Noise
Monitoring
Prior to submitting a planning application for a minerals site, it is normal for the operator to commission a noise survey of existing noise levels around the site. This would quantify current noise levels at noise-sensitive properties close to the proposed site. The resulting ambient noise should then be agreed before a noise impact assessment is undertaken, possibly with the use of noise modelling software. This information is used by the operator and local authority to identify appropriate noise limits for the site.
In order to check compliance with noise limits for sites, there is usually a requirement for noise monitoring to be carried out around the site. The specification of the equipment used should meet the requirements of BS EN 60804165, BS61672-1 449 and BS4142 450. MPS 2 Annex 2 L0180 (MTAN 1 L0214 for Welsh Aggregates) discusses the requirements for noise monitoring and when the monitoring should be carried out. The document states that the detailed requirements for monitoring, including location, period and frequency, should be decided on a site-specific basis. However, certain aspects of monitoring are laid down as general good practice and are listed in Table 2.
Table 2. General requirements for noise monitoring.
| Should be carried out at in "free field", least 3.5m from a facade. |
If the above is not possible then:
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| Should be carried out during normal production working hours. |
| Should be taken in calm conditions or with some wind blowing from the site. |
| Avoid measuring when raining, wind >5m/s or temperatures <3 Celsius. |
| BS4142 450 suggests keeping a record of weather conditions during monitoring. |
Most planning consents contain a condition limiting noise levels at one or more noise-sensitive properties. However, for practical reasons, it may often be necessary to carry out the noise monitoring at an alternative location. This can be because the operator may not have access to the grounds of the noise-sensitive property for noise monitoring, or there may be other noise sources nearby that make it difficult or impossible to obtain accurate measurements of noise from the minerals workings.
Great care is required when carrying out compliance monitoring to ensure that the measurements relate as far as possible to noise from the minerals workings and not other sources. One reason for not monitoring in the gardens of noise-sensitive properties is the possible influence of noise from pets, household appliances and music systems on the measurements. Care must also be taken to exclude noise from other environmental sources such as aircraft, road traffic and farming operations. All compliance monitoring should ideally be manned measurements, with the surveyor using the pause button to exclude short term noise events not originating from the minerals site, or at least making a note of such events when they occur.
Photograph 10 shows an integrating sound level meter (SLM) in operation on a site boundary. The operator is able to observe and note events which occur, and relate these to the data recorded. The SLM in Photograph 10 is equipped with full environmental protection. It comprises a waterproof case and high capacity, external battery (Photograph 11), together with a microphone unit with tripod, windshield and bird scarer (Photograph 12). This configuration is particularly useful for long term monitoring, typical of background noise surveys.
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Photograph 10. Noise monitoring at the site boundary |
Photograph 11. Sound level meter in rugged case with external battery for extended monitoring |
Photograph 12. Environmental monitoring kit (wind shield and bird scarer)
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