We are all bothered by noise in our homes anything from loud. music and DIY disturbing our relaxation to being woken by barking

Transcription

1 SOUND CHECK...Simple Steps to Sound Solutions We are all bothered by noise in our homes anything from loud music and DIY disturbing our relaxation to being woken by barking dogs and alarms. These, and other noises can be annoying, and disruptive but we all make these noises ourselves from time to time. Here are two simple steps to a quieter life at home! Sound Check By carrying out a Sound Check you can perform a noise audit of your own home to identify present and potential sources of noise. Sound Solutions Once you have identified sources of noise, use the Sound Solutions. These offer simple practical ways that you can minimise existing noise and prevent future noise problems. Noise reduction: are you doing your bit?

2 S O U N D First identify the sources of noise within your home. Do they ever annoy you, anyone within your household or your neighbours? If there are any noises we haven t included, add them to your audit. Music/Entertainment Hifi/Stereo Radio Computer Hand Held Games Consoles Musical Instruments TV/Video/DVD Domestic Appliances Washing Machine Hoover Food Processor Dishwasher Fridge/Freezer Your Home Stripped Floors Laminated Floors Party Walls Doors N o w y o u v e i d e n t i f i e d t h e p r o b l e

3 C H E C K Home Maintenance / DIY Power Tools Hammering Car Repairs Your Garden Lawnmower Garden Power Tools Pets Dog Cat Alarms House Alarm Car Alarm Smoke Alarm m s u s e t h e S o u n d S o l u t i o n s...

4 Sound Solutions Here are simple remedies that can minimise the impact of noise: Music / Entertainment Noise from these sources is the most frequently complained about with music and entertainment noise, one person s pleasure can be torture for someone else! To avoid annoyance or worse, follow these simple rules: Keep the volume down whether it s TV, car stereo or conversation especially at night/early morning. Place speakers away from partition walls, floors or ceilings. Standing these on an insulating material can reduce transmission of sound. If you are having a party, consider inviting the neighbours. Keep windows and doors closed, and if someone complains, turn it down. With personal entertainment for example toys, computer games be considerate keep the volume down. Avoid using them in the same room where someone is watching TV or listening to the radio. Turning the volume up may disturb your neighbours. If you play your own music, keep the volume down, windows shut, and agree times to practice when you will cause least disturbance. Domestic Appliances We use more and more appliances to help us with the housework and they can be very noisy. Where you put them and when you use them can make all the difference. Make sure washing machines, fridges and dishwashers are away from party walls and on a carpet or mat to reduce vibration especially if you live in a flat. Use noisy appliances at sensible times - during normal waking hours. Hoovering in the early hours could wake up half the street! Consider those at home if hoovering/using a food processor shutting doors will avoid the necessity to turn up the TV or music. If buying a new appliance consider the low noise option. Some products hoovers, lawn mowers, washing machines etc have a noise rating if they haven t ask why. Pets If pets are well cared for and happy, they shouldn t make too much noise. Dogs bark if lonely, bored or unhappy. If you have to leave them, get a neighbour to look after them or visit. Cats make noise too howling and fighting at night. If your cat is annoying the neighbours, keep it inside. All domestic animals (fish excepted?) have the potential to cause noise. Ensure they are kept healthy and happy. Put cages/kennels etc where they are least likely to disturb your neighbours and you!

