Background
Anderson Acoustics was commissioned by VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd in 2020 to undertake a BREEAM assessment for the new Prologis industrial warehouse building at the International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) site, Apex Park, Daventry. The building comprises a main warehouse area with open plan offices at ground and first floor levels.
The open plan offices were subject to achieving compliance with BREEAM Hea 05 ‘Indoor ambient noise levels’ for industrial ‘shell and core’ buildings.
The building was to have fixed plant items serving the office spaces. Given that there were sensitive receptors located within 800m of the building, an assessment in-line with Pol 05 was required to ensure the amenity of these residential premises is protected from plant noise emissions associated with the scheme.
What We Did
We gave acoustic advice to support the project through the design and construction phases in order to obtain an ‘Very Good’ rating for BREEAM 2018. For a development of this type the maximum credits available are 1 credit for Acoustic Performance (Hea 05) and 1 credit for Reduction of noise pollution (Pol 05).
- BREEAM Acoustic Assessment
In accordance with BREEAM 2018, a set of bespoke performance requirements were established in relation to indoor ambient noise levels for the open plan offices associated to the development (first credit). A noise impact assessment from fixed plant noise installations has also been undertaken, to protect the amenity of nearest noise sensitive premises (second credit).
Based on the proposed design specifications provided by VolkerFitzpatrick Limited and environmental noise surveys undertaken, we carried out calculations to predict the performance of the proposed building.
The results of the assessment indicated the proposed design should achieve two credits under BREEAM 2018 (1 for HEA 05 and 1 for POL 05).
To fully achieve the BREEAM credits, we advised that a programme of testing would be required at pre-completion stage.
- Commissioning Testing
We undertook commissioning testing in the main and hub offices and at noise sensitive receptors near the site to determine whether the design targets had been achieved upon completion. Commissioning testing included a programme of internal and external ambient noise level measurements.
Result
Results from the testing indicated that all internal ambient noise level targets were achieved. Plant noise emissions did not change neither ambient nor background sound levels at the nearest noise sensitive receptors (which are all office buildings) when switched on. Plant noise was inaudible at noise sensitive receivers. On the basis of the test results, we therefore recommended that both Pol 05 and Hea 05 were awarded.
Project Progress
The design and build was completed in 2022. More details on the project can be found here on VolkerFitzpatrick’s website.
