Noise Action Week

[edit] The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution

Noise Action Week takes place from the 11 - 15 May. It is a campaign to raise awareness and reduce noise pollution across the UK. Noise Action Week is run by the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) and supported by leading acoustics and environmental health organisations.

[edit] Mythbusting

The Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC), part of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) brings together members from across the environmental sciences to share their experiences and call for ambitious and deliverable policy, as well as providing members with the knowledge, insights and tools to help them deliver on the ground. IES is a charitable organisation; a global professional membership body for environmental scientists who, as part of Noise Action Week have published a Mythbusting Sheet, When is noise a nuisance?

• Myth 1: Noise has to exceed a certain volume to be a nuisance - There are no fixed decibel limits in UK law for noise nuisance. Environmental Health Officers assess whether the noise would seriously disturb an average person in their home, considering how loud it is, how long and how often it happens and the time of day.
• Myth 2: Sound level meter apps are a reliable way to measure noise- Environmental Health Officers assess whether the noise would seriously disturb an average person in their home, considering how loud it is, how long and how often it happens and the time of day.
• Myth 3: Noise has to affect more than one person to be a problem - Even if only one person is affected, noise can still be classed as a statutory nuisance.
• Myth 4: You can be as loud as you want during the day - Daytime noise can still be a problem. While some everyday sounds are normal, loud or ongoing, noise between 7am and 11pm can still be considered unreasonable and classed as a nuisance.
• Myth 5: Construction work can only happen during the day - Construction work can take place at any time, unless the local authority has set specific restrictions on working hours.
• Myth 6: If you move next to a noisy business, you have to put up with the noise - A business must still take reasonable steps to manage its noise, even if residents move in after it starts operating. If the noise is unreasonable and not properly managed, it can still be classed as a nuisance.
• Myth 7: A business with a licence or planning permission cannot be a nuisance - Licences or planning permission do not protect a business from noise nuisance laws. If the noise is unreasonable, it can still be challenged.
• Myth 8: If it is a one-off party, or I let my neighbours know, it’s okay to be loud - Even a single party can be a problem. Being polite and notifying neighbours helps, but the noise must still stay within reasonable limits. If it causes significant disturbance (e.g., continues well past midnight with very loud music) then it may be classed as an antisocial behaviour offence or a statutory nuisance.
• Myth 9: The police are responsible for dealing with noisy neighbours - Your local council should be your first contact for reporting noise nuisance. You should keep a record of incidents to help them with their investigation.
• Myth 10: There is no point in reporting noise nuisance - nothing will be done - Authorities cannot take action unless a nuisance is reported. Keeping a log of incidents helps support investigations. If a nuisance is confirmed, the household or business can be required to reduce the noise, and ignoring this can lead to fines or the seizure of noise-making equipment.

[edit] Articles and topic guides relating to noise

On Designing Buildings we have a number of articles relating to noise that you can browse here

The Building Services Research and Information Association BSRIA also has two freely available Topic Guides relating to noise; Noise in the Built Environment (TG 20/2021) and Acoustic Cameras (TG 23/2023).

For further information about Noise Action Week see Noise Action Week resources

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Airborne noise
• Ambient sound.
• Approved Document E.
• Ash deafening.
• Audio frequency.
• BREEAM Reduction of noise pollution.
• Building acoustics.
• Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
• Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
• Data noise.
• Decibel.
• Flanking noise
• Flanking sound.
• Impact noise
• New noise guidance.
• Noise at Work Assessment.
• Noise barrier.
• Noise - doors and windows.
• Noise level.
• Noise nuisance.
• Noise pollution
• Noise v sound
• Reverberation time.
• Sound absorption.
• Sound absorption coefficient.
• Sound frequency.
• Sound insulation.
• Sound masking.
• Sound v noise.
• Soundscape.
• Speech privacy.
• Structure-borne sound.
• Volume.