Environmental Noise       

A minefield of legislation, standards, codes of practice, etc. covers this area of work.  Sometimes ADC assists clients at the design stage for a new facility where noise may affect the surrounding area.  Often, however, we assist clients to respond to complaints and legal action over an alleged nuisance, or assist local authorities with actions against noise polluters.  By far the most common problems are Entertainment Noise (including Licensing), Industrial Noise (including noise from mechanical plant associated with offices, shops, etc), Domestic sound insulation, etc.

ADC offers a full service from basic noise assessment and control, through noise control design, to the project management of the implementation of all noise control solutions.

"Thanks a million for this work, it's excellent. I like your approach and your practical solutions".

Noise Nuisance-Noise Control-Project Management-IPPC Testing-Planning

Noise Nuisance

Noise nuisance cases arise usually as a result of a complaint, either directly, or via the Local Authority about noise of any type.  Common examples are industrial noise, music noise from pubs and clubs, noise from patrons associated with pubs and clubs, aircraft etc.  Also domestic noise problems are on the increase, such as from music, barking dogs, etc.

Very often the problems can be resolved through management or by noise control.  When this is not practicable, however, or when the existence or severity of a noise nuisance is disputed, it becomes a contentious issue.  The Local Authority may issue an abatement notice for a statutory nuisance or, on relatively rare occasions, a neighbour may serve a notice for a private nuisance.

It would normally be advisable to resolve the alleged nuisance, although there can be many reasons to appeal against the notice such as disagreement over the existence or severity of the nuisance, inadequate time scales, lack of clarity and specificity etc.  Ultimately, an appeal against a notice will be resolved in a magistrates court.

ADC can offer the following range of services:
• Noise surveys to decisively identify and quantify the alleged nuisance and its main sources.
• Interpretation of assessment standards, design targets, and documents from the Local Authority
• Noise control.
• Project management.
• Negotiation.
• Witness statements and giving evidence in court.  See Expert Witnessing

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Noise Control

Noise Control is an enormously important part of ADC's expertise.  Noise control at source is a particular area of specialism.  Here the source of the noise, the vibrating mechanism which creates vibrations in the air, is identified and fully understood.  Once the source's break out point and path to the recipient's ears is understood and ranked along with all the other sources, it is usually a relatively straightforward process to design out the source of noise or to modify it or its path to produce less noise.  Noise control at source is usually considerably cheaper to implement than conventional approaches, such as enclosures, screens and barriers, and silencers.

Conventional noise control, however, does have an important place in the noise control design armoury and, as long as it is properly designed it works extremely well.

ADC offers a complete noise control service from initial noise surveys through project management and retesting, including the following:
• Noise surveys.
• Noise source identification and ranking.
• Noise control design.
• Prediction of the noise climate after noise control has been implemented.
• Project management.  

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Project Management

ADC offers a full project management service in all aspects of our work which is intended to take clients from the initial identification and assessment of a noise, acoustic or audio problem through to the implementation of the solutions and retesting to confirm that the problem has been resolved. 

Our services include the following:
• Noise and acoustic surveys and assessments in accordance with appropriate standards and client needs.
• Identification and ranking of problems.
• Finding, briefing, and assessing prospective contractors.
• Project control, including inspections during manufacture and installation, and dispute resolution.
• Problem solving
• Retesting and commissioning report

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IPPC Testing

IPPC certificates will often include the requirement for a noise statement.  Most of the government guidance is extremely unhelpful, but what is essentially required is a statement of a facility's impact on the surroundings, and an action plan to mitigate any problems identified.  This can be achieved by day time and, if appropriate, night-time noise assessment around the site boundary, at key locations within the community, and at specifically identified points within the site.  The assessment will inevitably need to cross reference with other environmental noise standards.

ADC's services include the following:
• Site, boundary, and community noise surveys and impact assessments.
• Occupational noise surveys.
• Liaison with the local authority.
• Reports in a suitable format for applications.
• Noise control.
• Project management.

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Planning

Planning applications for new developments need to be carefully considered by the Local Authority. The normal way to proceed would be to begin by assessing the general conditions of the site and the surrounding area and to use this to assess a rigorous model of the impact of the proposed site.  A mine field of assessment standards, some of them contradictory, needs to be appropriately applied to the situation, and all findings presented in a suitable form to the Local Authority.
A period of negotiation may then follow, culminating in planning consent with acceptable conditions, or planning refusal (or consent with unacceptable conditions) and consideration of taking the proposal to appeal at public enquiry.

All of ADCs consultants have a vast range of experience with dealing with Local Authorities, preparing noise evidence for planning applications and appeals, and giving evidence at public enquiries.  Case histories are available on request. 

Our services include the following
• Surveys in accordance with PPG 24, BS4142, WHO Guide, and many more.
• Preparation of reports including detailed specification and design of mitigation and noise control.
• Negotiation.
• Proof of Evidence writing.
• Attendance at council meetings and public enquiries.
• Negotiated settlements, meetings of experts, conditions.

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