Callum Brewer and Jamie Easton attended the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) launch event earlier this week of the new Approved Document O Guide and BS 8233 Review.
A few reflections on the day:-
Susie Diamond, Inkling, explained how building physics modelling is used to predict overheating risks, which they found particularly useful given that our work as acoustics consultants can impact the outcome of such assessments. It was also useful to learn about the new changes which are to be introduced to the new TM59, and how this may impact the noise risk assessment procedure in AD-O.
James Healey, Peninsular Acoustics, helpfully talked us through using the AD-O Simplified Method of determining the overheating and noise risks for an example site, where we worked through a noise risk example which was very useful.
Benjamin F.. the UK Health Security Agency, talked us through the new proposals for the revised BS 8233, which were backed with significant developments in noise and health effects evidence, since the standards last revision. More recent research has shown that there is strengthening evidence of links between noise exposure and cardiovascular/metabolic disease incidence and mortality. In addition, there is strengthening evidence on the relationship between noise annoyance and mental health, which we found particularly insightful.
David Hiller, Arup, talked us through the BS 8233 consultation process.
Jack Harvie-Clark, Apex Acoustics, went into detail on the new BS 8233 façade sound insulation assessment proposals, where new noise exposure categories are proposed which make more consideration on the different types of transportation noise, i.e. road traffic, aircraft and rail. He also explained the new proposals to guidance limits for reverberation times and acoustic privacy, which we believe are much needed updates to the current standard. He summarised the different approaches adopted by various European standards and also presented research which supports the fact that reverberant sound control can both affect speech intelligibility and the control of reverberant sound buildup.
It was also nice to catch up with our industry peers at the pub after the conference to discuss the day of learning!
