....... you are not needed unless you have a toothache or a leak or in the case of an acoustic consultant, unless you have a noise issue.
It is not always obvious when you need a suitably qualified acoustician but if you are submitting a planning application for a development you may require one for,
- an Environmental Noise assessment to ensure internal noise levels for residential properties meet the criteria set out in BS 8233:2014
- a Noise Impact assessment to ensure any noise generated from new plant, equipment or machinery does not cause an adverse or significant adverse impact on neighbours in accordance with BS 4142:2014+A1:2019
- Acoustic Design advice to meet the requirements of Building Regulations Approved Document E
- Sound insulation test
Again, the dentist and plumber analogy, make sure the acoustic consultant is suitable qualified and competent. You would not trust an unqualified, inexperienced dentist near your teeth or plumber near your heating system.
An acoustic survey and report require the use of laboratory and field calibrated equipment, the equipment should be Class 1 or Type 1 and should be traceable. The acoustic consultant should know what they are doing, how to set up the sound level meter to measure the correct data for the project and how to download and interpret the information. The noise report should be clear and comprehensive and should include details such as the equipment used, the weather conditions, the relevant standard/s, results and where necessary mitigation measures.
dB Consultation has extensive experience in dealing with all of the above and including noise from
- Substations and transformers
- Air source heat pumps
- Air conditioning units
- Kitchen extraction systems
- Garages
- Warehouses
- Manufacturing processes
- Gyms
- Music venues
- Development near airports and motorways
- Dog kennels and more
We would always advise to get in touch at the beginning of a project so we can provide comprehensive advice and any potential noise issues can be designed out or mitigated.
If you need a noise survey, acoustic deign advice, or some other noise related project please click here to get in touch.