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CONSTRUCTION NOISE
Noise Monitoring
With the increase in both house-building and commercial projects all over the country, more and more Councils are including a requirement for monitoring of noise, vibration and dust during the demolition and construction phases of new projects. This is often included at the planning stage of the project, with the Council requiring a survey before the works start to measure the noise levels before the works, usually referred to as the baseline.
We have extensive experience of monitoring such noise levels, from site visits to measure levels of a certain activity with a representative of the Council to check noise levels are acceptable, through to long term monitoring of noise, vibration and dust for the life of a project, along with email alerts should levels start to get too high, and regular summary reports.
Read more here.
Noise Management Plans & Section 61 Agreements
The Council may also request a Construction Management Plan (CMP) or Section 61 assessment completed prior to the works. This assessment will normally include:
- Details of tools and plant noise levels that will be used during the works
- Phases of the projects
- Predicted noise levels at nearby receivers
- Details of mitigation measures to minimise impact
- Discussion of Best Practicable Means (BPM) to minimise noise and vibration from site
- Where relevant, setting of noise and vibration limits for the works
We can assess and complete your Construction Management Plan prior to works and measure noise levels at the start of and during works.
This may include 3D modelling of the site to understand the impact of each process on the surrounds.
Early stage liaison with the council and local residents is important for long term projects so that impact on the surroundings are minimised, whilst allowing the project to run smoothly and without interruptions.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Code of Construction Practice (CoCP)
As one of the busiest councils in the country with regard to building and development, RBKC are keen to control noise from building works due to extensions, basement excavations and new building works. Since April 2016 the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [RBKC] have implemented their new policy, the Code of Construction Practice to better control noise in the Borough.
This will usually involve providing a supporting document at the planning stage of the works providing information on the Site Categorisation and the required level of information for the category.
Generally, Category 3 sites cover internal refurbishment and cosmetic external works, and do not need to have a full Section 61 Noise and Vibration assessment. However, all other works, including basement extensions, will require a detailed assessment of noise and vibration levels to be provided as well as a construction management plan to minimise impact on nearby houses.
Venta Acoustics considerable experience of demolition and construction projects allows us to undertake an in depth analysis of likely noise levels on site. Advice is provided as to methods by which noise levels can be controlled under Best Practicable Mean [BPM] as highlighted in BS5228, which the council requires.
A construction noise management plan would be prepared summarising the predicted noise levels, BPM and methods for minimising noise, advice as to neighbour liaison and all other elements the council would require to support your application. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and how we can help you at an early stage to ensure your works can progress smoothly and without delay.
Some sites will also require noise and vibration monitoring to be undertaken during the works with records kept of levels recorded for the council if required.