Noise Action Week

23-27 May 2005

Noise Action Week

• Promoting practical solutions to everyday noise problems

Falkirk Council

Environmental Health UnitDevelopment ServicesAbbotsford HouseDavid’s LoanFalkirkFK2 7YZ01324 - 504982www.falkirk.gov.uk

NSCA

• www.noiseactionweek.org.uk

• noiseactionweek@nsca.org.uk

Noise Facts and Figures!

• Nearly a third of people in Britain are annoyed by neighbour noise, and for 14% it has an impact on quality of life. Roughly half of noise makers claim to be unaware they are making a noise that is causing disturbance.– MORI 2003

Noise Facts and Figures!

• Amplified music remains the main source of noise complaint in England, Scotland and Wales with Barking Dogs a close second..– NSCA 06/04

Noise Facts and Figures!

• Lack of communication with neighbours is thought to be a major reason for increased noise complaints by local authorities.– NSCA 06/04

Noise Facts and Figures!

• “Better education on noise expectation and tolerance are crucial in tackling complaints”– NSCA National Noise Survey 2004

Noise Facts and Figures!

• The word noise derives from the Latin word ‘nausea’ meaning sickness.

What is Noise?

• Unwanted sound

• Noise will affect different people in different ways. To one person a loud band may provide a pleasant night’s entertainment. To another the same band may represent a stressful, irritating and even harmful noise.

Total number of noise complaints

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002 2003 2004 2005

years

num

ber

of c

ompl

aint

s

Noise complaintsreceived toEnvironmental HealthUnit

DAT requests fromHousing and HousingAssociations

Falkirk Council - Facts & Figures!

Noise Complaints-Ambient 2004

01020304050607080

Types of complaints

Nu

mb

er

of

co

mp

lain

ts

Falkirk Council - Facts & Figures!

Noise Complaints-Neighbour 2004

020406080

100120140

Bar

king

dogs

Vib

ratio

n

Chi

ldre

n

Ban

ging

Doo

rs

Voi

ces

Bed

room

Ant

ics

DA

TR

eque

sts

Type of complaints

Nu

mb

er o

f co

mp

lain

ts

Falkirk Council - Facts & Figures!

Noise Complaints (Ambient)

  2002 2003 2004 2005 1/1-4/5/05

Construction/Demolition 51 54 68 8

Pubs/Clubs 43 35 50 11

Industrial 23 52 31 12

Commercial 41 36 37 6

Transportation 8 19 26 9

Outdoor Events 11 8 5 2

Vehicle Alarms 1 0 5 1

Car Stereos 0 1 0 0

Ice cream Vans 11 3 3 0

Agricultural 0 3 1 0

Vibration 6 8 11 3

Unallocated 1 0 3 6

Total number of noise complaints

196 219 240 58

Falkirk Council - Facts & Figures!

Noise Complaints (Neighbour)

  2002 2003 2004 2005 1/1-4/5/05

Barking dogs 108 133 132 50

Audible Intruder Alarms 18 12 19 4

Vibration 3 7 2 2

DIY 6 17 7 4

Children 2 4 5 5

Television 6 8 7 0

Banging Doors 3 6 14 4

Amplified Music 58 55 70 17

Voices 13 15 15 6

Vehicle Repairs 3 5 5 0

Bedroom Antics 0 1 0 0

Boilers 1 2 3 0

DAT Requests 82 102 92 34

Unallocated 0 1 5 3

Total 303 368 376 129

Falkirk Council - Facts & Figures!

Noise Action Week - Aims

• Promotes practical solutions to everyday noise problems

• Promotes communication and consideration between neighbours

• Enables local authority etc to inform the public of services available & to highlights local noise issues

Noise Action Week - Aims

• Aims to educate and inform both noise makers and noise sufferers about the impact that noise can have on our everyday lives

• Encourage everyone to take a quiet moment to think about the noises they make and the noises that affect them- and what they can do to reduce the impact.

Annoying Noises

• Neighbour noise• Loud music • Anti social behaviour• Alarms• DIY• Dog barking• Hard flooring• Fireworks

Neighbour Noise

• Site noisy household equipment (eg washing machines) away from partitions walls

• When buying new household appliances, ask how noisy it is, opt for quiet appliances

• Keep the volume down on TV/Music especially late at night (use headphones-but be careful not to deafen yourself)

• Sssh-don’t shout• Avoid slamming doors• Avoid thundering up and down stairs

Loud Music

• Keep the volume down

• Place speakers away from partitions walls, floors and ceilings

• Play at a time that will cause least disturbance to your neighbour

• If your having a party, tell your neighbours in advance, keep noise to a minimum

• Invite your neighbour

Anti-social behaviour

• This is behaviour that disturbs others.

