Festival & Event Noise Monitoring

Despite its name suggesting a set of rules for pop musicians, the Pop Code is actually a guideline for managing noise at events. Formally known as the Noise Council’s Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts, it was written in 1995. This code provides event organizers with best practices for minimizing the environmental impact of noise from their events.

Although not legally binding, the Pop Code helps prevent potential breaches of legislation, such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for England and Wales, and the Control of Pollution Act 1974 for Scotland.

Developed by a working group of noise experts and specialists, the Code is based on their extensive experience and knowledge of acoustics, addressing the unique challenges of environmental noise control at concerts and other outdoor events.

Noise generates more complaints to local authorities than any other issue. It can quickly damage relationships with local residents and harm your event’s reputation. For instance, in 2019, the world-famous Glastonbury Festival was ordered to reduce its noise levels after a record number of complaints about the disturbance it caused.

If a local authority upholds noise complaints, they may impose restrictions on your event, including limits on time and volume. In extreme cases, they may even refuse to grant a license for your event.

Establishing and maintaining good relationships with local residents and businesses before your event is crucial to minimizing complaints. Measuring, monitoring, and controlling noise is essential to avoid complaints and local authority restrictions, and to ensure that people’s health is not adversely affected.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause hearing loss and tinnitus. Noise disturbances, especially low-frequency noise, can lead to stress and sleep deprivation, which in turn can result in more serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and mental health conditions.

The Pop Code specifies the maximum permitted noise levels for festivals and other music events, known as Music Noise Levels (MNLs). An MNL is defined as the LAEQ of the music or vocals measured at a specific location; LAEQ is the A-weighted average noise level over a designated period, which, for MNLs, is 15 minutes. 

Permitted Noise Levels According to the Pop Code

Concert Days per Calendar Year per Venue:

• 1 to 3 Days: Urban Stadium or Arena: Not more than 75dB(A) over a 15-minute period.

• 1 to 3 Days: Other Urban or Rural Venue: Not more than 65dB(A) over a 15-minute period.

• 4 to 12 Days: All Venues: Not more than 15dB(A) above the background noise level over a 15-minute period.

•  

The precise location of when and where to measure the noise levels isn’t clear-cut in the Pop Code, and requires some careful interpretation. By looking in Section 2 of the Code, we can see that the following definition of “noise monitoring  poisition” is used:

“The location of the microphone within the venue from which the level of sound in monitored and controlled. For outdoor venues, this location tends
to be the mixer.”

Although this definition provides a helpful indication of where to position your noise measurement instrument (more on that later), it’s not actually the location where MNL limits need to be applied. The MNL limits refer to the noise level at 1 metre from the facade of any noise-sensitive premises. In plain speak, the MNL should not exceed the limits as stated above when measured 1 metre away from a the exterior of a premises that could be adversely affected by noise.

Event noise monitoring involves assessing and analyzing noise levels from music played at an event using specialized equipment. This equipment is placed both within the event area and at noise-sensitive locations around the site. An essential part of this process is engaging with local residents before and during the event to mitigate complaints and understand their experience of the noise. Additionally, evaluating and controlling the sound system ensures that noise is kept within acceptable limits.

Event noise monitoring is typically accompanied by a noise management plan, often required by councils or local authorities for events where noise levels might be high. This helps minimize the impact on local residents.

Noise monitoring is necessary for any event featuring amplified music or entertainment. This can range from providing evidence of noise monitoring at a single residence to ensuring adherence to stringent daytime and nighttime limits across various locations, focusing on specific frequency ranges.

In all cases, noise monitoring complements the noise management plan to assure local authorities that the event will not negatively impact others or cause complaints.

By involving us early in your event planning, we can assist with pre-event noise monitoring and other areas. We collaborate with sound system suppliers to optimize the design and orientation of sound systems, maximizing on-site coverage while minimizing off-site noise. This ensures a positive experience for both event attendees and local residents.

Our expert team offers a comprehensive noise management plan, detailing predicted sound levels and monitoring locations to engineer a solution that satisfies everyone. We employ noise control and mitigation methods based on the latest event noise monitoring guidance and research, in which we actively participate, to meet local authority requirements.

For event noise monitoring, we are fully equipped to operate throughout England and Wales with Class 1 sound level meters that offer remote monitoring access. This allows for quick adjustments to noise levels as needed. We also provide a team of experienced consultants to conduct noise monitoring during the event. Post-event, we compile a report detailing all measurements, potential complaints, and noise adjustment actions for submission to the local authority, if required.

With extensive experience in noise monitoring for various events, including multiday festivals, single-stage events, and overnight events attracting tens of thousands of attendees, we are well-prepared to handle your event noise monitoring needs.