Need a Residential Noise Survey?
Use RenKap
Simply upload your site on the RenKap platform to:
- Reduce your management time by 90%
- Instantly receive a minimum of 3 quotes from our vetted suppliers
- Receive one digital dashboard with survey recommendations
- Quality reports every time guaranteed
Need a Residential Noise Survey?
Use RenKap
Simply upload your site on the RenKap platform to:
- Access the best vetted surveyors
- Instantly receive a minimum of 3 quotes from our suppliers
- Receive one digital dashboard with survey recommendations
- Quality reports every time guaranteed
The only site investigation checklist you need
Download our site investigation checklist, which covers the 13 site investigation surveys you need to complete on every site. This includes a rundown of why you need each of them and at what stage throughout the project lifecycle.
What is a residential noise survey?
A residential noise survey is an assessment of the sound levels in a residential area. It is typically conducted to measure the levels of external noise that may be impacting the occupants of a home, such as traffic noise, aircraft noise, and industrial noise. The survey is typically carried out by a specialist acoustic consultant, who will use microphones to measure the levels of noise at various locations around the property.
Why do you need a residential noise survey?
A residential noise survey is typically required for a number of different reasons. For example, it may be required as part of a planning application for a new development in order to assess the potential impact of the development on the surrounding area. It may also be required as part of a dispute resolution process, such as when residents are experiencing high levels of noise from a nearby industrial site or airport.
The noise survey will allow the design team to specify the best materials for the build so that future residents are not detrimentally affected by any nearby noise pollution.
When is a residential survey required?
We would recommend that a residential noise survey is carried out whenever a site is in close proximity to noise pollutants such as a main road, airport, school, railway or other noise pollutant.
If a noise pollutant is present then the survey should be carried out at the early stages of the project, specifically before any building materials are specified such as the windows and walls. We would recommend that these surveys are carried out at RIBA Stage 2 or RIBA Stage 3.
How long does a residential noise survey take?
The time it takes will depend on the size of the site however typically at RenKap our surveyors can complete the Residential Noise Surveys within 4 weeks.
What is the risk of not completing a residential noise survey?
It is important to note that not all surveys will require a residential noise survey. However, if it is required and it is not completed, it can lead to a number of different risks. For example, if a development is built without assessing the potential impact on the surrounding area, it can lead to complaints from residents about high levels of noise. This can result in costly disputes, which can be time-consuming and stressful for all parties involved. Additionally, if a property is found to be excessively noisy, it can be difficult to sell or rent, which can impact the value of the property.
How is a residential noise survey completed?
The process of completing a residential noise survey typically involves reviewing the layout of a site and the development proposals. The client and the surveyor will then agree the number of microphones required on the specific site. The surveyor will then install the microphones on the site to record the noise levels over several days. If there is somewhere safe to install the microphones, the surveyor will install the microphones and then come back at the end of the period however if there is no safe place then the surveyor will allocate a guardian to stay on site and look after the expensive equipment.
What are the key pieces of information that suppliers need from a client to complete a residential noise survey?
The key pieces of information would include:
- Site location
- Redline boundary (the perimeter of the site boundary)
- Site access instructions
- A scope of survey (i.e. a brief of exactly what they need to include)
- Development Proposals
- Unencumbered access to the site
What are the key items that would affect the cost of a residential noise survey?
The key factors that would affect the cost of the survey would include the size of the site, location of the site, scope of works required i.e. the number of microphones required and if a guardian is required to stay on the site.
How to identify competent residential noise suppliers?
As a minimum they should:
- Abide by the construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
- Abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- BS8233: Noise Survey & Assessment.
- Have an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance (Ideally more than £1m)
- Have an internal quality assurance procedure
- Have suitably trained and quality staff
The RenKap platform has already pre-vetted the best UK suppliers so you don’t have to.
The only site investigation checklist you need
Download our site investigation checklist, which covers the 13 site investigation surveys you need to complete on every site. This includes a rundown of why you need each of them and at what stage throughout the project lifecycle.