Acoustic Testing Services

Noise assessment services

Highly experienced acoustic engineers

Martec-Sound Test is a renowned noise assessment and control company in Lancashire. We are a team of acoustic consultants who carry out superior quality noise/vibration assessments throughout the UK. Our team undertakes testing and design services for both domestic and commercial customers.
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Sound testing

Martec are ANC accredited to undertake a Part E sound test and we work across the  

United Kingdom. We can organise Air leakage Testing and provide BINDT Accredited Certificates. For a competitive sound insulation party wall or party floor test quotation from an Accredited sound insulation tester contact our team now. 

A quick turnaround time for sound insulation testing. Normally completed within 2 working days 

Party Wall and Party Floor Tests are competitively priced. 

We use the latest equipment for an ANC accredited sound insulation test. 

We offer a professional and friendly service 

If the sound test fails, the fee for a test includes advice on remedial treatments based on plans, if practicable. 

Martec is a complaint test body under the Code for Sustainable Homes and carry out Code for Sustainable Homes testing. 
More information on sound insulation tests and testing can be found on Noisenet. 

Professional sound tests operating in the UK 

A test set of Part E pre-completion sound insulation tests is required per ten dwellings, unless registered with Robust Details. A Part E test set can be two party wall sound tests (houses), four party floor sound tests (flats - no party walls), or six sound tests (flats - party wall sound tests and party floor tests). 

To Book a Sound Test Click here. 

Planning & noise 

Have you been looking for a reputable company based in the United Kingdom to assist you with reliable noise assessments and noise measurements? If you like further information

We offer noise measurements and noise assessments for

• ProPG: Planning and Noise - Noise

• BS 4142:2014 Methods for rating and assessing industrial and commercial sound

• BS 8233:2014 Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings

• Building Regulations Approved Document E & BS EN ISO 140:1998

• World Health Organisation sleep disturbance guidelines

• Vibration Assessments: BS 6472: 2008; BS 7385: Part 1 1990; BS 7385: Part 2 1993

• Noise Measurements, Assessment and Reports with recommendations for noise control as appropriate

Expert noise measurements and noise assessments
Local authorities (planning and environmental health departments), architects, builders, civil engineers, housing associations, property companies and private residential owners.

 Do you work in an area that has a high level of environmental noise? To learn about how our team can help you, click here

Environmental Noise

Have you been looking for an affordable and reliable solution to issues with environmental noise? We have years of experience and an affordable team who can help you anywhere in the United Kingdom. To learn more, contact our environmental noise surveys team now.

 We cover environmental noise surveys for planning applications [Planning Practice Guidance - Noise], appeals and public enquiries. Examples are:

 • A Freight Terminal Study (Rail - Road - Shipping)

• A New Road Scheme Environmental Traffic Noise Study

• A Refuse Transfer Station Environmental Noise Assessment

• Assessment of Quarries & Construction Sites

• An Environmental noise study for a Waste Water Treatment Plant

• Environmental Noise Studies for major housing schemes [PPG24]

We offer a specialist environmental noise survey, prediction and assessment service, based on DTI Guidelines for Wind Farms [ETSU-R-97] explained on Noisenet. We own a significant amount of environmental noise monitoring equipment and can therefore handle even a large scale assessment in-house.  

For existing and new sites we can conduct an environmental noise prediction study and make an assessment of the need for barriers and other noise control. All such investigations are carried out in accordance with BS 5228 "Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites", and Planning and Minerals Practice Guide, "Controlling and mitigating the environmental effects of mineral extraction in England".

For help with any Environmental Noise click here.

Leisure Noise

MARTEC assess the noise impact of a wide range of leisure activities, from watersports to shooting and amplified music for noise abatement notices and planning/licence applications.

Noise Surveys and Planning advice on Watercraft including power boats and jet-ski clubs
Motor Sports, motocross, go-karting noise
Clay Pigeon/Target Shooting
Amplified Music in pubs, night clubs and at pop concerts

Amplified Music
Noise surveys
Assistance for Entertainment Licences/Planning Application
Control of Noise at Work Assessments
Outdoor pop concerts

Motor Sports
MARTEC are experienced Noise Consultants over a broad range of Motor Sports:
Motocross
Speedway
Karting
Motor Racing
Off-Road Motorcycle Racing

Shooting
We provide specialist noise control surveys and advice on planning controls, noise abatement notices and sound barriers. A speciality of the firm is our experience in measuring and calculating the impact of gunfire noise.

 Our company has advised the CPSA the BSSC and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health on Clay Target Shooting Noise.

To Discuss any leisure noise click here. 



Noise At Work

Our Control of Noise at Work Reports cover:

 • Measurements of employee noise levels

• Evaluation of daily personal noise exposures [LEp,d]

• Recommendations for noise control

• An assessment of hearing protection effectiveness

• Advice is given to employers and employees of their respective duties under The Control of Noise at Work Regulations

 Noise at Work Assessments have been made at a wide range of work places, from industrial premises, through entertainment venues such as pubs and clubs to the proof testing of an elephant gun! the shooter needed ear plugs and ear muffs for hearing protection.

