technical appendices noise and vibration chapter application...^significant adverse impacts on...

Branston Locks

Noise

SRP ref 1010946 ES/d3

Technical Appendices

Noise and vibration chapter

11.1 Illustrative Masterplan

11.2 Planning policy guidance – national, regional, local, and relevant British Standards, and proposed

design standards

11.3 Noise survey details and results

11.4 Significance criteria

11.5 Noise mapping

lisa.roberts

Text Box

P/2012/01467 Received 15/11/12

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Technical Appendix 11.1

Illustrative Masterplan, showing main features

NB Refer to Planning drawings for full details.

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Planning Policy and relevant standards

National planning guidance

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the Government’s economic,

environmental and social planning policies for England and “these policies articulate the

Government’s vision of sustainable development.” In respect of noise, Paragraph 173 of the

NPPF states the following:

Planning policies and decisions should aim to:

avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life

as a result of new development

mitigate and reduce to a minimum other adverse impacts on health and quality of life

arising from noise from new development, including through the use of conditions,

while recognising that many developments will create some noise; and

identify and protect areas of tranquillity which have remained relatively undisturbed

by noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason

The NPPF reinforces the March 2010 DEFRA publication, “Noise Policy Statement for England”

(NPSE), which states three policy aims, as follows:

“Through the effective management and control of environmental, neighbour and

neighbourhood noise within the context of Government policy on sustainable

development:

avoid significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life;

mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health and quality of life; and

where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life.”

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Together, the first two aims require that no significant adverse impact should occur and that,

where a noise level which falls between a level which represents the lowest observable adverse

effect and a level which represents a significant observed adverse effect, then according to the

explanatory notes in the statement:

“… all reasonable steps should be taken to mitigate and minimise adverse effects on

health and quality of life whilst also taking into consideration the guiding principles of

sustainable development. This does not mean that such effects cannot occur.”

It is possible to apply objective standards to the assessment of noise and the effect produced by

the introduction of a certain noise source may be determined by several methods, as follows:

i) The effect may be determined by reference to guideline noise values. British

Standard (BS) 8233:1999 and World Health Organisation (WHO) “Guidelines for

Community Noise” contain such guidelines.

ii) Alternatively, the impact may be determined by considering the change in noise

level that would result from the proposal, in an appropriate noise index for the

characteristic of the noise in question. There are various criteria linking change

in noise level to effect. This is the method that is suited to, for example, the

assessment of noise from road traffic because it is capable of displaying impact

to all properties adjacent to a road link irrespective of their distance from the

road.

Another method is to compare the resultant noise level against the background noise level (LA90)

of the area. This is the method employed by BS 4142:1997 to determine the likelihood of

complaint from noise of an industrial nature. It is best suited to the assessment of steady or

pseudo-steady noise.

Guideline noise values

There are a number of guidance documents that contain recommended guideline noise values.

These are discussed below.

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British Standard 8233:1999 is principally intended to assist in the design of new dwellings;

however, the Standard does state that it may be used in the assessment of noise from new

sources being brought to existing dwellings.

BS 8233:1999 was based on the advice contained in a draft of World Health Organisation

document “Guidelines for Community Noise”. This document was released in final form in 2000.

World Health Organisation guidance is referenced in the NPSE.

The WHO advice is the most useful, comprehensive, and pertinent advice in this case, because it

is not specific to the circumstances of the assessment. Instead, it provides guidance on

acceptable limits in, for example, schools, dwellings and offices.

The WHO guideline values are appropriate to what are termed “critical health effects”. This

means that the limits are at the lowest noise level that would result in any psychological,

physiological or sociological effect. They are, as defined by NPSE, set at the Lowest Observed

Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL), but do not define the level above which effects are significant (the

SOAEL). Compliance with the LOAEL should, therefore, be seen as a robust aim.

The WHO LOAEL guideline values are summarised in the following table:

Value

Guidance

Location

LAeqT = 55 dB Few seriously annoyed, Daytime and evening.

Continuous noise, outdoor living areas

LAeqT = 50 dB Few moderately annoyed,

Daytime and evening.

