Following his presentation at this year’s recent Solent Acoustics Conference ‘Acoustics in the Built Environment’, acoustician and lecturer Jonty Stewart writes on some of the issues surrounding sound insulation and in particular the problems it causes. The first thing I would say is that “poor” sound insulation depends on whom is being affected: to the builder or develope. “Poor” sound insulation can probably be loosely defined as anything which doesn’t meet the legally-required performance criteria […]

Today is International Noise Awareness Day – an event conceived 19 years ago, to combat the impact of noise on hearing and health. The evidence for the impact of noise on health continues to accumulate – not just on hearing but on other aspects of our health and well being. Hearing damage is the most noticeable impact of noise on health, and our increasing ability to create and expose ourselves to loud noise – and […]

Professor Stephen Stansfeld of Queen Mary University London has worked on numerous of studies looking at the impacts of transport noise on health. He gives an overview of the current evidence from, and activity in, this field of work. In the past the research topic of environmental noise and health has been something of a Cinderella subject, but recently there have been an increasing number of large studies of community populations examining the effects of […]

The guidance used by local authorities to prevent noise complaints from new industrial development has been revised and is out for consultation. Gwyn Mapp of Amledd gives and outline of its purpose and the main changes in the document, and encourages all who work with the document to respond to the consultation. BS4142:1997 – Method for Rating Industrial Noise Affecting Mixed Residential and Industrial Areas is a British Standard that is mainly used by Local […]

With regulation requiring better sealed, thermally efficient building envelopes, many new homes are prone to overheating - and for buildings near roads and rail opening windows means exposure to noise. Hoare Lea & Partners, a leading consulting engineering firm in the design of new homes is currently undertaking a study into the relationship between overheating and noise. During Noise Action Week they will be assessing acceptable noise levels in homes. Acoustic engineer Barry Jobling explains. […]

The pros and cons of night-time freight deliveries have been hotly debated between industry, government departments and professional and lobbying groups concerned with noise for a number of years. But the latest contribution by the Department for Transport is, unfortunately, set to be rejected says Howard Price, Principal Policy Officer at CIEH, as the Noise Abatement Society and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health have this week united in criticising proposed revised Guidance. This new […]

Noise - Read all about it With a long Bank Holiday weekend ahead what better than a quiet read? Over the last few years a wealth of books have been published on aspects of noise and sound. Sound is important in everything we do – we need it for information, enjoy (or are sometimes annoyed by) natural sounds like the waves and birdsong, and it is an essential part of entertainment and fun. However, the […]

Work to raise awareness of the public health and environmental impacts of noise has seen sporadic progress, and like air pollution, noise only comes to the wider attention of public and policy makers when it causes extreme problems. Noise Action Week gives an opportunity for everyone working to reduce the impact of noise to be heard. Last week we saw air pollution, often dubbed the silent killer, reveal itself. Saharan dust enhanced the visibility of […]

Every year the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health collect data on noise complaints and enforcement from local authorities, which informs policy in public health and environmental protection. Principal Policy Officer Howard Price sets out the purpose of the annual survey. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is calling on local authorities to undertake its annual noise survey and report numbers and type of noise complaints. Most recently, the annual noise survey has been the […]

Mediation North Surrey (MNS) work closely with the pollution service on noise related issues within the community of Elmbridge. We also conduct neighbourhood mediation in Runnymede and Spelthorne. Mediation helps people explore their problems and is conducted in a safe confidential manner, to reach solutions acceptable to all parties without the added anxiety and expense of legal intervention. During last years’ Noise Action Week we were involved in “live tweeting” - raising awareness of our services […]