Noise and vibration management: environmental permits
How UK environment agencies assess noise, legal requirements for managing noise, noise impact assessments and noise management plans. This replaces H3 guidance.
Documents
Details
Environmental permits have conditions that require operators to control pollution – this includes controlling noise and vibration.
The Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Northern Ireland Environment Agency have produced this guidance to help holders and potential holders of permits apply for, vary, and comply with their permits.
This guidance covers:
- how the environment agencies will assess noise from certain industrial processes
- what the law says you must do to manage noise and vibration
- advice on how to manage noise – in particular, how to carry out a noise impact assessment and what operators should include in a noise management plan
You must follow the this guidance if you are:
- applying for a new environmental permit or applying to vary an existing permit
- sending sound monitoring and assessments to UK environment agencies – you must also follow the requirements of BS 4142 and the Method implementation document (MID) for BS 4142
The Environment Agency also has guidance on noise and vibration risk assessment: using the noise advisory tool for operators in England.
Updates to this page
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Added a link to the Environment Agency's guidance on [noise and vibration risk assessment: using the noise advisory tool](/government/admin/publications/1790649) for operators in England in the 'Details' section of the publication page and in the introduction of the guidance.
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Updated to clarify that a vibration impact assessment is only required if there is a risk that vibration will be an issue, so this is not required for every single permit.
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First published.