Continuous noise, outdoor living

areas

LAeqT = 35 dB Acceptable level to avoid speech

interference, daytime and evening. Continuous noise, Dwellings, indoors

LAeqT = 45 dB To avoid sleep disturbance, window

open at night.

Continuous noise, outside bedrooms,

outdoor values

LAeqT = 30 dB To avoid sleep disturbance at night. Continuous noise, Bedrooms, indoors

LAMAX = 60 dB To avoid sleep disturbance, window open at night. Noise peaks,

outside bedrooms, Outdoor values

LAMAX = 45 dB To avoid sleep disturbance at night. Noise peaks,

Bedrooms, indoors

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For LAeqT criteria the time base (T) given in the documents is 16 hours for daytime limits and 8

hours for night time limits. When assessing impact, this has the tendency to smooth out the

hourly variations in noise level. As such, our calculations are carried out to a 1 hour time base,

which is a more stringent assessment than is given in the guidance documents.

Changes in noise level

PPG 24 (now superseded) notes that changes in noise levels of less than 3 dBA are not

perceptible under normal conditions and changes of 10 dBA are equivalent to a doubling of

loudness. This guidance has been accepted by inspectors, at inquiry, to encompass changes in

noise levels in the index LAeqT.

The following table shows the response to changes in noise (known as a Semantic Scale):

Change in noise level LAeqT dB Response Impact

<3 Imperceptible None

3 – 5 Perceptible Slight

6 – 10 Up to a doubling Significant

11 – 15 More than a doubling Substantial

>15 - Severe

Ref: Manning “Criteria for the Environmental Assessment, Planning and Mitigation of Railway Noise” ProcIOA Vol 20 Part 1 (1998) pp 195 – 202.

BS 4142:1997

As discussed, this BS enables the likelihood of complaint to be determined according to the

following summary process:

Determine the background noise levels, in terms of the index LA90, at the receptor locations of

interest.

Determine the specific noise level of the source being assessed, in terms of its LAeqT level (T = 1

hour for day or 5 minutes for night), at the receptor location of interest.

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Correct (penalise) the rating level, if the source noise is of tonal or intermittent nature so as to

attract attention. The correction factor is 5 dB. The resultant level is termed the rating noise

level.

Compare the rating noise level with the background noise level; the greater the difference

between the two, the higher the likelihood of complaint of the noise.

Differences (rating – background) of around +10 dB indicate that complaints are likely; a

difference of +5 dB is of marginal significance; a difference of –10 dB is a positive indication that

complaints are unlikely.

The general intent of the planning system is to ensure that a development does not result in

“significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life.” The avoidance of this is, in our

judgement, equivalent to the BS 4142 marginal significance criterion of +5 dB, although common

for a planning condition to require a rating level not to exceed the background noise level,

subject to a minimum requirement (see below), of 35 dB.

It should be noted that the scope and methodology of the standard do not apply where

background noise levels are low (i.e. less than 30 dB LA90) or for rating levels which are lower

than 35 dB LAeq. It is our view, therefore, that in order to pass the “reasonableness” test (NPPF,

para 69), no planning condition should require a rating of less than “very low”.

Methodologies Selected

With all of the above comments in mind, the components of noise have been assessed as

follows:

i Existing levels of transport noise -guideline values

ii Commercial/industrial noise (except fixed plant) -guideline values

iii mechanical services plant -BS 4142: 1997

iv New road traffic -change

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British Standards and Other Guidance

BS 8233:1999 (Ref. 11.4) ‘Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings – Code of Practice’,

gives detailed design advice on suitable internal noise levels to be achieved within different

types of buildings, and how this can be achieved. Based on World Health Organisation (WHO)

guidance, BS8233 is often used to set the basis for the design of new schemes. Newham are

known to ask routinely for the ‘good’ standard.

