Morrissey H.

IS THE NOISE ACT 1996 AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF LIMITING DISTURBANCE DUE TO NOISE IN DWELLINGS AT NIGHT? H S Morrissey, Belfast City Council Email: morrisseyh@belfastcity.gov.uk The Noise Act 1996 was introduced specifically to deal with night-time noise affecting dwellings. Action can be taken under this Act if the noise complained of exceeds, or is likely to exceed, the permitted level. Anecdotal evidence from Belfast City Council (BCC) officers has suggested that in many instances people have genuinely been disturbed by noise but the measured noise level has not exceeded the permitted level. This paper is based on a study which sought to investigate an appropriate method of assessment of disturbance due to night-time noise and to make recommendations for an appropriate standard. A representative sample of complaints about noise disturbance in dwellings at night was investigated. Complainants and investigating officers were required to give an annoyance rating for the noise complained of and measurements were taken. Based on the outcomes of this paper it was possible to conclude that the continued use of the existing assessment method under the Act which involves noise level and level difference was more appropriate than introducing a new criteria based solely on level difference. However, in order to make the Act more effective the minimum permitted level should be reduced from 35dB(A) to 30dB(A).