Commercial and Retail Development

Commercial and retail premises can give rise to activities that generate significant noise impacts including servicing and deliveries that can occur during out-of-hours periods and at times of the day when ambient noise levels are low. Mechanical plant often operates continuously over the 24 hour period and any potential noise impacts need to be appropriately mitigated. The practice has successfully advised a wide range of clients from national supermarket brands through to market traders and local retail outlets and some of the services offered include:

•  Noise and vibration from servicing and delivery activity (existing facilities and new build schemes);
•  Noise from customer traffic;
•  Noise and vibration from HVAC equipment;
•  Noise and vibration from refrigeration plant;
•  Noise and vibration from demolition, construction and tenant fit out contracts.

Education

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The Department for Education/Education Funding Agency document Building bulletin 93 sets out minimum performance standards for the acoustics of school buildings, and describes the normal means of demonstrating compliance with the Building Regulations. It also provides guidance in support of the School Premises Regulations (2012) and the Independent School Standards (2013).

As part of meeting the requirements of BB93, the practice typically offers the following services:

•  Assessment of noise intrusion from the outside (indoor ambient noise);
•  Prediction and measurement of airborne and impact sound insulation between rooms;
•  Prediction and measurement of reverberation in teaching and study spaces and sports halls;
•  Noise produced by mechanical equipment;
•  Acoustics for open plan teaching and learning spaces.

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