Rank: New forum user 
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Can anyone help ? I am currently investigating an alleged noise nuisance, the noise is being generated from three 20yr lifts in a building adjacent to residential aprtments. The complaintent is a resident of the apartment my client the noisy building owner!
I have attended site and measured an ambient noise of 40dB - (Noisy London Street) when the lifts operate, this increases to 54dB. Can anyone tell me what the thresholds are? And doe's this constitute a nuisance.
Thanks
Confused.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Not a specialist on noise or lifts but I would offer advice that 'nuisance' noise does not normally have a threshold, it is contextual eg one man's noise is another mans pleasure. If possible you need to speak with the person who made the complaint and establish the crux of the issue. For example, 40-60 dBA may not be an issue at 09:00 on a Monday morning, but not so at 03:00.
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Rank: Forum user
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It would be an Environmental Health Officer who would deal with any noise nuisance complaint, so you could contact the local EHO and ask their advice on noise in residential areas.
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Rank: New forum user
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As mentioned above a noise nuisance complaint from local stakeholder{s} is an environmental issue, your company environmental manager {if you have one} should be dealing with this..... Have you or anyone spoken to the person complaining as of yet? The last thing you need is that person speaking to all his/her neighbours making the issue worse with more complaints.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I am not sure whether it is still valid but PPG 24 had stacks of stuff on noise from a planning viewpoint. It might give you some base of what is acceptable for residential noise levels??
p48
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks for the comments regarding this. I have met with the complainant and there are some issues that I cannot discuss i this forum as the EHO are involved.
I can comment that the noise is evident anytime during the day when the lifts operate, obviously later in the evening as the ambient noise level drops it becomes more of an annoyance.This is why I was curious as to the dB level that determines a nuisance.
Thanks again.
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Rank: Forum user
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I believe that the EHO will require 2 weeks noise time sheets from the complainant before they will act. Once this is recieved they will take there own readings. I believe that 35bd and above Constitutes a noise nuisance if the circumstances are right? Sounds like (forgive the pun) you may have a problem.
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Rank: Forum user 
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For a nuisance to exist there must be an interference with the use or enjoyment of land or a health risk, such as sleep interference. WHO (Adopted in BS 8233:1999 table 5) give a standard of 35 as a reasonable level in a bedroom. A noise level of 10 dB is twice as loud and would give rise to a nuisance, in the absence of a specific noise feature (i.e. discrete tone or random impact) and would give rise to a nuisance.
Regards
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Rank: Forum user
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why not just get the lift fixed?
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Rank: Guest
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Chris, i used to work in the lift industry, as the lifts are 20 years old, you might find that sound proofing the motor room might make a difference.
The lifts themselves in reality shouldnt make to much noise, it sounds more like the motor's starting and stopping? unless of course you havent lubricated the guides!!
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Rank: New forum user
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sean, Thanks for your response.
The lifts are actually in quite good shape for their age and use.I have quite a few years experience in this industry and can confrim that they are well serviced and lubricated along with all relevant adjustments being correct.
The noise is standard running noise emanating through the cast concrete of the building - noise can travel in a similar manner to water !
I am currently designing a new lift scheme for the building but as this takes time along with extensive procurement time,( And very costly) I was trying to find an interim answer.
I am currently looking into having acoustic panels installed in the apartment.
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