Following our 50 year milestone as a partnership in April 2020, we have this year made the switch to a limited company and, despite the fallout from the pandemic, we continue to deliver our usual first class service, putting our clients at the heart of our business.

Life is nothing if not change and a number of changes have taken place in the last 12 months. Dr Paul Cockcroft has now joined the ranks of retired past Partners with Dr Angus Walker and Colin Beak.

We said goodbye to Hannah Karban at the end of March 2021, who relocated to be with her fiancée in East Anglia, and mid-year also a farewell to David Littlewood, our Graduate Consultant, who was seeking a technical laboratory / research based post.

Rachel Canham has driven forward the limited company status as Director of the business and Dr Richard Lyons is continuing with the business as the Principal Consultant, more than ably supported by Dr Robert Storey as Senior Consultant.

To keep up with our expanding workload we are very pleased to welcome three new members of staff this year. Sarah Large has joined WBM as Senior Consultant from MAS, bringing additional strength and breadth of knowledge to the team. Jack Semple has recently joined us as Graduate Consultant and is very keen to contribute to our growing portfolio of work.

In addition to the technical work, WBM are now supported on the management and administration side by Sheena Wells, who brings much experience from working within construction based companies to our business.

As we move into April, we feel poised for the next decade of continuing to provide a first class service to all our existing and new clients. We would like to thank you for continuing to use our services and for your excellent loyalty and trust, both in the past and into the future.

The Walker Beak Mason Partnership has been providing independent expert acoustic consultancy to our clients since 1970. With this 50 year milestone comes some changes to the people within WBM.

Dr Paul Cockcroft worked with the original partners Dr Angus Walker and Colin Beak from 1989, taking up the position of Partner in 1997 and becoming Senior Partner in 2004, with Rachel Canham and Dr Richard Lyons joining as Partners in 2009.

After 20 years of managing and driving the business forward Paul has decided to step down from his role as Senior Partner. Paul will continue to act as a consultant to WBM until he retires fully in April 2022, to provide continuity on projects.

Rachel and Richard will remain as Partners, to run the business, ably supported by Dr Robert Storey as Senior Consultant, continuing to provide the excellent consultancy service WBM is known for with specialised acoustic input to support your projects and businesses.

Other changes include saying goodbye to Hannah Karban at the end of March 2021, who has relocated to be with her fiancée near the East coast.

In April we appointed David Littlewood as our Graduate Consultant and welcome him to the team. David has a keen interest in all things acoustic and has recently completed his MSc in Acoustical Engineering at the University of Southampton.

WBM would not be what it was without the excellent clients that use our services and we take this opportunity to thank you all for your loyalty and trust. We look forward to providing you and all our clients with a first class service in the years ahead.

WBM utilises SoundPLAN noise mapping software for the modelling of industrial and residential developments.

Using site plans and height data a three dimensional model of such developments can be created and the propagation of noise from numerous sources in the model can be calculated with reflections as well as ground and barrier attenuation taken into account.

SoundPLAN allows the use of a variety of calculation methods including ISO-9613, BS 5228, Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) and the IOA Good Practice Guide for ETSU-97 for wind turbines among others.

The results of the calculations can be displayed as a noise contour map or can be presented as tables of data for individual receiver locations with a breakdown of the contribution of the various sources and the calculated attenuation between source and receiver.

WBM has used SoundPLAN for the modelling of mining/quarrying operations, testing of road traffic noise barriers, rail noise, input into the design/layout of residential developments, the impact of road alterations, wind turbines, solar farms, industrial plant sites and M&E plant on commercial buildings.

Examples of our work in this area include:

West Kettering Residential Development
Input into the design/layout and phasing of the residential development to minimise the noise impact of the nearby dual carriageway (read more…)

Bloxham Road, Banbury
Assessment of the noise impact of changes to the road layout and alteration of the speed limit due to a new residential development.

Alpha Lake Ecological and Landscape Enhancements
Assessment of the noise impact on nearby residences and wildlife in the adjacent nature reserve of proposed shallowing of the lake by means of imported material.

Manor Farm Tetsworth Road Traffic Noise Bunding
Examining the effectiveness of proposed bunding between the property and the M40.

