Division Applicability

United Kingdom

The applicability is restricted to cases where noise nuisance can be expected or has been substantiated.

	Technique	Description	Applicability
(a)	Appropriate location of equipment and buildings	Increasing the distance between the emitter and the receiver and using buildings as noise screens.	For existing plants, the relocation of equipment may be restricted by a lack of space or excessive costs.
(b)	Operational measures	This includes: (i) improved inspection and maintenance of equipment; (ii) closing of doors and windows of enclosed areas, if possible; (iii) equipment operation by experienced staff; (iv) avoidance of noisy activities at night, if possible; (v) provisions for noise control during maintenance activities.	Generally applicable.
(c)	Low-noise equipment	This includes low-noise compressors, pumps and flares.	Applicable only when the equipment is new or replaced.
(d)	Noise-control equipment	This includes: (i) noise-reducers; (ii) equipment insulation; (iii) enclosure of noisy equipment; (iv) soundproofing of buildings.	Applicability may be restricted due to space requirements (for existing plants), health, and safety issues.
(e)	Noise abatement	Inserting obstacles between emitters and receivers (e.g. protection walls, embankments and buildings).	Applicable only to existing plants; since the design of new plants should make this technique unnecessary. For existing plants, the insertion of obstacles may be restricted by a lack of space.