5 Maintenance / DIY We all need to do noisy work from time to time to maintain and improve our homes. Do noisy jobs and operate noisy equipment when it will cause least disturbance to your neighbours avoid working when they are trying to sleep or enjoy a quiet night in. If you are doing something really noisy eg floor sanding, drilling in party walls let them know beforehand and they are far less likely to complain. Where possible carry out noisy outdoor jobs in the garage or shed. If you carry out car or other repairs outside, do this in the place and time where it will cause least disturbance. If you are employing builders, agree working times with them that will not annoy the neighbours or you! Your Home The construction and layout of your home can cause problems within your home and to your neighbours. Avoid slamming doors and thundering up and down stairs especially if you live in a flat or terraced house. When considering options for flooring, be considerate. Many leases prohibit stripped floors/hard surfaces for good reason! If you have stripped/laminate flooring, take off heavy shoes/boots. Socks or slippers will reduce noise. If installing laminated flooring, make sure you use sound insulating underlay. Sounds travel through walls, so be aware of what s next door. If you can, avoid having noisy spaces (kitchen, living room) adjacent to quiet spaces (bedroom, study). Your Garden Power tools in the garden should be used with discretion avoid strimming or shredding when your neighbours are trying to relax in the sunshine. Think before installing features in your garden that make a noise the splashing fountain or tinkling chimes might soothe you on a sunny afternoon, but it could drive your neighbours mad at night. When entertaining in the garden remember that sound travels. Avoid amplified music outdoors. Alarms Alarms can be the most disturbing of all noises it s what they are for! If you have a house or car alarm, leave a key with a neighbour or friend in case it is accidentally set off. Register keyholders with the local authority to ensure problems can be dealt with if you are out or away (in London burglar alarms must be registered by law). Make sure smoke alarms are correctly sited, so they don t go off every time you burn toast. In the kitchen it is better to fit a heat detector.

6 How Loud is Noise? To put the everyday noises we hear in perspective here are the decibel levels of some common noises. These are not absolute levels, but give an indication of the relative ranking of everyday sounds. Noise is measured in decibels (dba), which is logarithmic this means that an increase of 10 on the decibel scale corresponds to the intensity of the sound increasing by a factor of 10. Decibels (dba) Noise 150 Gunshot / artillery fire 140 Plane take off / fireworks 130 Pneumatic drill 120 Thunder / loud stereo / nightclub / chainsaw / hammer on nail / emergency siren / rock concert 110 Football crowd / personal stereo / action film / car horn / symphony concert 100 Exercise class / video arcade / electric drill the At this level hearing protection must be worn in the workplace At this level hearing protection must be available in workplace Prolonged exposure above 85dBA can damage hearing 80 Ringing phone / hoover / hairdryer / doorbell 70 Washing machine / dishwasher / television 60 Normal conversation / sewing machine 50 Rainfall / busy office 40 Refrigerator / quiet living room / library 30 Bedroom at night 20 Broadcasting studio 10 Breathing 0 Threshold of hearing

7 Need more help? There will be occasions when help is needed to resolve a noise problem. Here is a list of organisations who can help: Your local council environmental health department details will be in your phone book. Responsible for investigating noise complaints and are trained to solve noise problems Mediation UK Alexander House Telephone Avenue Bristol BS1 4BS Tel: enquiry@mediationuk.org.uk Can tell you if you have a local mediation service who can help in resolving disputes about noise NSCA 44 Grand Parade Brighton BN2 9QA Tel: info@nsca.org.uk Publish information leaflets on Neighbour Noise and Noise Pollution which summarise noise control legislation Noise Abatement Society 44 Grand Parade Brighton BN2 9QA Noise Helpline Mon Fri: / nas@noiseabatementsociety.fsnet.co.uk Membership organisation providing advice and support for noise sufferers Government Department dealing with noise: Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Noise and Nuisance Policy Ashdown House 123 Victoria Street London SWIE 6DE Tel: noise@defra.gov.uk Publish Bothered by Noise leaflet Department of Environment Northern Ireland Air and Environmental Quality Unit Environment and Heritage Service Calvert House 23 Castle Place Belfast BT1 1FY Tel: National Assembly for Wales Air and Environmental Quality Environmental Protection Division Cathays Park Cardiff CF1 3NQ Tel: environment@wales.gsi.gov.uk The Scottish Executive Air Quality Team Environment Group Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Tel: Michael.graham@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Building Research Establishment Tel: Publish an information on sheet on Sound Insulation in Homes

8 Sound Check is published to support Noise Action Day Noise Action Day is supported by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. NSCA 44 Grand Parade Brighton BN2 9QA NSCA 2002