PPG24 requires Planning Authorities to have regard to environmental noise during their consideration of planning applications for new homes. It sets out the Noise Exposure Categories (NEC) which determines acceptability of a dwelling development site based on both day and night noise levels.

Noise, from all local sources that affect the site including road, rail, air, commercial and industrial activities, is considered over a twenty four hour period to establish the environmental noise levels. Local planning authorities are then required have regard to the advice in the appropriate NEC category, as set out below:

Veale Associates undertake the survey, provide reports detailing the results and offer guidance upon actions that may be needed. We also work with you to review and consider solutions for both categories B and C and make recommendations for discussion with the planning authority. Our continuing help is available in the development of your plans and construction details to ensure compliance.

Dwellings can be subjected to environmental noise from a variety of sources, most commercial operations will only operate during the day, others are 24 hour and can be troublesome. Noise can originate from other dwellings too and night time noise can prove a nuisance.

Planning Authorities are required to have regard to environmental noise during their consideration of planning applications for new homes. Environmental Health often deals with other noise complaints.

Noise, from all local sources that affect a dwelling including road, rail, air, commercial and industrial activities, and is considered over either a specified or twenty four hour period to establish the environmental noise levels and nuisance value.

Measurements and assessments are carried out in accordance with the provisions detailed in the British Standard BS.4142:1977 and our report will table the results together with any recommendations and required action.

Acoustics play an important part in the office, meeting room, presentation suite, reception area, atrium and any place where people work.

Employers recognise that good acoustics are vital to perception, comfort and wellbeing of employees and visitors. Also for good communications, confidentiality and their corporate image.

Noise can be a distraction, cause stress, increase absenteeism and cause friction between employees. Noise from ventilation and air conditioning, ringing of telephones and loud conversations in open office areas, can be annoying, raise stress levels, produce headaches and other related stress problems. Excess noise in a presentation suite or meeting room can make hearing difficult, especially for anybody with a hearing problem.

Privacy of meeting rooms and presentation suites is an important factor to preventing confidential discussions being overheard. Equally is the acoustic comfort for good and clear communications.

We can advise upon new work and resolve exiting problems by providing recommendations with required action and assisting with the implementation.

Decibel (dB):
a unit of level derived from the logarithm of the ratio between the value of a quantity and a reference value. It is used to describe the level of many different quantities. For sound pressure level the reference quantity is 20 Pa, the threshold of normal hearing is in the region of 0 dB, and 140 dB is the threshold of pain. A change of 1 dB is only perceptible under controlled conditions.

dB(A):
decibels measured on a sound level meter incorporating a frequency weighting (A weighting) which differentiates between sounds of different frequency (pitch) in a similar way to the human ear. Measurements in dB(A) broadly agree with people's assessment of loudness. A change of 3 dB(A) is the minimum perceptible under normal conditions, and a change of 10 dB(A) corresponds roughly to halving or doubling the loudness of a sound. The background noise level in a living room may be about 30 dB(A); normal conversation about 60 dB(A) at 1 metre; heavy road traffic about 80 dB(A) at 10 metres; the level near a pneumatic drill about 100 dB(A).

Hertz (Hz):
unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second. Frequency is related to the pitch of a sound.

LA10,T :
the A weighted level of noise exceeded for 10% of the specified measurement period (T). It gives an indication of the upper limit of fluctuating noise such as that from road traffic. LA10,18h is the arithmetic average of the 18 hourly LA10,1h values from 06.00 to 24.00.

LA90,T :
the A weighted noise level exceeded for 90% of the specified measurement period (T). In BS 4142: 1990 it is used to define background noise level.

LAeq,T :
the equivalent continuous sound level -the sound level of a notionally steady sound having the same energy as a fluctuating sound over a specified measurement period (T). LAeq,T is used to describe many types of noise and can be measured directly with an integrating sound level meter. It is written as Leq in connection with aircraft noise.

LAmax:
the highest A weighted noise level recorded during a noise event. The time weighting used (F or S) should be stated.