Railway Noise Survey

If you are proposing to build a new development of residential dwellings near a railway or tube line then you will most probably be required by the Local Authority to carry out a noise survey to establish potential noise impacts on the new development.

The purpose of this noise survey is to calculate the extent of the noise problem in the area and to determine what changes if any will be necessary so that the residents of the dwelling are not affected by the train noise.

Sound Solution Consultants can carry out this Noise survey for you, to ensure that your survey full fills the Local Authorities requirements, we would once engaged on the project, contact the L.A and establish the criteria and duration of the survey.

We would then contact the Network Rail and other applicable parties to establish the frequency and type of train traffic ie Freight or passenger, using the rail.

To carry out the necessary calculations, we would obviously need a full set of drawings along with construction details, we would then calculate the expected Sound Insulation value of the proposed dwelling(s) and assess whether additional measures are required.

The survey itself would need to be at least 24 hrs in duration although it may actually last longer to get enough data. The measurement equipment would normally need to be left in a secure location for the survey, however if there are no secure buildings on the site then we would probably need to arrange personnel to supervise the kit and to avoid theft or tampering. The survey must be carried out during mild weather conditions, excessive wind or precipitation will affect the results of the survey, therefore we try and avoid these conditions when arranging the survey.

Noise from railways is transmitted from numerous sources. Local noise from railway activities should be treated the same as noise from industrial and commercial sources.  Planning authorities will request from developers both the present levels of noise and also to consult with the rail operator to determine any significant operational alterations.  Possible vibration and re-radiated noise from tunnels need consideration. See BS 6472. 1992 for further advice.

Once the survey has been completed, a full report will be submitted to you to pass onto the local authority. If any mitigation measures are required then we would normally consult with you prior to completing the report so that you can review the options open to you.

If you are interested in completing a PPG24 Noise Survey then contact Sound Solution Consultants on 08455 212096 for a quote. For more information on the different types on surveys carried out by Sound Solution Consultants, please visit our Noise Testing page.