Suitably Qualified Acoustician

According to the Home Quality Mark One, a Suitably Qualified Acoustician (SQA) is:

An individual achieving all the following items can be considered to be 'suitably qualified' for the purposes of a HQM assessment:

Has a minimum of three years relevant experience (within the last five years). Such experience must clearly demonstrate a practical understanding of factors affecting acoustics in relation to construction and the built environment; including, acting in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations for suitable acoustic performance levels and mitigation measures.
An individual who holds a recognised acoustic qualification and membership of an appropriate professional body. The primary professional body for acoustics in the UK is the Institute of Acoustics.

A SQA may have to use their professional judgment to make decisions to ensure the appropriateness of the noise measurements for the homes or development type. The SQA is ultimately responsible for the noise testing results.

Where a SQA is verifying the acoustic measurements or calculations carried out by another acoustician who does not meet the SQA requirements, they must, as a minimum, have read and reviewed the report and confirm in writing that they have found it to:

Represent sound industry practice.
Be appropriate given the building being assessed and scope of works proposed.
Avoid invalid, biased and exaggerated recommendations. Additionally, written confirmation from the third party verifier that they comply with the definition of a SQA is required.

Ref Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018. http://www.homequalitymark.com/standard

This definition is also used in BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0, published by BRE Global Limited.

--BRE Group