The world is getting smaller and the requirement for people to live harmoniously in the proximity of industry is increasing. Industry is rarely noise free and noise criteria for habitation is strict. Typical factory noises include manufacturing noise such as grinding and banging, ventilation noise, air conditioning noise, fan noise, condenser noise, waste processing noise and heavy vehicle movements. As such, the answer is often found by undertaking a BS4142 noise assessment to establish an industrial noise impact on nearby residences, and may be required for either a new residential or industrial development.
Long term noise monitoring is carried out to establish the background noise levels or LA90 at the residence(s), over a pre-determined time period. Specific noise levels are then measured for each potentially offending noise source. It is important to understand that some noises generate more annoyance than others, and may impact different residences at different times of the day, some periods being more sensitive than others. Thorough investigation into all noise sources is therefore important and enables us to pinpoint specific problem sources which can then be analysed in the quest for an appropriate solution.
Mitigation design comes in many forms. The first step is to look at reducing the noise at source, which can be achieved through repair and maintenance, damping or vibration isolation, or by simply adjusting the orientation or position of the offending noise source. The next step is typically to look at acoustic screening. Acoustic barrier calculations are used to design an appropriate barrier to attenuate the noise.
Blue Acoustics have carried out numerous BS4142 noise assessments for industrial developments to quantify the noise impact of waste processing noise, aggregate processing noise, haulage noise, quarry noise, factory noise, drop forge noise, joinery noise, machine noise, extract noise . . . and the list goes on . . .
Your BS4142 noise assessment is presented as a detailed report to support your planning application.
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