Download the Noise Control Guidance for Nightlife IndustryĪdditionally, if you have a noise complaint related to a hospitality industry establishment or are an establishment that is experiencing consistent complaints from residents, the Mediating Establishment and Neighborhood Disputes (MEND) NYC initiative aims to resolve disputes over noise and other quality of life issues using professional mediation services.
Noise levels have rocketed in recent months, fuelled by the proliferation of outdoor seating during the pandemic, Badia said. The Noise Code restricts the decibel levels created by air conditioners and other types of circulation devices. “We have 114 residential buildings and 116 licensed terraces,” he told El Periódico. On Thursday more than 30 associations will take to the streets to protest under the banner of “Silence … Noise kills!”Īmong those planning to attend is Jordi Badia, whose street is home to one of Barcelona’s highest concentrations of restaurant terraces. Issues have also long flared up around the city’s nightlife.
Many are aimed at quelling traffic noise, which ranks as the city’s primary source of noise pollution. The initiative is part of a broader set of measures – from traffic calming to the reduction of noise at work sites – to be rolled out in Barcelona in the coming years. “Our goal is to have a much quieter, more peaceful and friendly city,” Badia said. With the recognition of specific acoustically stressed areas, officials hope to pave the way for lasting solutions. The initiative builds on a network of sound level meters already set up in the city, which had allowed officials to take sporadic action to address soaring noise levels, such as clearing out a plaza.
Residents whose areas are deemed “acoustically stressed” will also be able to access grants to help them insulate windows and soundproof their homes. Potential actions could include limiting outdoor dining hours or curbing the hours that local stores sell alcohol. “In that case the district will have to present an action plan that can be worked on with neighbours, restaurants and others to try to mitigate the damage that is being done.” “If the limits are exceeded during two consecutive weekends, the area will be confirmed as acoustically stressed,” Badia said. Acceptable decibel limits vary from area to area, based on factors such as the width of the street or the distribution of buildings. From there officials will start listening. In the coming days, sound meters are expected to be installed in all the areas where residents regularly complain of noise. The figure dwarfs the estimates across Europe, where one in five are exposed to harmful levels of noise pollution. A recent study by Barcelona’s public health agency found that about 57% of people in the city are regularly exposed to noise levels that exceed those recommended by the World Health Organization.