Environmental noise

Baseline surveys
Noise criteria for industrial installations are often based on a certain margin above, at or below existing background noise levels, all of which RSK can survey.

Industrial noise

We can:

• measure and assess noise from industrial sources against relevant criteria using BS 4142 assessment methodology for initial risk assessments, IPPC permitting, compliance with local authority consents or in response to noise complaints
• predict noise levels from proposed installations for inclusion within the EIS framework
• provide advice on engineering noise control to reduce noise emissions
• review historical noise monitoring data and assess its suitability for ongoing works
• produce noise management plans and procedures for the control of noisy operations, implement best available techniques (BAT) and manage complaints procedures

Construction noise and vibration

• measurement and predictions of construction noise and vibration using BS 5228 and recommendations for cost-effective mitigation for outline planning and Section 61 applications
• monitoring for compliance of ongoing projects for Section 61 compliance
• liaison with Local Authorities and the public in relation to construction projects and the likely noise impact of construction activities

Transportation noise

• predict and model noise levels from roads and railway lines using the DOT’s Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN), Calculation of Rail Noise (CRN) and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)
• assess noise impact, provide advice on mitigation by noise barrier optimisation, alternative road surface or mitigation at the receiver
• assess the suitability of sites for new developments near existing transportation routes in relation to PPG 24, TAN 11, etc., optimising site layout and building design to provide satisfactory internal noise levels complying with internal noise levels standards such as BS 8233

Occupational noise exposure

We can undertake occupational noise exposure studies under the control of Noise at Work Regulations, providing measurement and assessment of noise exposure within industrial or other noisy installations. We also offer noise management plans that include advice for mitigation at source, procedural changes to reduce noise exposure and personal protection of the individual against noise exposure. 

Building Design

RSK can deal with potential acoustic issues including:

• assessment and mitigation of potential noise ingress from external noise sources such as road and rail
• specification and assessment of sound insulation performance of internal building elements for compliance with airborne sound insulation and impact sound isolation requirements of Approved Document E of the Building Regulations for residential dwellings
• appraisal of speech privacy and general acoustic amenity for offices and commercial buildings
• detailing of wall and partition joints and service penetrations of walls and partitions to ensure sound insulation requirements of internal walls and partitions are not compromised
• acoustic design for schools to meet sound insulation and reverberation characteristics in accordance with BB93
• acoustic design of heating ventilation and air conditioning within buildings in order to meet requirements of BS 8233, BCO and to meet satisfactory acoustic amenity
• remedial advice in relation to building services in response to acoustic problems
• prediction and assessment of noise emissions from mechanical plant associated with buildings to the environment and assessment in accordance with BS 4142 and planning authority criteria
• assessment of the reverberation characteristics of rooms designed for speech or musical performance purposes
• provision of advice for material specifications for reverberation control

Vibration

We can:

• measure and assess ground-borne vibration from construction, transportation sources or other sources within buildings both in terms of human annoyance (BS 6472) and potential building damage (BS 7385)
• monitor vibration levels during construction activities and liaison with construction staff to ensure building damage criteria or human annoyance criteria are not exceeded

Entertainment noise