Ports and near shore noise assessments
The TNEI Technical Team is experienced in undertaking environmental in-air noise assessments for marine based activities, having worked on a variety of projects, including port extensions, dredging, revetment construction, land reclamation, offshore asset decommissioning and interconnector and offshore wind farm export cable shore landings.
We have worked on projects across the UK and overseas using a variety of standards and criteria, including:
• World Bank IFC Environmental Performance Standards
• Equator principals, ESIA and EIA
• British Standards and ISO Standards
• World Health Organization Guidelines
• National and Local Government Legislation and requirements
Recent projects of note include:
Umm Qasr Port, Iraq - Yard 5 Port Expansion ESIALocated on the Al-Faw peninsula about 50km south of Basra, Umm Qasr is Iraq’s largest sea port and only deep-water port. TNEI was commissioned to author the noise chapter of the Yard 5 Port expansion ESIA, which involved coordination and training of external staff for baseline sound level monitoring and the noise propagation modelling of both the construction and operation of a new container terminal and roll-on roll-off facility.
A complex, operational noise model was produced, incorporating a number of Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), Ship to Shore (STS) cranes and Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes, as well as on site power generation, HGV’s, container handlers and over 600 reefer containers.
Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm – Export Cable LandingCombining a mixture of noise propagation modelling and on-site noise level monitoring, TNEI provided VBMS (Boskalis) with appropriate reports to gain consent from Marine Scotland for 24 hour dredging and winching operations. The works were necessary to land two export cables from the wind farm and connect them up to the jointing bay located on the far side of the beach close to residential properties. The work was time critical as the cable laying vessel was already in position offshore, and tidal and weather constraints meant that the vessel’s available operational window was very short. Thanks to our large stock of equipment and a flexible team, TNEI managed to mobilise very quickly and turn the work around within three days from the point of commissioning to delivery of the report.
Port of Cromarty Firth - PPC ApplicationTNEI provided a Noise Impact Assessment to support the PPC Permit (Part A) application for oil and gas offshore asset decommissioning works. A number of activities were modelled: Load In, Soft Strip, Break Up, Separation, Site Clean and Load Out. In addition, several scenarios were considered so that the decommissioning activities could occur in various locations within the port and with several activities occurring concurrently.
The final report also included an analysis of baseline noise levels around the port, ranking of sound level sources and a Best Available Techniques (BAT) assessment.
For more information on our specialist services, please get in touch by emailing info@tneigroup.com or calling 0161 233 4800.
TNEI smart monitoring - noise
A smart WindComply noise module, produced by our partner, expert technology provider, Visualwind, brings a new, smarter capability to our standard environmental noise monitoring systems. The WindComply module is used exclusively by TNEI and communicates with the wind farm supervision platform, WindSync to provide daily noise and rain data feeds.
The WindComply noise module includes the following key features:
- Streamlined data collection to a secure cloud platform
- Daily access to data and equipment status
- Extremely low power consumption
- Autonomous operation which can be left unattended for months
- Automatic detection if the equipment knocked over
- Rain logging
- Small footprint to allow installation in residential property gardens
- Class I sound level meters providing high resolution data, including audio files and 100ms 1/3 octave data for the assessment of noise levels, tonality and amplitude modulation
- Wind farm noise specific wind shields for measurement in all weather conditions
- Exclusive use of the equipment by TNEI, to deliver projects in a smarter way across the UK and further afield.
Wind farm noise is the primary focus of the offering, as compliance monitoring assessments can sometimes be lengthy and expensive due to the requirement to collect data during a range of wind conditions for long periods and with regular site visits. During these compliance noise monitoring campaigns, wind farm operators often have to shut down production for hours, or even days, which can represent an expensive loss in production hours for the wind farm, making it imperative to confirm that the monitoring equipment is working before turbines are switched off. The smart platform enables synchronisation of noise, rain, wind and SCADA data.
Whatever your noise monitoring requirements, the TNEI team is well placed to provide expert support. Please email us or call 0191 211 1400 to find out how we can assist with your project.
For more information about our smart noise monitoring services, download our brochure.
Commercial and residential noise assessment
Acoustics and noise are becoming increasingly important in the design and specification of new commercial, residential and mixed use developments. This has been driven in part by changes in planning legislation, but is also a major consideration in the implementation of sustainable development, particularly through schemes such as
BREEAM.
TNEI’s technical team has considerable experience across a range of sectors and have worked on projects ranging from master planning of mixed use developments, through to acoustic design of specialist spaces.
Typical acoustics and noise consultancy services include:
- Site suitability assessments and master planning
- Assessments of proposed developments on existing residential receptors
- Assessments of existing noise sources on proposed noise sensitive developments (housing, care homes, hospitals, etc.)
