BS5228: 2009: ‘Code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites’ provides
information on the control noise and vibration arising from construction activities. Its content is briefly
summarised below..
Part 1 of BS5228: 2009 deals with construction noise and provides guidance on:

 

• Community relations;
• Noise and persons on site;
• Neighbourhood nuisance;
• Project supervision;
• Control of noise;
• Noise control targets; and
• Control of noise from piling sites.

 

The annexes to Part 1 that are relevant to this project are:

• Annex A – Legislative background;
• Annex B – Noise sources, remedies and their effectiveness;
• Annex C – Current sound level data on site equipment and site activities;
• Annex D – Historic sound level data on site equipment and site activities;
• Annex E – Significance of noise effects;
• Annex F – Estimating noise from sites;
• Annex G – Noise monitoring;
• Annex H – Types of Piling.

Section 8.5 ‘Noise control from piling sites’ provides guidance on appropriate methods of noise control
including:

• The selection of the piling method;
• The duration of the works; and
• Hours of operation.

Part 2 of BS5228: 2009 deals with construction vibration and provides guidance on:

• Community relations;
• Vibration and persons on site;
• Neighbourhood nuisance;

• Project supervision;
• Control of vibration; and
• Measurement.

If piling is required in the construction of the development, the annexes to Part 2 that will be relevant to
this project are:

• Annex A – Legislative background;
• Annex B – Significance of vibration effects;
• Annex C – Measured vibration levels for piling (current data);
• Annex D – Measured vibration levels for piling(historic data);
• Annex E – Prediction of vibration levels;
• Annex F – Description of vibration;
• Annex G – Air overpressure; and
• Annex H – Examples of record sheets.

Section 8.5 ‘Practical measures to reduce vibrations from piling sites’ provides guidance on appropriate
methods of vibration control including:

• The use of alternative piling methods;
• The removal of obstructions (old basement floors etc);
• The provision of cut-off trenches (although it is acknowledged that “there are serious limitations to the efficacy of trenches”);
• The reduction of the energy input per blow; and
• The reduction of the resistance to penetration.

Computing equipment can also be affected by vibration.

Specific obligations for construction noise and vibration control typically form part of ‘Considerate Constructors’ schemes that can be referenced and included within any agreement process. It is common for contractors involved in major construction work to apply for prior consent for construction works under the procedure set out in Section 61 (S61) of CoPA 1974. The S61 application may contain method statements, plant information, predicted noise and vibration levels, noise and vibration monitoring regimes and other information may be employed to enable the local authority to give consent to the construction works. The advantage for the contractor is that once consent is awarded the Council cannot take action against the contractor (for example using a Section 60 notice) provided that the construction works comply with the information detailed in the S61 application.

Vibration from the construction of the development will generally have no potential to affect any off-site receptors unless piling is required. If is required the potential may exist for nearby sensitive receptors to be affected.