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We have all the instruments necessary to carry out timely or prolonged monitoring of environmental aspects.
We carry out measurements in indoor areas regarding the acoustic comfort of adjoining spaces, in accordance with the specific uses of the spaces and with safety in the workplace, in observance of Legislative Decree no. 81 of 2008, and in indoor areas regarding the spread of polluting substances in the air.
We operate on civil and infrastructure construction sites, for the purpose of monitoring the pertinent environmental aspects and whether they are in line with the predictive studies conducted, detecting any variations during the construction process so that the necessary corrections can be made in order to achieve the objectives established.
In internal and external environments, technological systems transmit noise through the air and vibrations through structures. To eliminate these undesired effects, a number of mitigation strategies can be adopted, based on separating the machinery from the base it rests on (to prevent the transmission of vibrations) and the application of appropriate silencers to the exhaust fan, soundproof splitters on the filter sections of the machinery, and actual noise barriers to be placed between the source and the receptors that may be disturbed (to prevent the transmission of noise through the air).
The design of a noise barrier is composed of two stages: first, a predictive study is conducted for the acoustic characterisation of the post-operam scenario, and therefore the efficacy of the work. This is followed by the executive project, which describes the work in full, with all its construction components.
A municipal acoustic classification (acoustic zoning) plan is a technical and political action that consists of dividing municipalities into acoustically uniform areas, following a careful urban planning analysis of the territory that involves studying the technical report of the Local Strategic Plan (PRG) and the pertinent implementation regulations. The aim of the classification is to prevent the deterioration of zones not affected by noise pollution, and to provide an indispensable planning tool for the development of urban planning, business, craftsmanship and industry.
For new constructions, a study must be carried out to predict noise impact. This study must certify that the new construction/infrastructure will be located in an acoustic setting consistent with the acoustic classification for the pertinent area (acoustic zoning). For this reason, an adequate noise level measurement campaign must be carried out in the area concerned, in order to determine the emission and immission levels in the two reference periods (day and night) and to verify compliance with the statutory limits in force. At the study stage, it is also necessary to consider the impact the new construction may have in terms of noise due to its technological systems or to substantial changes to the surface traffic system. If the limits are likely to be exceeded, noise control measures must be envisaged.
Class 1 sound level metres are used to carry out spot noise level measurements, with or without specific sampling techniques (for example MAOG for road-type sources), and short or long continuous noise level measurements (24h or weekly/biweekly). The company is equipped with adequate instruments for external stationing and for the acquisition of meteorological data. For road sources, noise level measurements can be completed with continuous measurements of road traffic, with automatic sampling stations and flow acquisition systems. For the purpose of acoustic studies, contextual or targeted campaigns are also conducted for the identification of receptors that may be affected by a project or an activity, with planimetric classifications and data sheets of the structures identified.
Spot vibration measurements conducted in buildings to assess disturbance according to the UNI 9614:2017 technical regulation, using a triaxial accelerometer.
Class 1 sound level metres are used to carry out spot noise level measurements, with or without specific sampling techniques (for example MAOG for road-type sources), and short or long continuous noise level measurements (24h or weekly/biweekly). The company is equipped with adequate instruments for external stationing and for the acquisition of meteorological data. For road sources, noise level measurements can be completed with continuous measurements of road traffic, with automatic sampling stations and flow acquisition systems. For the purpose of acoustic studies, contextual or targeted campaigns are also conducted for the identification of receptors that may be affected by a project or an activity, with planimetric classifications and data sheets of the structures identified.
Spot vibration measurements conducted in buildings to assess disturbance according to the UNI 9614:2017 technical regulation, using a triaxial accelerometer.
Surveys conducted in living environments measure levels of both environmental and residual noise. Environmental noise level is the A-weighted equivalent continuous noise level, produced by all the sources of noise present in the environment under investigation; therefore, it is made up of residual noise plus the noise produced by the specific disturbing noise sources, with the exclusion of individually identifiable sound events of an exceptional nature, and is the level that is compared with the maximum exposure limits. Residual noise level is detected when the specific disturbing noise source is excluded from the measurement. It must be measured with methods identical to those used for measuring environmental noise.
Noise risk assessments and assessments of the level of exposure to noise in the workplace were made mandatory by Italian Legislative Decree no. 81/08. Measurements for the assessment of exposure to noise are carried out using group 1 IEC 651 or IEC 804 (CEI EN 60651 and CEI EN 60804) instruments. The duration of the surveys depends on the variability of the noise over time, and lasts in any case until the instrument has substantially stabilised; the measurements are carried out by placing the sound level meter at a distance of 15 centimetres from the ear of the operator in their usual position at work, although they are also followed in their activities in the vicinity of the machinery and the workstations.
