When there are formal guidelines and protocols from the government or other authoritative sources, acoustic investigations must follow the relevant British Standard laws and other guidelines.
The list below contains the main noise standards and guidance which may be applicable. If the publishing body updates documents for a noise impact assessment, the current document and best practice will be the authoritative document.
Bracknell Forest Council
GOV.UK links
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Guidance - Noise
- The Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document E - resistance to the passage of sound (2015 or later version)
- The Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document F - Ventilation (2021 or later version)
- The Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document O - Overheating (2021 or later)
DEFRA
BSI knowledge
- BS8233:2014 - Guidance on Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings
- BS 4142:2014+A1:2019 - Method for Rating and Assessing Industrial and Commercial Sound
- BS 5228:2009 +A1:2014 - Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites - Part 1: Noise
- BS 5228:2009 +A1:2014 - Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites - Part 2: Vibration
- BS 6472-1:2008 - Guide to the Evaluation of Human Exposure to Vibration in Buildings
- BS 7445:2003 - Description and measurement of environmental noise - Guide to quantities and procedures
- BS 7445:2003 - Description and measurement of environmental noise - Guide to the acquisition of data pertinent to land use
- BS 7445:2003 - Description and measurement of environmental noise - Guide to application of noise limits
- BS 6841:1987 - Guide to measurement and evaluation of human exposure to whole-body mechanical vibration and repeated shock
International Organization for Standardization
- ISO 4866:2010 - Mechanical vibration and shock (vibration of fixed structures) - Guidelines for the measurement of vibrations and evaluation of their effects on structures
- ISO 9613-1:1993 - Attenuation of sound propagation outdoors - Part 1: Calculation of the absorption of sound by the atmosphere
- ISO 9613-2:2024- Acoustics - Attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors - Part 2: Engineering method for the prediction of sound pressure levels outdoors
World Health Organisation
- World Health Organisation - Guidelines for Community Noise, 1999
- World Health Organisation - Night Noise Guidelines for Europe, 2009
- World Health Organisation - Environmental Noise Guidelines, 2018
Institute of Acoustics
- Acoustics, Ventilation and Overheating (AVO) Guide 2020
- Joint Statement on ProPG and AVO Guide
- Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Guidelines for Environmental Noise Impact Assessment 2014
- IOA - Good Practice Guide to the Application of ETSU-R-97 for the Assessment and Rating of Wind Turbine Noise
- ProPG: Planning and Noise - Professional Practice and Guidance on Planning and Noise
- IEC 61672-1:2002 Electroacoustics - Sound Level Meters - Part 1: Specifications
BRE
Chartered Institute of Building Engineers
MCS
- Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Planning Standards
- Heat Pumps Professional Advice Note 2022