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.
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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.
Last updated 31 January 2022 + show all updates
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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.