BS 6472-1: 2008 ‘Guide to Evaluation of Human Exposure to Vibration in Buildings’ is the usual

reference for design guidance on acceptable levels of vibration affecting residential buildings,

and gives frequency-weighted vibration spectra (for continuous vibration) and Vibration Dose

Values (VDV) (for intermittent vibration e.g. from trains) above which ‘adverse comment’ can be

expected to occur in residential properties. The relevant levels are as follows:

Place and time

Low probability of

adverse comment

m/s1.75

Adverse comment

possible

m/s1.75

Adverse comment

probable

m/s1.75

Residential buildings 16h day 0.2-0.4 0.4-0.8 0.8-1.6

Residential buildings 8h night 0.1-0.2 0.2-0.4 0.4-0.8

BS 4142: 1997 ‘Rating Industrial Noise affecting Mixed Residential and Industrial Areas’. This

document is the usual reference for the setting of limiting noise levels for plant noise affecting

residential areas. The standard gives limiting noise levels based on references to the pre-existing

background noise levels.

BS 5228:1997 ‘Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites’ is the usual

reference for advice on the assessment, prediction and control of noise from demolition and

construction activities.

BS 7385 ‘Evaluation and Measurement for Vibration in Buildings’ presents guide values or limits

for transient vibration, above which there is a likelihood of cosmetic damage.

Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN), published by Department of Transport and the Welsh

Office, gives a calculation method for determining road traffic noise from road traffic data.

Detailed procedures allow for traffic volume, speed, vehicle type, road geometry, distance etc to

be taken into account.

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BRANSTON LOCKS,

BURTON ON TRENT

NOISE ASSESSMENT:

SUITABILITY OF THE SITE FOR DEVELOPMENT

IN RELATION TO ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE

Prepared by:

Catherine A. Day

BSc. MIOA

REP

OR

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Bra

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on

Lo

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CONTENTS

Summary

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Baseline noise conditions

3.0 Effect of the existing noise environment

on the design of the site

4.0 Other noise effects

References

Figure 1 Aerial photograph, showing the site and monitoring positions

Figure 2 Noise Exposure Categories

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Summary

The noise levels currently affecting the site have been measured, and the findings

reported here in outline, and in full elsewhere.

Design of the scheme in relation to the existing environment

Buffer zones, roadside barriers and the use of non-sensitive buildings to provide

screening can be used to good effect along the A38 boundary. Advice is also given on

mitigation, such as buffer zones, barriers, specialist glazing and ventilation.

Satisfactory noise levels can be achieved in noise-sensitive buildings on site by means of

these mitigation measures.

Effect of construction noise

During construction, there will be some noise arising from the site, but the impact of this

can be minimised using normal good practice, and by limiting site operating hours when

working close to existing residential areas.

Effect of the completed scheme on the noise environment

Once the scheme is complete, there will be limited minor local impacts on some nearby

areas arising from increased road traffic. Plant noise arising from any new development

will need to be controlled to acceptable levels by planning conditions, in the normal

way.

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1.0 Introduction

An application is being prepared for a large mixed scheme on part of Lawns

Farm, Burton on Trent, to provide new housing with a range of associated mixed

uses. The details of the mix are yet to be determined.

This report gives the findings of a noise survey at the site and discusses the

implications of noise from the A38, and gives outline advice on how suitable

noise levels in line with current guidance can be achieved across the site.

The report also touches on the impact of the proposed development on noise to

existing land uses nearby, and also briefly considers the noise impact of

construction work.

An aerial photo of the site is given as figure 1, showing the noise monitoring

positions.

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2.0 Baseline noise conditions

2.1 Site description

The site is fairly flat, and forms an irregular long triangle, with one long side

bounded by the A38 to the southeast, which carries moderately heavy traffic

day and night, and the other long side bounded by a wooded slope to the

northwest. (Some of) this hillside (will) form part of the National Forest, and is to

remain as woodland and open space.

To the northeast, the site narrows to about 25 metres, beyond which there is a

further small area, approximately oval in shape, which is bounded to the

northeast by buildings backing onto Shobnall Road. One of these is a

hotel/restaurant, which has car parking to the rear. The other buildings nearby

appear to be residential.

The short side of the site to the southwest is bounded by Branston Road, a

country lane, which carries intermittent vehicles, mostly travelling quickly

(estimated speeds 50-60kph).

The Trent and Mersey canal passes through the southeastern part of the site.

