Appendix - Chapter summaries and discussion questions

Summary

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

Noise can have a serious effect on human health. During the nineteenth century there was no national legislation dealing with noise. As far as the twentieth century was concerned, the Noise Abatement Act 1960 made noise pollution a statutory nuisance. The 1970s witnessed a growing interest in the effect of pollution, in general, on the environment. The Control of Pollution Act 1974 introduced the concept of noise abatement zones. The 1980s witnessed growing awareness that environmental noise was getting worse. In 1993 the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 gave local authorities the power to deal, inter alia, with noise from burglar alarms and loudspeakers in streets and roads. The Noise Act 1996 inter alia made the creation of noise an offence, if it exceeded a given limit at night. As far as the twenty-first century was concerned, neighbourhood noise was being viewed, not as a free-standing problem but, rather, as part of the wider problem of antisocial behaviour. Antisocial behaviour legislation was made by both the UK and Scottish Parliaments. The EU's END Directive (2002), which dealt with ambient noise, was transposed into UK law. The UK government issued a Noise Policy Statement for England in 2010. The Environment Act 2021 makes provisions for the preparation of targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment. Such targets, etc. could contain provisions relating to noise.

CHAPTER 2 BASIC ACOUSTICS AND HUMAN PERCEPTION

Concepts important for the understanding of acoustics are introduced together with basic terminology starting with sound pressure level and its associated unit, the decibel (dB). The important difference between sound pressure level and sound power level are explained together with the concept of frequency or pitch and how sound travels from the source (whatever makes the noise) to the receiver (the person who hears the sound). A simple explanation of the way sound behaves in buildings is then provided, including the way in which it travels between rooms, and also from inside to outside and vice versa. The hearing mechanism is described, including different types of hearing impairment and what can be done to alleviate this with the use of hearing aids. The factors that influence sound perception in humans is discussed, including the importance of ‘non-acoustic factors’ and the concept of ‘noise’, which is used to describe unwanted sound.