NOISE MONITORING | SOUTH AFRICA
Skyside are creating a brighter tomorrow by scientifically monitoring noise throughout South Africa through various forms of environmental noise testing and monitoring.
Driven by the demand for housing, the expansion of towns and cities has increasingly resulted in the development of land near existing noise sources. While any unwanted noise may cause irritation, noises above 85 dB and prolonged exposures to high levels can induce hearing loss. Therefore, more industries, especially those close to settlements are now required to monitor their environmental noise impact.
Noise is defined as unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities. The Environmental Noise Guidelines, SANS Code of Practice 10103, provides guidance on protecting human health from harmful exposure to environmental noise. It sets health-based recommendations on average environmental noise exposure of five relevant sources of environmental noise whose sound propagates for several kilometres.
Common sources of noise polution are:
- road traffic noise
- industry and construction noise
- railway and aircraft noise
- wind turbine noise
- leisure noise
The Environmental Noise Guidelines values are public health-oriented recommendations, founded on scientific evidence of the health effects and on an assessment of achievable noise levels.
Visit our Ambient Air Testing, Stack Emissions Testing, Odour Monitoring, Noise Monitoring and Compressed Air Testing pages:
Environmental Noise Survey
At SKYSIDE, we make noise measurements in accordance with SANS Code of Practice – 2008 'The measurement and rating of environmental noise with respect to annoyance and to speech communication'.
We understand that changes in weather conditions have a significant effect on monitored noise levels. That is why we recommend monitoring to be conducted for extended periods to map most of the noise variations. Furthermore, a single point noise measurement is seldom representative for a whole area, so we monitor at various locations.
We carry out our surveys on site during two reference time-periods, i.e., daytime (06h00-22h00) and night-time (22h00 – 06h00). We then compare both results to recommended guidance limits advised in the SANS Code of Practice 10103.
Once the risks are quantified and evidence exists that noise exposure may be at or exceed the noise rating limit of 85dB(A), we can help you design a monitoring programme and take area measurements so that noise zones can be demarcated.
