Noise surveys – when are they required?

Noise surveys – when are they required?

The experienced Acoustic Consultants at PDA regularly carry out noise surveys for a variety of different reasons. The most common reason for completing a noise survey is as part of the Environmental Noise Impact Assessment which is required at the planning application stage for new developments. This includes demolition as well as construction of buildings, major roads, commercial schemes and entertainment events. There are different specifications in the noise survey requirements depending on the sector the proposed scheme serves. PDA Acoustic Consultants are experts in this field so they know exactly what is required for each sector and how to recommend solutions to issues flagged up by the survey.

Noise surveys for a multitude of sectors.

Noise Surveys are required for planning applications for new developments. Noise surveys form part of the Environmental Noise Impact Assessment as mentioned above. This is a detailed assessment which focuses on the impact of the project or building operation on the environment. There are different aspects which require consideration depending on the sector:

• Hospitals – need an environmental survey which also considers amongst other things the impact of mechanical services noise.
• Residential – noise surveys study the impact of new builds and conversions, with strict requirements for external noise ingress. Noise control measures may even be a condition of the planning approval.
• Hotels – require a baseline noise survey and consider the impact of external noise such as traffic and services as well as noise in shared spaces, function rooms acoustics, as well as privacy in bedrooms.
• Entertainment Venues – The impact of the noise from inside the venue on the surrounding environment.
• Cinemas – need a baseline environmental noise survey to assess the noise ingress to meet the stringent low level noise requirements within the cinema. The noise survey will also be required to assess the impact of the noise generation by the cinema on the surrounding environment.
• Schools – require environmental noise surveys but with consideration for specialist areas or rooms such as music rooms and also halls which maybe multipurpose being used for sport, assemblies, productions, exams and lunchtime canteens. There may also be ventilation noise consideration for kitchen and domestic science areas and science labs.

Noise surveys for entertainment events.

PDA also conduct surveys for festivals and concerts. In particular we were pleased to support Irlam Live 2021. Our professional team worked alongside sound engineers to ensure that the guidelines and Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts was strictly followed. Our Consultants supported and monitored noise levels and their impact at predesignated noise sensitive receiving points. You can read more about our noise surveys and work at Irlam Live 2021.

If you would like to find out more about each of these areas click on the links which will take you to a separate page outlining more details of the noise surveys we carry out.

To discuss and book your noise surveys give us a call on 01925 759380, email on enquiries@pdaltd.com or complete the form on our contact page and we will call you back.