BS4142 Noise Assessment and Survey

A BS4142 noise assessment and survey may be required when installing new or replacing existing items of external building services plant such as domestic and commercial air conditioning (AC) condenser units, air source heat pumps (ASHP), restaurant and takeaway kitchen extract fans, office chiller units and air handling units (AHU). A qualified acoustic consultant would assess the noise from the proposed plant in relation to the existing background noise level (LA90 dB) which requires a noise survey be carried out at the site. Plant noise emissions at the nearest noise sensitive or residential premises are then assessed according to the local authority requirements and BS4142 guidance methodology.

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When dealing with plant noise assessment planning conditions in London, the typical requirement is for plant noise emissions to be at least 10dB below the measured background noise level at the nearest noise sensitive receptor, usually stipulated as being 1m outside the nearest residential window to the plant location. These requirements typically seen in London, are relatively onerous and have been put in place to reduce the steady increase in background noise levels over time. In some London boroughs and areas outside of London, requirements for plant noise emissions being 5dB below the surveyed background noise level can be found, and in some cases planning conditions will request only that a noise assessment carried out in accordance with BS4142 noise assessment be undertaken. In this case, the assessed plant noise level being equal to surveyed background noise level is usually sufficient to meet the local authority requirements, depending of the context of the site and noise source.   

A BS4142 noise assessment carried out by an acoustic consultant in accordance with the methodology set out in BS4142 noise assessment may also be required when introducing a new commercial or industrial noise source or sources to an area where there are existing noise sensitive properties, or when proposing a new noise sensitive development in an area where there is existing commercial or industrial noise present. Examples of commercial or industrial developments may include anything where sound from fixed installations which comprise mechanical and electrical plant and equipment would be present, developments that include sound from the loading and unloading of goods and materials at industrial and/or commercial premises and sound from mobile plant and vehicles that is an intrinsic part of the overall sound emanating from premises or processes, such as that from forklift trucks, or that from train or ship movements on or around an industrial and/or commercial site.

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As qualified acoustic consultants London, we have extensive experience in carrying out these types of BS4142 noise assessments in London and across the UK, particularly when dealing with the requirements of local authorities such as Camden, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster.

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Get in touch to see to how our Institute of Acoustics qualified and experienced consultants can assist with your project.