2.2 Noise survey details

Survey details are given in appendix A. Full results have been reported in full

elsewhere and are not replicated here, but a summary of the noise levels at the

monitoring positions along the A38 boundary and the Tatenhill boundary are

given below.

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2.3 Survey findings

Results are summarised below, and a plan of the site showing the approximate

Noise Exposure Categories for night time noise (reference PPG 24) is given as

Figure 3.

The noise environment of the site is entirely dominated by road traffic on the

A38 along the southwestern boundary of the site.

There is a substantial industrial estate to the south east of site, on the far side of

the A38. At no time was any noise from this area audible over the general noise

from the A38, and there is no evidence of industrial noise (e.g. fans or other

constant noise sources) in the graphs of the overnight monitoring.

Note that there is some potential for noise from the hotel to the north of the

site, although there is existing housing close to this already, and a significant

noise nuisance from this source is unlikely in that context. This aspect may

require further investigation.

There were no other significant noise sources observed around the site.

LAeq,T

Branston Road/Tatenhill Rd boundary: (3.5m from kerb, 520m from A38)

day 66.4

night 57.7

A38 boundary: (6m from kerb line)

day 76.9

night 75.3

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3.0 Effect of the existing noise environment on the design of the site

3.1 Design standards for noise

BS 8233 (ref 1) recommends suitable internal noise levels for a range of building

types, including dwellings, for ‘reasonable living and working conditions’.

Internal noise levels for schools are set in BB93 (ref 2). Noise levels for outdoor

amenity areas are set in PPG24 (ref 3). Guidance on noise from

industrial/commercial activities is given in BS 4142 (ref 4).

A sample of the limits for various areas is tabulated below:

Area Limits Reference

Living rooms 30-40 LAeq(day) BS 8233

Bedrooms (residential and hotel) 30-35 LAeq(night)

45 LAmax(night)

BS 8233

Ordinary Classrooms 35 LAeq(30 mins) BB93

Outdoor amenity areas 55 LAeq(day) PPG 24

3.2 Masterplan site design in relation to acoustics

3.2.1 Overview

Noise to the site is dominated by the A38. Housing, hotels, and schools are

sensitive to excessive noise, and would be best buffered from the A38 by other

land uses such as Industrial, commercial or enclosed leisure uses, or substantial

boundary barriers along the A38.

The following indicative solutions are given for housing in various parts of the

site, to achieve the internal noise levels given in section 2. In intermediate areas,

then there will be intermediate solutions possible – the following are given to

assist with the further development of the masterplan.

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HOUSING and SCHOOLS – Indicative noise mitigation

requirements

External noise levels (LAeq,T)

Glazing Ventilation

Sensitive buildings immediately alongside A38, no roadside

barrier

74-day 72-night

Deep-void glazing to all

windows with line-of sight to

the road

Ducted attenuated

system to all occupied areas

(a) Housing immediately alongside A38, 4m roadside barrier, or (b) Housing in a ‘second row’ behind other housing alongside an otherwise unscreened A38.

60-day (ground floor)

67-night (first floor and

above)

Heavy duty double glazing to

bedrooms. Ordinary glazing to living rooms.

Ducted attenuated system to bedrooms.

Acoustic airbricks to living

rooms.

Housing protected from A38 by substantial (50m) buffer zone of industrial/commercial buildings or 2 rows of other housing

54-day 52-night

Ordinary glazing Ordinary trickle

vents.

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4.0 Other noise issues

Construction noise and vibration

Construction noise during the development of the site will need to be

considered, but there is little existing residential development around much of

the site, and construction noise and vibration can normally be adequately

controlled and managed to acceptable levels by means of careful selection of

methods and plant, by limits on operating hours where appropriate, and by

careful location of temporary site access arrangements and fixed plant. This can

be achieved by normal planning conditions and similar controls.

Noise generated by the completed site

There will be some traffic generated by the completed site. This will need to be

assessed once information is available, but note that noise from increased traffic

is generally modest, with a DOUBLING of existing traffic levels generating a

3 dBA increase in traffic noise, the smallest increase in noise levels perceptible

outside a laboratory. The effect on noise from the A38 arising from any

increased traffic from the site will be negligible, and in the context of noise from

the A38 over a wide area, increased traffic on local roads is expected to have

only a minor impact.

