Environmental Noise

Noise

The EIA Noise Working Group comprises members from a diverse group of specialist technology and consultancy companies. The aim of the working group is to encourage cooperation between these sectors in order to solve the challenges posed by environmental noise pollution.

Disciplines cover noise monitoring both in terms of approach taken and instrumentation; noise source types and airborne propagation; assessment criteria definitions and methodologies; predictive simulation and modelling techniques; noise control, attenuation and product performance specification.

For industrial plant, noise mitigation is best achieved at source without changes to operational performance. Where this is not possible, industrial  noise can be successfully mitigated with engineered enclosure, attenuator and noise barrier solutions performance matched to the frequency spectrum of the plant. Whilst broadband noise reduction is desirable, the specific character of noise has a direct influence. Tonal noise from industrial sources causes particular nuisance and at low frequencies can have direct physiological impacts. Intermittent or impulsive changes in noise generate a negative response. Reducing sudden changes in noise is therefore also beneficial to the soundscape.

Transport noise can again be attenuated close to the source, using low noise road surfaces, rail track dampening and low noise tyre technology. Whilst these give worthwhile noise reduction they are in practice partial options and additional engineered solutions are required in particular by incorporating noise barrier technology, landscaping/bunding or a combination of the two.

Housing and Commercial developments require noise impact assessments for both internal and external noise to meet planning noise criteria. Internal sound conditions need to be conducive with living and resting during the daytime and sleeping in bedrooms during the night. Externally residents need to enjoy their garden/amenity spaces during the daytime without disturbance. External levels at night should also be reduced to a minimum to prevent residents from keeping their bedroom windows closed all night, reducing ventilation and causing overheating.

Environmental noise does have measurable psychological and physiological impacts such as annoyance and sleep disturbance, and health impacts, including heart disease (acute myocardial infarction, or AMI) stress and dementia. These in turn have a monetary impact on the National Health Service serving the country. We therefore welcome collaboration with the social sciences, research institutions and health bodies to increase our understanding of the impact of environmental noise and improving the means of its control. Below is an outline of some of the issues which this working Group discusses.

Noise Propagation & Mitigation

  • Environmental Noise Instrumentation
  • Monitoring Methodologies and Techniques (Internal and External)
  • Transportation Noise Propagation and Mitigation
  • Industrial Noise Propagation and Control
  • Weather Effects, in particular wind direction, windspeed, rainfall, temperature and humidity.
  • Modelling Simulation Technology (Internal and External)
  • Environmental Noise Calculation Methodologies

Noise topics discussed by EIA

  • Building and Room Acoustics
  • Advances in Tranquility
  • Supporting national and local noise management plans and strategies
  • Promoting technologies and policy to mitigate noise emissions
  • Reviewing, challenging and shaping government policy
  • Development of Noise Assessment Standards
  • Development of Noise Mitigating Product Specification Standards

Chair - Giles Parker, Managing Director, Sound Barrier Solutions Ltd

Giles Parker has 35 years’ experience in the field of environmental noise covering, noise mitigation, product specification, noise modelling, impact assessments and instrumentation. He is founder and director of Sound Barrier Solutions, an independent noise consultancy specialising in the noise barrier and noise mitigation technologies for the transport, industrial,  development and power generation sectors.

Over the past 20 years Giles has chaired both the BSI Committee for road traffic noise barriers led the UK delegation to the CEN TC226 Committee for road traffic noise reducing devices. In this role he is co-authoring the harmonised and specification test standards for road noise barriers for the European Market.

In the UK built noise barrier designs include for M50 Bromesberrow Heath, M50 Linton, M1 Junction 25, A52 Brian Clough Way, RWRR - Rugby Relief Road, the KLR – Kirkintilloch Link Road and the M27 Port Solent.

In Ireland - for the N7 Naas Road, M11 Gorey to Arklow, M8 Cashel to Michelstown, M6 Kilbeggan to Athlone, M9 KiIkullen to Carlow, the M7 Limerick to Nenagh and the M18 Gort to Crusheen.

He has undertaken extensive asset management studies of all existing noise barriers in National Highways Area 9 for Kier Highways, Amey and Skanska providing designs schemes for the replacement of more than 20 existing barriers on the M6-M5-M4 corridor around Birmingham.

He has worked extensively on rail noise barrier specification for Docklands Light Rail, Luas Light Rail Ireland, the Telford Rail-freight Terminal and provided expert advice for CTRL, for the Reading Cardiff Road and Upper Triangle Rail Depots and the Scarborough Train Servicing Facility.

In the past three years he has undertaken many varied industrial noise impact assessments including for Polypipe, Systra, Hozelock, Taylormade Timber, Saputo, Permali, Saint Gobain, Smurfit Kappa, Palletland , Ardagh Glass and Mueller Group. For many he has also formulated Noise Management and Future Action Plans.

On the international stage he has been involved in the noise barrier market across Europe and have advised the Australasian Market on design standards, the NZTA – New Zealand Transport Authority on noise barrier specification and provided expert advice to Amey Australia in Caringbah, Sydney as their international noise barrier expert.

 

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