Noise Investigation Report September 2005

Noise Investigation Report September 05

Mechanical Ventilation System @ Queens Hotel, Queens Promenade, Douglas

For: Planning By: Environmental Protection Unit

Prepared by: Simon Renton MSc, AMIOA Environmental Protection Officer

Environmental Protection Unit Department of Local Government & the Environment Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas

Tel: (01624) 685892

Issue: 1 Issue Date: 20 September 2005

1. Summary

Further to complainant an attenuator was installed to the newly installed ventilation fan ducting at the rear of the Queens Hotel. This reduced noise levels over the human audible frequency range (Broadband) by LAeq 8 dB. Additionally the tonal noise at and third-octaves were attenuated such that there was no longer a clearly discernable tonal noise above the background noise from traffic. At the façade of Erin Brae it was not possible to distinguish between noise from the fan and background noise, although the fan was clearly audible.

Noise Reduction due to installation of Attenuator for Fan @ Queens Hotel

2. Recommendations

The following recommendation is given with consideration of the degree of adverse impact to local residents (or other sensitive premises) against placing unreasonable restrictions on development. The noise condition is such that noise from the fan should be:

i) No louder than existing background noise levels from traffic daytime and; ii) Given attenuation of noise through an open window is approximately 10 dB, prohibit a level of noise above LAeq 30 dB inside adjacent residential premises, which is the level of noise recommended by the World Health Organisation to prevent sleep disturbance.

Recommended Noise Condition

1. The rating level of the noise emitted from the mechanical ventilation system at the Queens Hotel shall not exceed LAeq, 1 hour - 50 dB daytime (0700 - 2300) and LAeq, 5 minute - 40 dB night-time (2300 - 0700). This shall be measured at the boundary or 1m from the façade of any residential premises.

The rating level shall be measured and calculated in accordance with BS 4142:1997.

2. Instrumentation

Sound Level Meter: Bruel & Kjaer Type 2260 Serial No: 2124538 Microphone: Bruel & Kjaer 4189 Serial No: 2117805 Application Module: BZ7201 Calibrator: Type 4231 Serial No: 2147475

The sound level meter conforms to BS7580: Part 1; 1997 Verifying, conformance to, BSEN60651:1994 Type 1, BSEN60804:1994 Type 1 and BS3539:1986.

There was no significant drift in calibration before and after noise measurements taken.

3. Noise Monitoring Results

Queens Hotel – Background Noise

Fan @ 1m - 9 May 05

Fan @ 1m - 15 June 05

Fan @ Erin Brae External Façade – 9 May 05

Fan @ Erin Brae External Façade – 15 June 05