• Noise is generally only one element of anti-social behaviour.

• If you are leaving a house/pub etc Say your good byes quietly

• Avoid shouting/slamming doors/revving car engines/peeping horns especially at night

Anti-social behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

• New anti-social behaviour laws are in place covering a wide range of issues including additional powers to deal with noise nuisance (the noise nuisance provisions are not currently enforceable within Falkirk Council)

• Full guidance will shortly be released detailing the implementation of this new legislation within Falkirk Council area.

Alarms

• Car/Intruder Alarms accidentally going off can be very annoying

• Make sure alarm is regularly maintained and fitted with a cut off device

DIY Noise

• Can be very noisy

• Consider your neighbours when you are carrying out works

• Let them know when you plan to carry out any noisy work, especially on party walls/floors

• Agree a time for work-when is likely to disturb them

DIY

• Avoid drilling/banging late at night & early morning or when its likely to disturb your neighbour

• If you warn your neighbour in advance they are less likely to complain

Gardening

• Use power tools with discretion, avoid strimming/shredding when your neighbours are relaxing in the sun shine

• Splashing fountains/wind chimes can be annoying at night

What can you do when affected by neighbour

noise?• If you are being disturbed by your neighbours,

first approach them politely- they may not realise they are causing a problem

• Let them know when noisy work would disturb you least

• If you suffer persistent noise, & personnel approach has not worked/or not possible contact Environmental Health/or Mediation

• Contact police

Dog Barking

• A barking dog is lonely, bored or unhappy

• Constant barking/whining of a dog can be disturbing or annoying for neighbours

• The problem often occurs when the dog’s owner is out of the house and so the owner doesn’t know until someone complains.

Dog Barking prevention for dog owners

• Dog training• Do not leave dog alone for long periods• Leave a radio on at low volume• Feed & exercise him before you go out & leave

him some fresh water• Comfortable bed, toys• Check room temperature not too hot/cold,

adequate ventilation• New anti-bark collar

Dealing with dog barking

• First approach the dog owner, as they may not realise there is a problem. If this fails, or you are unhappy about approaching the owner then,

• Contact Environmental Health Unit for advise

• Contact District Council to make an application for an Order to prevent the annoyance continuing

Hard flooring

• The trend towards laminated flooring has been the cause of an increasing number of noise complaints from impact noise caused by everyday activities eg footsteps/dropping objects/scraping furniture/jumping children

• Carefully consider the potential impact to your neighbours especially in flats/terraced houses

• Some leases prohibit hard floorings

Hard flooring

• Make sure it will not increase noise impact

• Ensure any sound proofing is effective

• Use rugs

• Remove shoes

Fireworks

• Can frighten pets/people and can harm hearing. Give neighbours a few days warning of your display

• Avoid noisy varieties

• Consider time of display-normally finish by 11pm

• Use open garden areas as noise bounces off buildings

How Loud is Noise?

• 150dB balloon pop/gunshot/artillery fire

• 140dB plane take off/fireworks

• 130dB pneumatic drill/percussion section of orchestra/stock car racing.

Noise this loud hurts

• 120dB Fire Engine/night club

• 110dB Football crowd/personal stereo/baby crying

How loud is Noise?

• 100dB Exercise class/video arcade

• 90dB Shouting/Food processor- at this level hearing protection must be worn in the work place

• 85dB Handsaw/heavy traffic – this loud can damage hearing

• 80dB Ringing phone/ vacuum cleaner

How Loud is Noise?

• 70dB Washing machine/alarm clock/TV

• 60dB Normal conversion/sewing machine

• 50dB Rainfall/busy office

• 40dB Refrigerator/library

• 30dB Bedroom at night

• 20dB Broadcasting studio

• 10dB Breathing/leaves rustling

Who knows more about noise?

• The Scottish Executive

Air Quality

Environmental Group

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

• Health & Safety Executive

http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm

• British Tinnitus Association

http://www.tinnitus.org.uk

• Royal Environmental Health Institute Scotland

http://www.rehis.org.uk

• Mediation UK

www.mediationuk.org.uk

Who knows more about noise?