Commercial Noise
Noisy extractor flues, noisy machinery, fan noise, vehicle
movements, vehicle alarms and radios can be very annoying.
What You Should Do
- Identify where the noise is coming from.
- Speak to other residents or businesses who may be
affected.
- Try speaking to the manager and explain the problem. They are
often unaware of the problem and can try to resolve it
quickly.
If you are unable to speak with the manager you will need to
contact us. We will need:
- Your name, address and contact telephone number.
- A description of the problem ie, what it smells or sounds like,
when it happens and how long it goes on for.
- Information on which location it is from and how it affects
you.
You can report noise
online or by calling 01233 330470.
Code of Practice
The government has earmarked Ashford as an area for massive
development. During the works many residents will be affected by
noise, vibration and maybe dust or mud from sites under
construction.
While nearby residents will have to accept some disturbance
during demolition or construction this does not give construction
companies or builders carte blanche to do as they please.
If you are having problems with a site and you do not believe
they are following the code of practice contact us on 01233
330470.
View the Code of
Practice webpage for more information.
Advice for Businesses
If your business is close to residential property it is best to
arrange all loading and deliveries at times that will not cause a
disturbance. Not all sites have time restrictions imposed on them
by planning. Older sites in particular often don’t have time
restrictions applied to their permission.
It is advisable wherever possible to have no deliveries after
11pm or before 7am where they are close by residential properties.
If this cannot be avoided and there are no planning conditions on
the site, delivery drivers should be advised to take all reasonable
precautions while undertaking deliveries; turn the engine off on
arrival, avoid slamming doors, avoid dropping things, don't
play a radio in the cab as they draw up, don't shout or
whistle.
Larger companies and distribution centres should consider
acoustic fencing to help reduce noise impact on neighbouring
properties, along with the combination of the measures below:
Best practice advice on quiet deliveries
From the Freight Transport Association (
FTA). Opt for:
- Gas powered vehicles
- Automatic transmission
- Air/rubber suspension
- Rear steer/lifting axles
- Air brake silencers
- Automatic engine cut out to reduce idling time and noise
- Reversing alarm cut-out with automatic reset
- Automatic radio cut-out when cab door opens
- Low noise surfacing for load compartment floor
- Load restraint system to eliminate noise
- Lining of body panels to reduce drumming
- Manual closers for doors (self closers encourage drivers to
slam)
- Low noise stops on drop-down steps
- Low noise wheels on roll cages
- Electronically operated shutters (eliminates slamming)
- Low noise surfacing on tail lift decking
- Low noise stops
- Sleeving on safety gate chains
- Encapsulated motors
- Angled mounting of tail lift rails so they are vertical when
trailer is coupled (ensures tail lift deck is horizontal for
quieter grounding)
- Regular maintenance particularly for exhausts
- Careful selection and mounting of ancillary equipment like
pumps and generators to reduce noise
Best practice at the delivery point
- Forklift trucks
- Gas or electric trucks
- Scissor lifts
- Electric shutters
- Effective enclosure and sealing of loading bay and docking
areas to minimise noise transmission
- Cutting noise from doors, music, paging systems,
conversations
Best Practice for chiller equipment
- Use LPG or natural gas engine powered systems
- Power sockets at loading and parking areas to run refrigeration
units
This webpage was updated on
12/22/2011