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BS 4142 Noise Impact — Waste4Generation, Corby

Under current operations, the BS 4142 rating level at the nearest sensitive receptor (NSR) was 2 dB below the background level, indicating no adverse impact. No mitigation is required unless truck concurrency increases.

Executive Summary

Waste4Generation Ltd (W4G) operates a recycling facility processing food-based effluent at 12b Earlstree Road, Corby. Main sound sources are articulated trucks (diesel engines and trailer vacuum pumps) with intermittent forklift and pressure-washing activity.

The nearest residential receptor (NSR) is approximately 330–350 m from the site, with several large industrial units intervening. The BS 4142 rating level at the NSR was 42 dB versus a background level of 44 dB LA90 (−2 dB below background), indicating a low likelihood of adverse impact.

For current single-truck operation, no mitigation is required. If more than one truck operates simultaneously, a follow-on assessment using predictive modelling is recommended.

Waste4Generation site yard and loading bay at Earlstrees Industrial Estate, Corby
W4G loading area; truck engine plus trailer vacuum pump were the dominant sources during loading/unloading.

Key Facts

  • Discipline: Noise & Acoustics — BS 4142:2014

  • Location: 12b Earlstree Road, Earlstrees Industrial Estate, Corby NN17 4AZ

  • NSR distance: ~330–350 m; multiple industrial buildings in between

  • Background (NSR): LA90,15min = 44.2 dB

  • Specific at NSR (calc.): LAeq,5min = 39 dB

  • Acoustic feature: +3 dB (steady/tonal elements)

  • Rating level: 42 dB (39 + 3)

  • Exceedance vs background: −2 dB (below background)

  • Boundary background: LA90 = 50.3 dB

  • Boundary truck+vacuum: LAeq ≈ 66 dB @ ~15–17 m

  • Hours of operation: 08:00–17:00, Monday–Friday

  • Instrumentation: Rion N-52 (field-checked; certification on file)

The Challenge

  • Demonstrate, under BS 4142, that routine site operations would not adversely affect residential amenity at the NSR.

  • Account for intermittent on-site activity and the presence of multiple industrial buildings between source and receptor.

Our Approach — Investigate → Test & Measure → Analyse → Design → Support

Investigate

  • Scoped sources: articulated truck engines and trailer vacuum pumps; forklift truck; pressure washer.

  • Mapped receptor geometry: boundary position, adjacent façades, NSR at ~330–350 m with industrial screening.

Test & Measure

  • Boundary measurements at a position with clear line-of-sight to active sources; rain periods excluded.

  • Close-in source levels (~2 m) for truck engine and vacuum pump.

  • Background captured at boundary and at the NSR (store 10 ms; evaluated in 1-min Leq intervals).

Analyse

  • Calculated specific sound at the NSR from boundary and close-in data with conservative no-barrier propagation.

  • Applied BS 4142 acoustic feature correction (+3 dB) for steady/tonal characteristics.

  • Compared rating level to NSR background LA90 to determine impact likelihood.

Design (Advice)

  • No mitigation required for the current single-truck loading/unloading configuration.

  • If multiple trucks operate concurrently, undertake predictive modelling with building screening before changes.

Findings

  • Source characterisation: Truck engine and trailer vacuum pump steady operation confirmed; forklift and pressure washer intermittent.

  • Boundary (clear view): LAeq ≈ 66 dB for truck+vacuum at ~15–17 m; background LA90 = 50.3 dB.

  • NSR (~330–350 m): Background LA90,15min = 44.2 dB; specific (calc.) LAeq,5min = 39 dB; rating = 42 dB (−2 dB vs background).

  • Interpretation (BS 4142): Rating below background → low likelihood of adverse impact. Intervening buildings likely reduce levels further than conservative calculations.

Outcome

  • Compliance: No adverse impact indicated at the NSR per BS 4142.

  • Operations: Current single-truck processes acceptable without additional controls.

Mitigation (Not Required at Present)

  • Maintain single-truck concurrency; or, if concurrency increases, apply predictive modelling (with building screening) to optimise layout/scheduling.

Uncertainty & Risk Notes

  • Measurement uncertainty: Low. Rain events excluded; close-in and boundary methods minimise confounders.

  • Propagation: NSR level derived using conservative no-barrier assumptions; actual screening likely reduces levels further.

  • Future change: Two or more trucks simultaneously could raise levels by ~3 dB; reassess before implementing.

Related Services

Authored and/or Reviewed by the Director, Paul Schmitz MBA CEng MIMechE MIoA — Chartered Mechanical & Acoustic Engineer

Survey: • Report: • Published: • Last updated:

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