Aggregate Industries Bardon Hill Quarry Extension
Model of the ongoing activities on site and in a substantial extension area to accompany a planning application.

Nackington Solar Park
Examination of the noise impact on nearby residences of a proposed solar farm.

Foxhills Residential Development, Brackley
Assessment of the road traffic noise impact on a proposed residential development.

Napleton Lodge Wind Turbine
Noise assessment to support a planning application for the construction of a wind turbine near Raunds.

Odeon Farnham
Modelling of the noise levels due to the operation of M&E plant on the roof of a cinema.

HS2 Tunnel relocation
Modelled the noise implications of the relocation of a proposed tunnel for HS2 for a group of local residents.

WBM provides professional advice and monitoring services for ground borne and structure borne vibration as well as the full range of noise consultancy services.

WBM has worked on a variety of projects requiring input regarding vibration, such as advising on minimising plant vibration, monitoring of vibration due to piling and construction activity and assessing the impact on sensitive premises/equipment of vibration from nearby industrial activity.

Vibration survey work conducted by WBM has included both short term attended sample measurements and longer term monitoring of ongoing site activity by means of installed vibration monitoring equipment.

Examples of our work in this area include:

British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), London
WBM has acted for the BBFC since 2008 with regard to potential noise and vibration from the Crossrail project construction and operational activities in Soho Square, London including vibration disturbance affecting projector operation. WBM reviewed documents supplied to the BBFC by Crossrail and provided comments and recommendations. Appropriate noise and vibration management systems are now in place to minimise the impact at the BBFC of Crossrail construction activity.

Trocadero Hotel & Cinema London
Consideration of noise and vibration limits for activity arising from construction of a hotel within the Trocadero Complex, measurement and review of mock-up demolition activity on site and advice on an existing cinema in the same Complex.

Siemens Data Centre Nottingham
Vibration tests for breaking out and removal of an external area of concrete slab located close to sensitive electronic data storage devices operating within the facility.

Electron Microscope Facility
Initial assessment for feasibility study for proposed electron microscope facility, review of acoustic criteria and advice on constructions and sound insulation.

Skanska Canvey Island
Long term unattended vibration monitoring, with remote reporting and warning facility, near to dwellings arising from activity associated with demolition, piling activity and construction for a school on Canvey Island.

Grundon Materials Recycling Facility Banbury
Vibration measurements were taken adjacent to a new access road to a Materials Recycling Facility to determine the potential impact on vibration-sensitive equipment within an adjoining building.

Bolingbroke Academy London
Measurement of low frequency noise breakout from plant room to adjacent dwelling. Detailed advice on remedial measures, including isolation of plant items and relocation of plant room.

Cranfield University Plant Vibration
Inspection, vibration measurements and recommendations to assist Cranfield University in minimising perceptible levels of vibration on work surfaces in offices below roof top plant.

As well as the broad range of environmental and architectural services that WBM provides, we can also undertake noise at work assessments in accordance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Three of our staff hold the Institute of Acoustics Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment and we have undertaken assessments at entertainment venues, factories, and at educational establishments for Local Authorities.

What are the Control of Noise at Work Regulations?

The aim of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 is to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work. The regulations define limit values and action values for the noise exposure of employees, including:

Lower exposure action values – daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB(A) and a peak sound pressure of 135 dB(C). At these values, employers must provide hearing protection to those employees who request it.

Upper exposure action values – daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB(A) and a peak sound pressure of 137 dB(C). Where levels exceed these values, employers should ensure that ear protection zones are clearly marked and that employees wear hearing protection whilst in these zones.

Exposure limit values – daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB(A) and a peak sound pressure of 140 dB(C). If employees are exposed to levels above these limit values, the noise levels must be reduced to below the exposure limit value, taking into account the reduction offered by hearing protection.

What does an assessment include?

Noise at work assessments usually include surveys of relevant work activities, using sound level meters and/or dosemeters. The noise measurements are undertaken at (or at a location representative of) an employee’s ear. The survey results are compared with the action and limit values set out in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and recommendations provided on the use of hearing protection. Advice regarding noise mitigation can also be given.