Industrial Acoustics

Existing or proposed industrial development can have a significant impact on surrounding residential areas. From small commercial comfort cooling equipment through to power stations, Paragon Acoustic Consultants Ltd has extensive experience in carrying out noise surveys, developing mitigation schemes and preparing assessments either for submission to Local Authorities in support of planning applications for new equipment/processes  or in response to noise complaints from existing installations.

Pollution (including noise and vibration) from larger industrial installations is regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control regime. This regime implements the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) (2008/1/EC) and regulates certain industrial activities (currently about 4000 industrial installations in the UK and about 45,000 in the EU), ranging from refineries to breweries and from intensive pig farms to cement works. It requires each installation to have a permit containing emission limit values and other conditions based on the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT).

The practice is experienced in the preparation of applications for an IPPC Permit and can provide relevant information for all parts of the application process which include:

•  Pre-application discussions including information relating to:
   (i) the techniques to be employed to control noise
   (ii) the emissions of noise from the installation
   (iii) an assessment of the impact of those emissions on the environmental receptors
•  Consultation with statutory consultees and the public;
•  Determination of Best Available Techniques (BAT);
•  Setting Permit conditions;
•  On-going regulation and ensuring compliance.