Assessment, Prediction, Environmental Noise Control - and something more ...
Defining Best Practical Means (BPM) and Best Available Technology (BAT) in noise control and noise management

We provide a complete range of services for environmental noise and vibration coupled with unique engineering expertise in noise and vibration control and mitigation. Our reputation is based not only on providing clients with thorough, accurate and reliable assessments and predictions, but also innovative, low cost noise control methods - we have developed solutions for controlling many common environmental noise and vibration problems at source that define current "best practice". These techniques are in addition to the more "traditional" environmental noise reduction palliatives such as barriers, enclosures, silencers ... giving you more options - and reducing your costs. This allows us to provide a highly integrated service from measurement through to provision of detailed solutions to environmental noise and vibration problems.

Environmental Noise and Vibration Services
Surveys - monitoring - prediction - impact assessments - expert witness - mitigation and environmental noise control

Environmental Noise and Vibration Applications
planning applications - planning appeals - planning conditions - proposed residential developments near roads, railways, industry, airports - proposed new road and railway schemes - industrial premises - airports - new or extended quarries - landfill sites - extended industrial sites and facilities - construction noise and vibration reduction - demolition noise and vibration assessment and control

Best Practicable Means (BPM) Best Available Technology (BAT) Environmental Noise Control Audit
The BPM / BAT Audit provides you with a definitive assessment of the environmental noise control options for any environmental noise problem using the best of current technology - as illustrated by the case studies below.

Environmental Noise Training
Environmental Noise Competency (IOSH) Noise and Vibration measurement, recording and analysis, Best Practicable Means (Best Available Technology); Fan Noise Control; Noise Specification.

Buy Quiet Environmental - IPPC Management
The Buy Quiet template specifications and procedures ensure you meet your IPPC Licence and ISO14001 noise specifications and requirements in the future as cost effectively as possible. The procedure includes template documentation (in digital form - with sound samples) and procedures for inclusion in company policy covering new plant and site changes.

Video Noise Analysis - solve noise problems at low cost by remote control
Many noise problems can become time consuming headaches despite the availability of simple, low cost noise control solutions. The “Catch 22” is that either the cost of getting an expert engineer to look at the problem may be higher than the cost of the solution itself or that the only possible fix might turn out to be uneconomic. We have developed a simple solution; remote engineering diagnosis from video. You supply us with a video plus additional information. We analyse the soundtrack and use our experience and database of solutions to assess the noise control options and likely costs. Environmental noise reduction by remote control...

Ground and Building Vibration Assessment and Control
We provide a full range of environmental ground and building noise and vibration services, ranging from analysis and assessment to the development of detailed environmental vibration control measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE AND VIBRATION CASE STUDIES

Lifting a Fan Abatement Notice
Approaching £50000 had been spent on silencing two large, roof mounted fans in an attempt to satisfy local complainants and the authorities - unfortunately without success. Our initial diagnosis was made remotely from the sound-track of a video shot by the company. This allowed us to design our unique Quiet Fan technology aerodynamic inserts that reduced the noise by over 20dB at source without enclosures, silencers or lagging - permanently and without maintenance. This was achieved with minimal down-time and at a tiny fraction of the cost of conventional alternatives (click icon to listen).

Heathrow Terminal 3 Piling Noise and Vibration Monitoring
Building a new terminal 3 multi-storeycar park above theHeathrow Expressunderground station was a major technical challenge. Piles had to be bored 40m into the ground very close to access and train tunnels - without disturbing structures or personnel. BAA selected INVC to carry out an extensive vibration and noise monitoring programme over several months. The turn-key project involved installing an array of transducers in the tunnels with detailed analysis and continuous remote monitoring of the piling vibration via GSM. The INVC designed system also included a facility to alert key personnel automatically via SMS text message if the vibration exceeded threshold trigger values.

Brown Field Site Development - noise control makes 200 houses possible
Environmental n oise levels (dominated by nearby industrial fans) over 18 acres of mixed brown-field and farmland had been assessed as unsuitable for housing. However, the City Council was aware of our expertise in fan noise control (without silencers) and suggested that the Planning Consultants contact us for a second opinion. The developers paid for the implementation of our Quiet Fan noise control technology on the problem fans in each of the 4 companies which permanently eliminated the environmental noise problem. This allowed 200 properties to be built on a site previously considered too noisy for housing at a cost to the developers of less than £45k.

Tunnel Boring - Low Frequency Environmental Noise and Vibration Control
Local residents were complaining about low frequency noise and vibration from a large tunnel operation which also exceeded the overall planning consent noise levels. The low frequency noise/vibration was generated by the spoil processing vibratory sieves and the proposed remedial measures included a deep ditch and a very large barrier. Detailed diagnosis showed that the main problem was caused by excitation of some of the steel building wall and roof panels. These were de-tuned quickly and cheaply which reduced the 15Hz noise radiation by 8dB - sufficient to prevent further complaints.

Combined Heat and Power Station Planning Application and Environmental Noise Reduction
A new CHP installation on a large industrial site next to a housing estate was subject to very stringent planning constraints with respect to noise. A full impact assessment was made and, in conjunction with both the supplier and the Local Authority, a detailed noise specification drawn-up for all components of the installation. We not only produced the noise specifications, but also detailed engineering noise control measures for the CHP installation. The cost of the overall noise control measures was cut by approaching 90% by reducing the noise from other sources on the site (fans, compressors, pumps, gas mains ..) at the nearest dwelling by 8dB(A) through engineering source control techniques.

Quarry Noise Control
A detailed environmental noise impact assessment established 24 hour target noise levels for a new quarry. This was supported by predictions of the changes in the local noise environment throughout the working life of the quarry and a detailed compliance verification procedure. Detailed noise purchasing specifications were provided for every piece of plant installed in the quarry. These included the measurement procedures and the noise control measures that should be used to ensure that the target noise levels were met as cost effectively as possible.

Department of Environment and Transport Road Scheme
Road traffic noise assessments and traffic / construction impact modeling prediction for many road schemes throughout the UK over a period of 20 years. These have also included determining the properties eligible for noise insulation and providing and presenting detailed evidence at the Public Inquiries.

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Direct Links
noise control audit - digital noise assessment - noise competency training - noise training - product noise control - fan noise control - VWF (Vibration White Finger) - Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment - HAV competency training - HAV database (HAV-Base) - Whole Body Vibration (WBV) measurement - environmental noise control - noise nuisance - environmental noise monitoring - production line testing (noise and vibration) - noise nuisance / annoyance recorders - frequency analyser and noise analyser software

Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre
889 Plymouth Road, Slough Berks SL1 4LP
Tel: 01753 698800 Fax: 01753 567 988
email:consult@invc.co.uk