What Is A Noise Assessment And Noise Survey?

• Cheeko
• 0
• on Jul 15, 2022

What Is A Noise Survey?

Noise surveys typically involve using sophisticated and state-of-the-art sound measuring equipment such as sound-level meters, low-noise microphones, and external-environment microphones to detect the overall sound environment in a workplace.

Here is a list of the primary noise survey types:

Occupational Noise Risk Assessment

In the UK, every industry needs to adhere to controls relating to noise regulations in workplaces. The aim of occupational health surveys is to control and examine the amounts of sound or noise that employees are exposed to in a workplace environment, including airborne noise and structure borne noise.

One of the significant advantages of noise risk assessments is to protect the ears and hearing of employees along with other benefits.

When employees are exposed weekly or daily to noise levels that exceed 80B(A), an occupational risk assessment and noise survey become necessary by law.

When employees are exposed to 85dB(A), occupational risk assessments and noise surveys are required to make sure the company is complying with regulations. Furthermore, health screening, hearing tests, and hearing protection are also highly recommended.

To conduct occupational noise surveys, someone will visit the site in order to review current provisions that are in place in order to protect employees’ safety and hearing from noise levels that are excessive and the noise levels that employees in a workplace are exposed to. After conducting a visit to the site, a business report will be provided which includes recommendations that demonstrate the identification of noise, and an assessment to make sure the business is complying with regulations.

Background Noise Survey

A background noise survey is typically used for measuring day-to-day variations in noise levels in particular areas. It is usually required by a local authority when it comes to planning applications to make sure the new development will not be generating unnecessary excessive noise levels or be affected adversely by the noise levels that already exist in an area.

The background noise survey is usually completed using numerous spot measurements which is why we suggest leaving your equipment for a few days in order to obtain a more detailed review.

These detailed reviews allow us to assess different sounds/areas in an environment such as diurnal features and variations such as temporary noises that come from boiler flues or dawn chorus which might have been missed.

Noise Impact Assessment

Noise impact assessments are in-depth noise assessments that aren’t limited to the standard background noise surveys.

A noise impact assessment is typically required when it comes to planning applications, and local authorities request these assessments to determine whether the development will create an environmental impact. It involves assessing background noise in the immediate environment and comparing this to the prediction or measurement of the noise levels that a proposed development is going to generate.

Noise Impact assessments are required for planning applications and are requested by local authorities to establish the environmental impact of a development. It will involve an assessment of the background noise environment and a comparison of this to either the measurement or prediction of the noise level generated by the proposed development.

When a “proposed” housing development will impact the current noise sources, it will require an assessment to make sure that acceptable and appropriate external and internal dwelling environments are created without an unreasonable burden being placed on any close-by noise generators.

To make sure you are complying with any of the “imposed” noise conditions to show “good neighbourliness”, every industry needs to monitor and control the noise levels they are emitting.