Moonshine

The background noise is very relevant, but so is context. BS4142 assessments look at the initial noise impact on building facade locations and private amenity spaces. Once the impact is determined at these locations the initial impact is modified looking at the context. The context looks at many things but one is looking at internal noise levels inside noise sensitive rooms of other people's houses, assuming windows are ajar, which gives 10-15 dB noise reduction. Also co text can take into account the absolute noise levels, and if the noise from the ashp is low relative to the existing ambient level (LAeq) I don't know what the layout of your site is to the neighbours but you need to consider the impact on gardens as well as windows when ajar.

Try companies like these, have your unit spec to hand and they will be able to give you an idea of the costs, dimensions of the unit and acoustic reduction possible http://eec.co.uk/ https://www.environ.co.uk/ https://caice.co.uk/ https://www.soundplanning.co.uk/acoustic-enclosures/ https://acousticenclosuresltd.co.uk/ A 10-15 dB reduction is perfectly feasible, but be sat down when you get the costs!!! it being in a roof is an interesting one and would the roof take the extra weight. Also you could just put an acoustic screen up which would be a lot cheaper than an enclosure. That is if your not looking for a massive reduction.

It looks like a standard condition but can be applied to ashp (none mcs) and air condenser units in a residential setting serving a house. Again its down to the LPA what they want, though a decent consultant should be able to be a voice of reason. The issue here is that its a planning condition and set in stone unless you get a variation, or the lpa don't need something submitted The mcs calcs are simple and it's good for their intended use, but they assume a fair bit, especially that the background noise level at the receptor is 40 dB, when in reality it can be lower than this, some times much lower.

Tbh they don't get the chance, well the developers I work for dont. I have never had the end client wanting to force technical details like these, as this is my expertise they are paying me for. I choose when and where to survey, as everything I stick in a report has to defendable. The condition your LPA has set is interesting as it doesn't look it has to be discharged, is it stated as a pre commencement condition? The 10 dB below figure is used by mainly London authorities, and is based on the guidance of bs4142:1997. There were big changes that came about with the 2014 version of 4142. One of these is now there is emphasis on context of impact, and your point about night time impacts with people indoors is valid but can usually be addressed on the context of the impact (bs8233:2014) Unfortunately the way the condition is worded the 10 dB below figure is stated as an absolute value. A recent assessment I did was for two ASHPs and condenser units in a residential development had to go in an enclosure, as it was a London LPA that wanted 10 dB below the minimum background. Other authorities are more flexible, and will allow up to +5 dB depending on context. For my own ASHP, I chatted with the EHO and it was agreed to do the noise assessment on my planning app to the mcs method even though it wasn't going in as permitted development. Also note assessing to BS4142 you may have to apply corrections for tonality or itermitancy. BS 4142 is more stringent than the mcs method.

There is specific guidance than data should not be collected during prolonged wet conditions as wet roads elevate background noise levels. Also data should be used with caution if wind speeds are over 5 m/s. Background noise data needs to analysed to determine what are the typical background levels during the operational period of the unit. The thing with ASHP's is they operate during the night when background noise levels are lower. 10 dB below background is stringent and depends on the LPA.

Simple solution I have seen used https://amzn.eu/d/4efKE89

No, I have been banded from building work for December by my good lady. I had to leave it to the professionals, progress has been made, coincidence I think as I left them the easy stuff to do :🤣

I have installed a bunch of larch cadding, and in a few areas there is what appears to be mold spots. We haven't treated the larch and want it to go the silver colour Is this normal weathering?

Nah, they wanted to stop before people started to talk to so strangely they couldn't understand them

This is the board / skim finish after a couple of days, pretty tidy to my eye.

Yep jewson, one of the best prices I could find

Thise was my plasterboard order from a few weeks ago, not sure if it's decent or not

does your contract have any figures attached to it? @R2021 if it is storage is there anywhere on a site to put it?

oh yes, i am hoping its a worry over nothing. The place has been plaster boarded and skimmed at its actually like a house inside, feels close but still a long way to go

Jury is out, wet spots have disappeared, and it's still holding 1 bar. I am still suspicious and want to pressure test at a higher level and see what happens over Christmas

sounds a bit similar to mine, its effectively a 2-storey with a partial basement, which has a garage and entrance hall. Is your groundworks contractor doing waterproofing? you will want to make sure who ever is doing the warranty is happy with what the waterproof provision

I got told 17%, I have just boarded my place but with a fair bit left to do. Going to order and pay now and delay delivery.

This is how it is working with my sparkie, he just tells me what he needs as an when, though saying that i swear his is eating the 2.5mm T&E for how much he is getting through!

This was what the explanation was, that there was a credit note that wasn't seen by the supplier, nor was it seen by the tradie (i don't think they even had the receipts). I now have copies of all the receipts so will see what they invoice me. I don't fully understand the implications of the 'credit note' and why be suspicious of it.

if you have trades working in daily's + material costs (maybe with a uplift), give a sanity check to the cost of materials they are providing. I would expect any trades working under this arrangement to be transparent with the materials they provide and should be happy to provide receipts. I have just had a trade invoice me with hourly break down and lump sum for materials. The material cost looked very high for what they provided and i queried it. The tradie gave me the contact details of the manager of the builders merchants he used, if i wanted to see the receipts (i don't know why they didn't have them in the first place). After a faff of phoning around i got one set of receipts, and i had to physically go into the other supplier this morning. The manager went away and 5 mins later came back looking very sheepish. They had told my tradie a material cost that was wrong to the tune of over a grand, which my tradie had verbatim put on his invoice to me. I still don't know why my tradie didn't have the receipts himself to check before passing the material costs on, embarrassing for the BM, and pretty embarrassing for the tradie. Also note that any materials they buy and pass the VAT onto you, you won't be able to claim it back.

Do you know the house construction and builder? Is it a type of fruit?

cheers, this stuff? https://www.toolstation.com/everbuild-503-premium-sbr-bond-bonding-agent/p18528

yeah i have had worst stretch's with this build, its just one more f'ing annoying thing to sort out. Hopefully not that much longer, we have just started boarding inside now first fix is done (last friday), skimming it next week.

This is what the area looked like mid August just before screed went down

It's a stepped house and this is another area of the house which has a deeper floor void under the block and beam and more air under it. Don't worry about the tone, would love if this was just fuss about nothing and time will tell