- Façade and glazing configurations
- Sound insulation specification
- Speech intelligibility and privacy assessments
- Calculation of internal noise levels from mechanical ventilation systems
- Calculation of reverberation times and acoustic design of specialist spaces
- Impact assessment of road and rail traffic (noise and vibration)
- Construction noise assessments, noise monitoring and control.
All of our technical team members are affiliated with the Institute of Acoustics, coming from both public and private sector backgrounds and regularly acting as Expert Witnesses.
We have been involved in various projects for planning consultancies, architects and developers. Master planning projects of note include Inverness Campus, the Heart of Walker Development and the European Marine Science Park near Oban. Our residential work ranges from a few units through to large scale projects, such as Newcastle Great Park, a development of almost 4,000 homes.
For more information on how we can assist you with your commercial, residential or mixed use projects please get in touch.
Expert Witness services
TNEI undertakes specialist noise assessments and provides advice on a wide range of projects – from initial desktop studies and baseline surveys, through to detailed assessments, planning submissions, compliance monitoring and support for Appeals and Public Inquiries.
Our expert team has prepared evidence for 33 Public Inquiries for wind farms and a quarry extension proposal. To date, at each inquiry TNEI has been involved in, all noise issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of the appointed inspector/reporter.
We provide robust technical services to ensure that the assessments are defensible throughout the planning process and at Public Inquiry if and when required. In addition to supporting our own assessments, TNEI has also been involved in a number of projects where we have been brought in at the Public Inquiry stage to review and update a noise assessment that has been undertaken by a third party consultant.
For more information on our Expert Witness services, please
get in touch.
Industrial noise assessment
TNEI’s technical team members have a broad range of industrial noise experience across a diverse range of sectors, including waste management, manufacturing, food and drink, animal rendering, quarrying and sawmills. Our experts have undertaken environmental and occupational noise work across the UK and Republic of Ireland for a variety of different assessment requirements.
Typical services that we offer include:
- Environmental / PPC permitting and planning applications
- Noise propagation modelling
- Baseline noise level monitoring
- Compliance monitoring
- Noise control and noise management
- Silencer, enclosure and barrier specification
- Investigation of noise complaints
- Occupational noise assessment
- Authoring of Noise Management Plans (NMPs).
Noise from industrial operations may need to be considered during the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of a development. We can provide assessments for all stages of a project, considering the impacts on employees (in accordance with The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005) and on the nearest third party noise receptors; which are typically dwellings.
We have strong relationships with numerous local authorities and regulatory bodies, which have come about through regular consultation and the provision of training. We are familiar with a wide range of British and international standards, legislation and guidelines, including BS5228 ‘Code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites’ (2009), BS4142(2014) ‘Method for rating and assessing industrial and commercial sound’ (2014) and EA & SEPA IPPC Horizontal Guidance Notes for Noise.
Our team can also provide advice on how to minimise noise in very loud working environments (like factory floors) by reducing noise emissions at source, or by controlling the propagation of noise within a building. Where required, we can offer a complete acoustics package by considering the noise exposure of people (in accordance with the Noise at Work Regulations) and the impacts on nearby noise sensitive receptors.
For more information on how we can assist your industrial project, contact us.
Wind farm noise assessment
We have extensive knowledge of wind farm noise assessment, having assessed projects ranging in size from a single turbine to large scale Section 36 developments (50MW+) in England, Scotland and Wales. We provide input at all stages of the process, from initial desktop studies and baseline surveys, through to detailed assessments, planning submissions, compliance monitoring and support for appeals and Public Inquiries.
Our wind farm noise consultants work for a range of clients, including major onshore wind developers, utility companies, private landowners and Local Planning Authorities. As well as undertaking noise assessments for proposed developments, we also undertake reviews of third party assessments for developers and local authorities.
Wind farm projects are often subject to high levels of scrutiny by Local Planning Authorities and third parties. Due to the high profile of proposed developments, it is increasingly common for projects to end up at a Public Inquiry. We can provide robust technical services to ensure that the assessments are defensible throughout the planning process and at Public Inquiry if and when required. To find out more about TNEI’s Expert Witness services please
click here.
We provide the following services in relation to wind farm noise:
- Initial feasibility assessments to identify how noise may constrain a site
- Consultation with local planning authorities’ environmental health departments
- Assistance with scoping reports
- Background noise monitoring undertaken in accordance with ETSU-R-97 The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms
- Assessment of various layout options (TNEI also run wind farm design days)
- Cumulative wind farm noise assessments
- Production of detailed noise assessments and environmental statement / report chapters
- Production of noise related planning conditions
- Assessment of potential wind turbine options and low noise mode requirements
- Reviews of third party noise assessments
- Wind farm noise Expert Witness services
- Compliance monitoring assessments to determine whether wind farms are operating in accordance with noise related planning conditions
- Noise complaint investigation
- Wind farm noise training days for developers and local authorities.
Contact us if you have any wind farm noise requirements and we will be happy to assist you.
