Environmental Noise Measurement

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE IN PRACTICAL TRAINING IN NOISE ASSESSMENT AND STANDARDS

Key summary

The course aims to provide knowledge of the methodology of environmental noise measurement, including the use of sound level meters and analysers.

Examinations for the Certificate in the Control of Environmental Noise Measurement (CCENM) take place twice per year, usually on a Friday in April and September.

To obtain a Certificate, a candidate is required to pass both parts of a written examination and produce a competent report following a practical test.

The syllabus includes basic concepts and noise units, instrumentation for environmental noise measurement, noise indices and methodology, environmental noise measurement in practice, and basic aspects of noise propagation.

The practical examination includes objective measurements and report generation.

Up to 70% of the assessment is based on field performance assessed according to a checklist, and up to 30% is for the written report.

The expected length of the written report is no more than three or four sides of A4.

Examination dates are: 10 October 2025 and 15 May 2026.

Environmental Noise Measurement

Key Information

Centers

2 locations

Next start

01 Oct 2025

Next Exam

01 Jan 2026

Health & Safety Environmental Noise Monitoring Standards, regulation and best practice

External resources

Center

2 locations

Next start

01 Oct 2025

Next Exam

01 Jan 2026

Health & Safety Environmental Noise Monitoring Standards, regulation and best practice

External resources

Introduction

This five-day course seeks to provide delegates with a basic knowledge of the methodology of environmental noise measurement, including the use and accuracy requirements of sound level meters and analysers and to enable them be aware of the significance of measurement data against the framework of standards and legislation for environmental noise.

Students take the Certificate at an Accredited Centre. Attendance at the Centre is usually for four days, plus the examination day, which includes a practical test. Examinations are currently held at the Centres twice per year, in Spring and in Autumn. Most Centres run the course for the four days preceding the examination date.

Information on accredited centres and the syllabus is available below, including contact details of our accredited centres.

For further information on courses at specific centres, please approach the required centre directly. Additional information on the Institute's educational programmes can be gained by contacting education@ioa.org.uk

Enquiry

Overview

Entry Requirements

The Institute of Acoustics is committed to an open access policy. The main principle is to admit all who will benefit from the Certificate programmes. However, students will need to:

Be numerate.
Be able to carry out scientific calculations.

If the Certificate is used towards satisfying the educational requirements for Technician membership of the IOA (TechIOA), relevant passes at GCSE level may also be necessary.

Study Modes

Students take the Certificates at an Accredited Centre (see separate list).
Attendance at the Centre is usually for four days, plus the examination day.
Examinations for CCENM take place twice per year, usually on a Friday in April and September.
It is important to check on the local arrangements for the examination.

Assessment

To obtain a Certificate, a candidate is required to:

Pass both parts of a written examination.
Produce a competent report following a practical test.

Additional notes:

The written examination papers are set by the Chief Examiner, who is responsible to the CCENM Committee.
Members of the Committee review and moderate the marking of all papers at their meetings held shortly after each course.
The detailed logistical arrangements for the practical test and report submission are made by the Accredited Centre.
The requirements for the practical test and the report are overseen by the CCENM Committee.

Aims and Objectives

The course aims to provide candidates with:

a basic knowledge of the methodology of environmental noise measurement, including, in particular, the use and of sound level meters and analysers;
an appreciation of the role of measurement data within the framework of standards and legislation for environmental noise.

After successfully completing the course, candidates should be able to:

understand basic acoustic principles
perform basic noise calculations involving noise indices appropriate for consideration of environmental noise
make reliable measurements of background noise and noise from a variety of sources, according to the requirements of the relevant British Standards or guidance documents;
present and interpret measurement data in a form suitable for inclusion in a report;
describe measurement methodologies used and the data acquired and appreciate the measurement information required for reports and environmental appraisals.

Syllabus

I. Basic Concepts and Noise Units (6 hours)

Sound pressure and sound power. Pure tones, frequency, the audible range, broadband noise, octave and third-octave frequency analysis of noise. Sound pressure level, sound power level and the decibel scale. The range of decibel levels and the significance of level changes (3dB, 10dB, 20dB etc) in terms of energy content and loudness. The procedure for combining and subtracting decibel levels, including background levels. - The variation of hearing sensitivity with frequency and level: the A-weighting scale. Steady and time-varying noise levels: LAeq, LAE and statistical levels LA10, LA90 etc. Calculations involving the LAeq and LAE. The effects of noise on people: hearing damage, annoyance, activity interference and sleep disturbance.

