News, guides and honest comparisons
Real cases from around the UK and what could be done about them, plain-English guides to the rules, and straight comparisons of the kit contractors use.
Demolition noise barrier: does a 4 m acoustic wall protect upper-floor flats?
A demolition noise barrier only works if it blocks the line of sight between the breaker or crusher and the window. For upper-floor flats, a 4 m acoustic wall on the site boundary…
Read →Top 5 temporary acoustic barrier suppliers in the UK: Echo Barrier, Siderise, BIGBEN, Hushtec and RVT Group compared
Five of the best-known names in UK temporary acoustic barriers are Echo Barrier, Siderise, BIGBEN Sound Blocker, Hushtec and RVT Group. Published ratings for their fence-mounted…
Read →Can a noisy machine on a building site be made quieter, and what can you ask for?
Often, yes. Contractors can fit shrouds or enclosures to the noisiest machines, put acoustic barriers around the work area and boundary, and plan noisy work for less sensitive hours.…
Read →How high does an acoustic wall need to be to screen generator and plant noise?
As a rule of thumb, an acoustic wall should stand about 1.5 m higher than the top of the noise source. A generator 2.5 m tall therefore needs a wall about 4 m high. This guide explains…
Read →What is the Rw dB rating on an acoustic barrier, and why does it matter?
Rw (weighted sound reduction index) is a single number in decibels that shows how well a material stops sound passing through it, measured in a laboratory to ISO 10140-2 and calculated…
Read →How can piling noise be reduced? Perimeter barriers vs piling shrouds compared
Airborne noise from driven piling can be cut in three main ways: a tall barrier around the site perimeter, a freestanding acoustic enclosure around the pile being driven, or a shroud…
Read →Roadworks Diversion Lorries Keeping You Awake? What Can You Do?
Noise from traffic on a signed roadworks diversion is excluded from statutory nuisance law, so your council's Environmental Health team usually can't act on it. Take diversion routing…
Read →What is Echo Barrier? A plain-English guide for residents
Echo Barrier is a brand of lightweight, rollable temporary acoustic panels. The company is registered in England with its head office in Suffolk, and the panels are made in Slovakia.…
Read →What is an Rw 26 dB acoustic barrier and is it enough?
An Rw 26 dB acoustic barrier is rated at 26 dB for sound passing through the panel in laboratory tests, but the reduction you hear on site is lower because noise also travels over the…
Read →What Can You Do About 24-Hour Tunnelling Noise Near Your Home?
If construction or tunnelling noise runs through the night near your home, keep a dated log, raise it with the contractor first, then contact your council's Environmental Health team.…
Read →Why Piling Noise Is Getting Louder in UK Cities — and What Residents Can Do
Driven precast concrete and steel piling remain the single loudest routine construction activity in UK cities, with unmitigated levels of 95–105 dB at source. Rising basement and…
Read →How to Record Construction Noise Evidence Your Council Will Accept
Councils act on patterns, not single events. A log that records the date, time, duration, noise type and an indicative level for several weeks is usually enough for an Environmental…
Read →Temporary Acoustic Barriers on Construction Sites: What Actually Works
A properly specified temporary acoustic barrier can cut construction noise by 10 to 20 dB at a neighbouring facade — enough to turn a nuisance into a normal working site. The…
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