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References

BS 8233 Sound insulation and noise reduction for Buildings – Code of

practice.

British Standards. 1999.

BB93 building Bulletin 93 – Acoustic Design of Schools

Department for Education and Skills

PPG 24 Planning Policy Guidance – Planning and Noise

Department of the Environment. September 1994

BS 4142 Method for rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential

and commercial areas.

British Standards. 1997

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Significance Criteria

Noise effects are characterised as either ‘local’ (the site itself or immediately adjacent to the site) or

‘district’ (the wider area within 500m of the site). Effects over a wider area would be characterised

as ‘borough’ or ‘regional’. For the Proposed Development, noise effects are almost invariably limited

to the immediate surroundings of the Application Site to local level only.

The duration of any effect is also noted, where ‘short term’ applies only during a particular

operation e.g. noise from a particular item of plant, ‘medium term’ applies over months during the

whole build sequence, and ‘long term’ applies from occupation of the Proposed Development.

Demolition and Construction Noise Effects

Significance criteria for construction noise and vibration have been derived from the Department of

Environment Advisory Leaflet 72 (Ref. 11.9) and BS 7385 (Ref. 11.8). A semantic scale for describing

the construction and vibration effects on buildings is shown in Table 11.2.

Table 11.2: Semantic Scale for Describing Construction and Vibration

Category Description

Negligible Daytime noise levels greater than the ambient LAeq but equal to

or less than 70 decibels (dB) LAeq.

Vibration levels greater than 0.15 mm/s, but less than 1 mm/s.

Minor adverse Daytime noise levels greater than 70 dB LAeq but equal to or less

than 75 dB LAeq.

Vibration levels greater than 1 mm/s but less than 3 mm/s.

Moderate adverse Noise levels greater than 75 dB LAeq (daytime) but for no more

than 10 days in any month.

Vibration levels greater than 3mm/sec but less than 5 mm/s.

Major adverse Noise levels greater than 75 dB LAeq (daytime) for more than 10

days in any month.

Vibration levels greater than 5 mm/s.

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Noise from Building Services Plant on Finished Development

11.6 BS 4142 (Ref. 11.6) provides guidance on likely community response to new fixed noise sources (e.g.

building services) affecting sensitive residential receptors. The rating method detailed within this

standard is widely accepted by Local Authorities as a means of assessing building plant noise. The

standard compares the ‘rating level’ of the new noise with the existing ‘background level’. The

greater this difference the greater the likelihood of complaints. BS 4142 requires separate analysis

for day and night time periods. The significance of the new noise based on this difference is given in

Table 11.3.

Table 11.3: BS 4142 Noise Rating

Difference between Rating Level1 and

Background Level2 BS 4142 Rating

-10 dB(A) or less Positive indication that complaints are

unlikely

+5 dB(A) Marginal significance

+10 dB(A) or more Indicates complaints are likely

Note 1: The Rating Level is the noise level attributable to the new source(s), plus a 5 dB(A) penalty if

the new source has tonal or intermittent characteristics

Note 2: The Background Level is taken as the LA90; this is the ambient noise level in the absence of

the source, which is exceeded for 90% of the time.

Traffic Noise from the Proposed Development

11.7 Table 11.4 gives the scale of significance assumed for the prediction of traffic effects.

Table 11.4: Scale for Comparison of Future Road Noise Levels against Existing Road Noise Levels

Change in

Noise Level

dB(A)

Subjective Response Significance

< 3 Imperceptible change in loudness Negligible

3 – 5 Perceptible change in loudness Minor

6 – 10 Up to a doubling or halving of loudness Moderate

11 – 15 More than a doubling or halving of loudness Major

> 15 Up to a quadrupling or quartering of loudness Severe

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Technical appendix 11.5

Noise Mapping

Showing noise propagation over site from A38,

with some indicative built form in place.

NB This model is based on extracts from an earlier version of the Masterplan.

The detail of noise propagation across the site will be influenced by the size and location of buildings,

although the general picture remains constant.

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Daytime noise levels

LAeq(16 hour)

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