Spectrum Acoustic Consultants discharge Noise Planning Conditions

20 December 2016 by Phill Banks, Principal Consultant

Spectrum regularly act as the specialist noise consultant to discharge Noise Planning Conditions on building developments, taking the planning permission requirements, carrying out the necessary technical analyses and producing a report to provide to the Local Planning Authority to discharge the Conditions.

One such project we have recently completed is the Gatefold Building for Willmott Dixon Housing in Blyth Road, Hayes. This prestige development of 133 flats with gym, and commercial space. The development had numerous issues for the noise planning condition consultant to address, including protecting flats from excessive noise ingress due to the adjoining railway and road traffic noise; preventing excessive noise transfer between the business units/gym and the residences; ensuring vibration levels in the building are suitably low and controlling mechanical plant noise.

After gathering the baseline noise and vibration survey data, one of the key analysis tools we use is the numerical noise prediction model. This uses international standard ISO 9613 to predict noise exposure across the whole site. The accuracy of this model transforms the specification of façade sound insulation elements, particularly the glazing and room ventilation, optimising the cost of achieving the requirements of the Planning Condition. The same model is particularly useful for the plant noise analysis, where there are multiple mechanical plant noise sources and multiple flat windows which have to be protected from this noise. The model gives confidence that the planning condition’s requirements are met with an optimum design for noise control.

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The Gatefold Building is now ready for occupation and, thanks to the work Spectrum have done as the noise planning condition consultant, all tenants can look forward to a building of high acoustic quality.