5 services found
Hepworth Acoustics Ltd services
Transport: roads, airports, railways
Transportation noise is the most widespread source of noise throughout the UK and is still increasing year on year. Noise from road, rail and aircraft is not only an issue when designing new infrastructure projects, but is also a major consideration when building noise sensitive properties such as housing and schools. Hepworth Acoustics has considerable experience of assessing the noise impact of new road, rail and airport schemes, both for the construction and operational phases. The projects have included work for environmental statements, public liaison meetings, providing expert evidence at public inquiries and monitoring noise from construction and operation.
Industrial
Managers of industrial premises need to be aware of potential noise issues both internally and externally. Internal noise levels can impact on employees hearing, and external noise levels can cause complaints from neighbours and action from regulating authorities. In the past, external noise problems were only likely to arise as a result of complaints from neighbours, or the serving of a Noise Abatement Notice from the local authority. Nowadays, regulating authorities are being more pro-active and the Environment Agency may require a noise assessment to be carried out under IPPC regulations even where there have been no complaints. The recent introduction of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 has led to requirements for lower workplace noise levels and increased requirements for health monitoring of staff. Many more industrial premises have been brought in to the scope of the Regulations as a consequence of the lower noise limits.
Quarries, minerals & waste
The mining and processing of minerals is an important part of the economic development of the country. Minerals can only be extracted where they exist and often these locations are in rural areas with low background noise levels. This can give rise to concerns about noise from proposed and existing mineral sites. Hepworth Acoustics has considerable experience of dealing with the noise issues at the planning stage of deep and surface mines and quarries. The experience includes predicting future noise levels, designing mitigation measures and representing clients through the planning process and at Public Inquiry if required. In addition, the company can advise and carry out compliance monitoring of working sites, which is often not straight forward, because noise limits may be set very close to existing background noise levels.
Education
We all know that education is important. But the quality of that education can be significantly impaired if the design of the schools, universities and colleges in which that education takes place does not take account of noise impact and noise quality. Schools, colleges, universities, in fact all educational buildings need to be fit for purpose. This means that a number of key issues have to be considered, including: layout, lighting, facilities, location, access and crucially the acoustic performance of the building.
Buildings Planning applications
Anyone wishing to develop a new site or change the use of an existing site will need to obtain planning permission from the Local Planning Authority (LPA). The LPA will consider the noise and vibration issues of the proposed development as part of the overall planning assessment. If planning permission is granted, the LPA may impose conditions requiring the developer to deal with all aspects of the noise and vibration impact, both to and from the site. This applies whether considering a noise-sensitive development in a noisy area (such as housing near a transportation or commercial noise source) or proposing a potentially noisy source into a sensitive area (examples here include mechanical plant installations or industrial/ entertainment venues close to existing dwellings). Environmental Health Officers are consulted to provide a recommendation on the acoustic aspects of the proposed development.