Annex C of the Decree of 16 March 1998 established how railway noise is to be measured. Measurements must be conducted in normal railway traffic conditions, and without rain, fog and/or snow; wind speed must be no higher than 5 m/s. The microphone must be covered with a windsock, and it must be facing the noise source and positioned at a distance of 1 m from the façade of the receptors analysed and at a height of 4 m from the ground. The acquisition of sound pressure levels must be set with a fast time constant, and must be able to determine the start time, the sound exposure level LAE and the temporal profile LAF(t) of the individual passages of the convoys. Measurement time TM must be no less than 24h. The Ministerial Decree of 31 October 1997 defined the methodology for measuring airport noise. Airport noise can be measured using an assisted system, for measurements carried out using mobile instruments able to measure at least the sound exposure level of aeronautical aircraft movements, and a non-assisted system, specifically for fixed monitoring measurements, which is able to automatically identify overflight profiles and to attribute the corresponding SEL value to each one of them.
Italian Law no. 447/95 “Framework law on noise pollution” was formulated to protect outdoor and living environments from noise pollution. A sound source should not cause noise in the outdoor or living environment that is loud enough to be unpleasant or disturb rest and human activity, pose a danger to human health, or is intense enough to interfere with the legitimate right to use said environments. For this reason, the public administration requires (Prime Ministerial Decree of 14/11/1997) that before a new business begins operating, a NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (DPCM 14/11/97) must be conducted by an Environmental Acoustics Technician regularly enrolled on the dedicated National Register, in order to verify whether the systems pertaining to the new business are compliant with the limits established by the regulations in force regarding acoustics, and that they will not, therefore, disturb third parties.
Permanent or temporary public entertainment activities must undergo a noise impact assessment. Issue of permits is therefore conditional upon an assessment conducted by an Environmental Acoustics Technician regularly enrolled on the pertinent National Register, who must ascertain compliance with the limits set by the regulations in force regarding acoustics.
With regard to temporary public entertainment activities, if the Technician entrusted with conducting the assessment considers that the regulatory limits are likely to be exceeded, authorisation may nonetheless be requested in exemption of the acoustic limits. The noise impact study and the exemption request must be submitted to the public administration, which will send the documentation to the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) for their opinion before issuing the permit.
Temporary construction site activities must undergo a noise impact assessment. Issue of permits is therefore conditional upon an assessment conducted by an Environmental Acoustics Technician regularly enrolled on the pertinent National Register, who must ascertain that the noisy activities envisaged on the construction schedule are compliant with the limits set by the regulations in force regarding acoustics.
If the Technician entrusted with conducting the assessment considers that the regulatory limits are likely to be exceeded, an exemption may be requested that takes account only of the immission limit at the receptor at which the greatest disturbance is likely to be caused. The noise impact study and the exemption request must be submitted to the public administration, which will send the documentation to the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) for their opinion before issuing the permit.
Italian Law no. 447/95 “Framework law on noise pollution” was formulated to protect outdoor and living environments from noise pollution. A sound source should not cause noise in the outdoor or living environment that is loud enough to be unpleasant or disturb rest and human activity, pose a danger to human health, or be intense enough to interfere with the legitimate right to use said environments.
Although it is mandatory for businesses to have a noise assessment conducted, immissions may nonetheless occur in living environments close by that exceed the differential limit (5 dBA during the day and 3 dBA at night). Cases such as this may be reported to the municipal council, which will instruct the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) to carry out all the noise level measurements necessary to verify compliance with the regulatory limits. If these have been exceeded, the business must appoint an Environmental Acoustics Technician regularly enrolled on the dedicated National Register to draft an acoustic remediation plan to bring noise emissions/immissions back within the statutory limits. The report to the council may be accompanied by an expert report by a qualified technician. This is the administrative procedure governing the relations between businesses and private citizens (public law criterion).
Relations between private citizens are governed by art. 844, which defines “normal tolerability”, i.e. the maximum limit of immissions (including noise immissions) possible within the property of others.
The normal tolerability limit established by case law has been identified as 3 dB between the immission level and the background noise level (i.e. the level measured without the source causing the disturbance). In the case of relations between private citizens, the first step for the case to be taken to court is of course a survey carried out by an Environmental Acoustics Technician regularly enrolled on the dedicated National Register, and a report certifying that the legally established limits have been exceeded.
The legal criterion that requires the verification of compliance with the normal tolerability limit is also applicable to relations between private citizens and businesses; however, this criterion is not subject to verification in the noise impact report drafted by the qualified technician.