Notes

a) The treatment of octave and third octave analysis of noise will include addition of band pass levels to determine overall A-weighted levels and calculations of barrier attenuation.

b) The determination of sound pressure level from sound pressure will be included but calculation of sound pressure from sound pressure level is not required.

c) Weighting scales A and C will be explained by reference to the variation in hearing sensitivity with frequency and level but loudness levels are not part of the course content.

d) Simple averaging of LAeq and LAE is expected but averaging of statistical levels, other than required by CRTN (see section 3), is beyond the scope of this course.

2. Instrumentation for Environmental Noise Measurement (6 hours)

Types of sound level meters for measurement of steady noise levels (BS EN 61672-1:2003). Integrating averaging sound level meters (BS EN 61672-1:2003) for the measurement of timevarying noise, and environmental noise analysers for LA10 and LA90 measurements and frequency analysis. Time weighting (‘Fast’, ‘Slow’, ‘Impulse’ averaging times) and frequency weighting: A-weighting, C-weighting and Linear. Peak level measurement. Types of microphone and their directionality. Accuracy of Class 1 and 2 instruments. Field and laboratory calibration of sound level meters, including traceability. Electronic noise floor. Electrical interference. Recording and presentation of time-varying noise levels. Practical methods for ensuring that microphones and meters remain accurate in use.

Notes

a) Basic aspects of the construction of microphones will be explained in the context of environmental noise measurement systems but details of microphone construction will not be examined.

b) ‘Impulse’ averaging time is included as an example of a specialist setting that may be required in some non-standard measurements i.e. clay pigeon shooting.

c) Practical methods for ensuring that microphones and meters remain accurate in use will be covered including the avoidance of extremes of temperature, handing with care, avoiding shocks and impact, keeping instruments dry and battery management.

3. Noise Indices and Methodology for Environmental Noise Measurement (6 hours)

The measurement of transportation, industrial, construction site noise and non-specific noise levels, according to BS 7445 Description and measurement of environmental noise. Part1:2003, Guide to quantities and procedures. Part-2:1991 Guide to the acquisition of data pertinent to land use.

Noise indices and specific measurement methodology appropriate to rating and assessment methods for:

Industrial and commercial noise and BS 4142:20141 ;
Noise measurements appropriate to planning assessments;
Road traffic noise — the measurement method in “Calculation of Road Traffic Noise” (CRTN), including its method for combining LA10 measurements;
The measurement method in “Calculation of Rail Noise” (CRN);
An elementary introduction to the measurement of Construction site noise - BS 5228- 1:2009;
Short time measurements such as used in the Noise Act 1996 (as amended)
Overview of Noise from leisure activities and associated codes of practice.

4. Environmental Noise Measurement in Practice (10 hours including field work)

The use of sound level meters for typical environmental noise measurements. Choice of microphone position. The use of windshields, and the effect of wind and other environmental conditions on measurement accuracy. Measurement techniques and wind shields appropriate to wind farm noise measurement. The influence of screening and reflecting surfaces. The nature and causes of other uncertainties in measurement. Choice of sampling periods for timevarying signals - averaging of LAeq and the use of LA10, LA90, etc. Uncertainties associated with accuracy, tolerance limits and sampling. Monitoring of the noise climate during a measurement. Data interpretation and report preparation. Subjective impression. Comprehension of the role of noise issues in environmental assessments and consultant’s reports.

Notes

a) Emphasis will be placed on measurements and on recording of appropriate environmental information and subjective impressions rather than on assessment or rating of noise.

b) Although measurement methods appropriate to wind farms are included, the assessment of wind farm noise is not part of this course.

c) The treatment of errors and accuracy will be in the general context of measurement uncertainty and not require statistical calculations.

d) Appreciation that monitoring of the noise climate requires continual recording of the noise that the observer hears throughout the measurement and how any noise event may affect the accuracy of the measurement.

5. Basic Aspects of Noise Propagation (2 hours)

Propagation from point, line and planar noise sources, idealised and actual. General overview of the effects of distance, reflection, air absorption, ground effects, wind and temperature gradients. An introduction to basic noise mitigation techniques. Simple estimation of the attenuation by barriers, earth banks, vegetation.