 For further information see Noisenet or the HSE websites.

If you require general health and safety advice contact SBM Safety Solutions Ltd.

Control of Noise at Work Reports
Further and more comprehensive details of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 in regard to hand-arm vibration can be read in the HSE publications INDG175 and L140; in regard to whole body vibration more information can be read in the HSE publications INDG242 (and INDG404) and L141. The following is a brief summary of the regulations.

 The Exposure Action Value
The exposure action value (EAV) is a daily amount of vibration exposure above which employers are required to take action to control exposure. The greater the exposure level, the greater the risk and the more action employers will need to take to reduce the risk. For hand-arm vibration the EAV is a daily exposure of 2.5 m/s2 A(8); for whole body [WBV] it is set at a daily exposure of 0.5 m/s2 A(8).

 The Exposure Limit Value
The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to on any single day. For hand-arm vibration the ELV is a daily exposure of 5 m/s2 A(8). It represents a high risk above which employees should not be exposed; for WBV it is set at a daily exposure of 1.15 m/s2 A(8).

 The Regulations allow a transitional periods for various reasons allowing the exposure limit values to be exceeded during the transitional period as long as the employer has complied with all the other requirements of the Regulations and taken all reasonably practicable actions to reduce exposure as far as possible.

Requirements
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations require employers to
• assess the vibration risk to employees;

 • decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are:

 • introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable;

 • provide health surveillance (regular health checks) to those employees who continue to be regularly exposed above the action value or otherwise continue to be at risk;

 • decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are:

 • take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;

 • provide information and training to employees on health risks and the actions taken to control those risks

 • consult a trade union safety representative or employee representative on the proposals to control risk and to provide health surveillance;

 • keep a record of the risk assessment and control actions;

 • keep health records for employees under health surveillance

 • review and update risk assessments regularly.

For assistance with any Noise at work click here. 


Expert Noise Witness Services 

As Noise Expert Witnesses, MARTEC Consultants make appearances in Court and at Public Enquiries. The Principal of the company, Mel Kenyon MSc BSc MIOA, is a corporate member of the Institute of Acoustics and has practiced as a noise consultant since 1982, giving expert noise evidence on more than 100 occasions and is a checked expert witness on the UK Expert Witness Register on legalhub.

 He holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Environmental Acoustics, and has sat on the British Standards Committee dealing with noise in buildings [BS.8233]. Mel also has sat on the British Standards Committee on the assessment of industrial noise [BS.4142].

Noise, Vibration and Acoustics Expert Witness Services
 Martec is member of the Association of Noise Consultants and has provided expert noise advice to groups as diverse as the Noise Abatement Society the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Mel Kenyon has lectured at Liverpool John Moores University for the Engineering Employers Federation and at Manchester Metropolitan University.

 Mel Kenyon has been an expert witness for organisations such as the Sports Council (now Sport England), Wolseley [Plumb & Build] Centers, The Noise Abatement Society, Council for the Protection of Rural Wales, Barratt Homes and Warwickshire County Council.

 Further qualifications are that he is an accredited sound insulation tester under the Association of Noise Consultants accreditation scheme, and he holds the Institute of Acoustics Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment.

If you require a noise witness expert click here. 


BB93 School Noise Testing

Have you been looking for an affordable solution for help with school acoustics in the

United Kingdom? Martec Environmental Consultants Ltd can take on any size school acoustics project and we charge the most competitive rates. To learn more, contact us now.

 There are five main issues with school acoustics covered in the Government's Building Bulletin 93 [BB93] "Acoustic Design of Schools":

• The reverberation time - a measure of how "live" or "dead" a classroom's acoustics are

• The acoustic separation or sound insulation between classrooms.

• The acoustic separation of external (non-school) sounds from internal spaces, such as classrooms, halls and other teaching spaces.

• Sound generated by rainfall on the roof interfering with lessons.

• The acoustic isolation of internal noise (boilers, fans etc).

 The latest version of BB93 can be downloaded HERE. Note that Section E4 of the Building Regulations [E4] applies to schools, and compliance with BB93 is required.

Reliable school acoustics solutions in the UK
Are you looking for help to make sure you can keep on top of your noise or vibrations for an affordable price? To learn more about how we can help, contact us now or visit the

Control Of Noise & Vibrations Issues click here. 




Acoustic Modelling

"We use SoundPLAN™ for the modelling of external environments, sometimes covering large areas of land, with multiple noise sources, such as industrial buildings, roads and railways, plus complex topography and multiple receptor locations.

Computer modelling can be a powerful tool and provides a visual representation of the conventional tables of calculation results which can be extremely useful in developing targeted noise control and mitigation strategies to reduce cost and increase benefits."

For more information click here. 


For sound testing and advisory services, call us now on
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