
The Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) provides a set of standards and best practices for sustainable design, construction, and operation of new or refurbished development. Within the current BREEAM technical manuals the credits relating to noise are Hea 05 and Pol 05.
Hea 05 considers the acoustic performance of the design to inside the development. This includes external noise intrusion through the façade and noise from mechanical services systems to achieve acceptable ambient sound levels, the reverberation time (or “echo”) in rooms, and sound insulation through separating walls or floors between noise-sensitive spaces.
Pol 05 requires an assessment of noise from external building services systems or mechanical equipment to nearby noise-sensitive properties. In most cases the criteria of Pol 05 are less onerous than that required by the Local Authority for planning purposes.
At ACA Acoustics we have significant experience of assisting clients to achieve Hea 05 and Pol 05 credits of BREEAM and will undertake the necessary noise surveys, acoustic design, and post-construction testing to demonstrate compliance with the BREEAM acoustic criteria.