing measures stated in the construction description seem very modest. This is considering that the developer is quite large and experienced. In our area in Cologne, there are already several completed apartments from the developer.

Since it is very difficult to find a perfectly fitting apartment in Cologne, and this apartment is actually almost perfect regarding layout and location, we will try to discuss possible upgrades or special requests to improve the soundproofing with the developer. I have researched this topic; it should be possible to increase soundproofing through special doors, windows, etc.

Regarding the fire protection door, the following information is provided in the construction description: Fire protection doors in the basement and parking garage cannot meet soundproofing requirements for structural reasons because compliance with fire protection requirements has priority. Fire protection doors in the basement and parking garage will be equipped with overhead door closers.

I just noticed on the developer’s website that the acceptance of the common property is carried out by the expert service provider TÜV Süd. Should this be a good sign regarding the quality of the apartment?

We look forward to your opinion.

I'm not buying a condominium for XXXk and I know exactly that the noise will bother me

Again: what does a lower "soundproofing" level matter to the owner if he does not use his property himself? As long as the return is right.

we will try to discuss possible upgrades or special requests to improve soundproofing with the developer.

But that won't help you with the separating components; wall construction, ceiling construction, floor construction, layouts, quality and execution of separating joints, technical building equipment and their installation on the building envelope... windows and doors won't help there - especially not against impact sound - if the overall concept is not acoustically coherent.

for constructive reasons, no soundproofing is maintained

contradicts

The sound pressure levels of noises from building services installations (especially elevator) in living, sleeping, and working rooms as well as open kitchens are considered according to VDI4100, August 2007 edition, Table 2, sound insulation level II (SSt II), i.e. <30 dB(A).

I would urgently want to clarify that if you are still willing to put money into a new-build condominium in 2018 that merely meets the building code minimum requirements for impermissible noise immissions. The state of construction practice, however, is — for well over a decade now — a different one.

Acceptance of the common property by the expert service provider TÜV Süd has taken place. Should this be a good sign regarding the quality of the apartment?

According to which evaluation criteria is it inspected? What exactly?

I just realized that on the developer's website it says that the acceptance of the common property is carried out by the expert service TÜV Süd. Should this be a good sign regarding the quality of the apartment?

We look forward to your opinion.

The acceptance of the common property (GE) is legally the hardest nut to crack in construction law... And there are some really big damage bombs hidden in it.

All partition declarations and purchase contracts on this point are rubbish...

1. The purchasers, not the expert, accept the GE. This also applies to TÜV. So it is an ineffective placebo.

2. The only legally sound way is if the so-called "pre-purchase community" – the residential units community as its own legal entity does not yet exist at the time of acceptance of the GE – agrees in advance (!) on an independent, own expert – this long before the first residential units meeting and it also costs money. Here one should collect another 2-3k budget for a lawyer's review of the contractual situation...
The expert then only issues an acceptance RECOMMENDATION from a technical point of view. The prospective owners may then possibly follow this if they legally submit the acceptance as a declaration of intent.

3. Professionals are needed here = specialized lawyers for construction/ condominium law. Mostly acceptance goes well / but not necessarily. Example from litigation practice: the underground garage develops into a floating body in the groundwater... Acceptance was refused, lawsuit on acceptance by the developer followed. Costs and years of legal proceedings followed…

4. Acceptance has serious effects – especially one must be aware of the reversal of the burden of proof.

Many thanks for your answers. As I had already feared, the sound insulation measures specified in the building description seem very modest. This is despite the fact that the developer is quite large and experienced. In our area of Cologne, there are already several completed apartments from this developer.

Since it is very difficult to find a perfectly suitable apartment in Cologne, and this apartment is actually almost perfect in terms of layout and location, we will try to discuss possible upgrades or special requests to improve the sound insulation with the developer. I have looked into this topic, and it should be possible to increase soundproofing through special doors, windows, etc.

Regarding the fire protection door, the following information is given in the building description: Fire protection doors in the basement and underground garage cannot meet sound insulation requirements for structural reasons, as compliance with fire protection requirements has priority. Fire protection doors in the basement and underground garage will be equipped with overhead door closers.

I just noticed on the developer's website that the acceptance of the common property is carried out by the TÜV Süd expert service provider. Should this be a good sign regarding the quality of the apartment?

We look forward to your opinion.

and that’s how the developers catch the next nervous buyer.

no wonder why construction is not done properly