Although awareness of the effects of various environmental factors upon noise level measurements are included, detailed calculations of propagation effects will not be required.

Assessment

The practical examination

The CCENM is essentially a practical qualification and so a good performance in the practical examination is critical. The practical examination includes:

a) objective measurements of an environmental noise source to demonstrate the use of suitable instrumentation and method;

b) generation of a report on the measurements and associated noise assessment.

The candidate will be examined on the ability to undertake the test competently, to record all the essential information about the test conditions and to present the results of measurements reliably and accurately.

The practical exam scenario must be realistic, clearly defined and reported
There are separate assessments of the conduct of the measurement and the reporting of results

The practical examination is not an assessment of knowledge of the contents of documents (such as BS4142, CRN or CRTN) but of measurement practice in the field. If a convenient industrial noise source (e.g. a plant room) is not available, then nearby transport sources may be used instead.

Emphasis is placed on measurement uncertainty issues. Often sound levels are quoted to an unrealistic degree of “accuracy” and there is a failure to recognise the key factors that will affect the reliability or repeatability of measurements. An understanding of the issues involved, rather than a detailed knowledge of or ability to calculate “uncertainty budgets”, is expected.

Weather contingency

Centres will have a contingency plan to cope with severe adverse weather conditions.

The Assessment

Examiners (one of the Centre Tutors) observe and assess the practical examination using their own procedures but will check:

Competence in setting up the sound level meter (e.g. calibration, selection of range, parameter, time constant, frequency weighting etc.);
Competence in choice of measurement location/meter orientation;
Competence in understanding of appropriate measurement or sampling time and duration;
Competence in reading off and recording appropriate parameters;
Competence in recording the noise climate during the measurement
Competence in qualitative understanding of appropriate precision and accuracy and sampling uncertainty; and
Competence in clear, complete reporting of field procedure and results: the test is ‘could a third party use the report alone to repeat the measurement and secure comparable results?

The measurement component is examined and marked with reference to the examiner’s checklist. At most Centres these have been developed and refined by the course tutors and examiners. Further guidance can be given by the Institute if required. Preferably Candidates should prepare their own measurement checklist before the examination. Candidates should be encouraged to refer to published measurement check lists such as those in BS4142 and BS7445 Part 2. A copy of each candidate’s report will be sent with the candidates’ scripts to the Institute for moderation.

The second component of the assessment is the report on the practical examination which is to be written after the measurements have been undertaken. Both the measurement protocol and the report are marked at the Centre and moderated at the Institute. Up to 70% is given for field performance assessed according to the checklist and up to 30% for the written report. A suggested marking scheme showing the importance attached to the various elements of the practical examination and report is at Appendix A.

Report generation and submission

The report must contain a declaration that it represents the student’s own work and it must identify the source of any other information that is included.

The expected length of the written report is no more than three or four sides of A4. It should include a statement of the objective(s) of the measurements and an outline of the scenario. If a bad-weather contingency was deployed the artificial scenario should be described and related to the conventional scenario that it represents. The report must include the following: purpose of report, date/time of measurement, description of noise source, subjective impression, prevailing environmental conditions, instrumentation used and calibration, measurement location and proximity to noise source, measurement procedure, results, uncertainties and estimated precision of measurements, basic appreciation of results and conclusions. In reporting the precision of their measurements candidates should be able to distinguish between precision (a quality of the instrumentation) and accuracy (a quality of the person doing the measurements). A suggested marking scheme is appended showing the relative importance attributed to the various components of the test by the CCENM Committee. Preferably the report should be written on the day of the test and submitted at the end of the session. However some Centres allow submissions at a later date within a week of the test. The timing of the report submission will have implications for the expected quality and content of the report. The quality of presentations and the amount of supporting information included with a reported submitted later than the day of the test should be superior. On the other hand, a write-up in the form of a twenty page ‘draft technical report’ is excessive and unacceptable.

Summary of key learning and teaching elements

The candidate should:

Develop a check list;
Demonstrate in-the-field competence with regard to the intended measurement and assessment objectives; and
Present a report consistent with these outcomes.

The written paper

The written paper consists of two parts. Part 1 contains ten short answer questions all of which are to be attempted and Part 2 requires a choice of two out of three longer questions. Past papers will be available from each Centre. Students should be aware that the syllabus changed in 2014 and earlier papers may include questions not on the current syllabus.