Substation Noise Impact Assessment – Milnathort, Kinross

Forth Noise & Vibration was commissioned by Dalcour Maclaren to undertake a Noise Impact Assessment for proposed upgrade works at Milnathort Primary Substation in Kinross. The assessment considered the potential operational noise impact of the upgraded electrical infrastructure on nearby residential properties and was undertaken in accordance with BS 4142:2014+A1:2019.

The challenge

The project involved an existing operational substation located close to residential receptors, including recently developed housing.

Because the substation operates continuously, particular attention was required during the quieter night-time period, when background sound levels are typically lowest and transformer noise may be more noticeable.

The assessment also needed to distinguish the underlying acoustic environment from the contribution of the existing substation so that the proposed upgrade could be evaluated on an appropriate basis.

Our approach

Forth Noise & Vibration undertook an attended night-time environmental noise survey at representative residential locations surrounding the site, together with measurements at a separate surrogate position selected to characterise background sound without influence from the existing substation.

Operational noise from the proposed transformer plant was then modelled using SoundPLANnoise, applying the propagation methodology of ISO 9613-2. The model incorporated surrounding buildings, site geometry, ground effects, reflections and noise-sensitive receptor positions.

The assessment was undertaken in accordance with BS 4142, including consideration of the distinctive tonal characteristics commonly associated with transformer noise and the wider acoustic context of the site.

The outcome

The assessment provided the project team with a clear understanding of the acoustic implications of the proposed substation upgrade and established an appropriate basis for evaluating operational transformer noise at surrounding residential properties.

The work also informed acoustic performance requirements for the proposed equipment and provided a framework for reviewing the design should plant specifications or operating conditions change as the project progressed.

Services provided

• Noise Impact Assessment
• Substation noise assessment
• Transformer noise assessment
• BS 4142 assessment
• Environmental noise survey
• SoundPLAN modelling
• ISO 9613-2 noise prediction
• Tonal noise assessment
• Acoustic design support