What Is A BS8233 Noise Assessment?
By akadmin
Published On April 2, 2019
Understanding your planning requirements when planning a residential project or development can be confusing. With various permissions and assessments available, knowing which you need and what they all mean is often a struggle.
A BS8233 noise assessment is a common assessment that you might come across while planning your development. It relates to noise levels on development projects and is often required for obtaining planning permission. If you are undergoing a residential development in Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, London or the United Kingdom then, read on for our expert guide on a BS8233 noise assessment.
A BS8233 noise assessment refers to ‘guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings’. It is used to handle the noise levels from outside the building, noise from a plant and services within it, the impact on occupiers and even how sound varies in individual room acoustics. The assessment will suggest appropriate criteria and limits for various different situations within a development project.
Why Is A BS8233 Noise Assessment Required?
Any development such as residential houses and flats or commercial projects such as schools and offices, that is located near a transport noise source is likely to require a noise impact assessment; which most likely requires the assessment to consider the guidance contained in the British Standard 8233:2014. Developments near a road or railway often need this assessment as part of the planning permission in order to check that appropriate external and internal noise levels can be achieved.
This is necessary in order to protect any future occupants of the site from excessive noise, as well as to protect other people nearby to the development.
A BS8233 is usually requested from a local authority in Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, London or across the UK. The noise impact assessment should support the planning or preferably even be provided at the pre-application stage of planning application. The information provided in the noise impact assessment which considers BS8233, gives the authorities the necessary information to assess the level of noise on the development and surround areas. This can then be used to ensure that appropriate noise reduction measures are put in place if required. Thus increasing the chance of planning consent being awarded for a new housing development or scheme of flats, nursing or care home accommodation.
The key reason for a BS8233 noise assessment is to make sure that a development is compliant with the Noise Policy Statement for England and the National Planning and Policy Framework.
What Does A BS8233 Noise Assessment Involve?
When you choose HA Acoustics for a BS8233 noise assessment we will arrange for our trained and qualified acoustic consultants to complete the report on your behalf. A noise survey will be carried out at the development site, and the sound environment will be calculated. The survey helps us to determine any potential noise impact, and we will take into account all aspects of BS8233.
After the survey, we will be able to recommend some solutions to make sure your development meets all the local regulations. This will all be used to create your BS8233 noise assessment report which can then be used for planning permission applications.