Our Approach
Municipalities, government agencies, and private associations have trusted the team at Valcoustics to develop a wide variety of training seminars, procedures, research guidelines, and acoustic design standards. Environmental and architectural examples include:
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Noise Guideline NPC-300
- City of Toronto Noise By-Law Technical Manual & Training Course
- City of Toronto Noise By‑law Review
- Ontario Ministry of Environment Compliance Protocol for Wind Turbine Noise Peer Review
- Ontario MECP Offshore Wind Farm Noise Model Assessment
- Design Guidelines for British Columbia Courthouse Facilities
- Ontario Courthouse Acoustical Design Standards
- Courthouse Acoustical Design Standards for Federal Courthouses
- Royal Bank of Canada Acoustic Design Standards
The firm has also partnered with various municipalities to draft noise-by laws and prepare training seminars. Decades ago, Valcoustics was also part of the technical committee to advise on traffic and rail noise prediction models (ORNAMENT and STEAM) that are still used in Ontario.
Additionally, Valcoustics also extensive experience in providing peer review services to many municipalities, including: Cities of Toronto, Hamilton, Brampton, Vaughan, Barrie, Windsor, Sarnia, Kingston, Cambridge, Oshawa, Markham, Kawartha Lakes; Town/Townships of Stouffville, Oro, Mono, Warwick, Bradford, Woolwich, Caledon, Grimsby, East Luther Grand Valley, Amaranth, St. Clair, Innisfil, Brighton, Centre Wellington, Melancthon, Bracebridge, Grimsby; Regions of York, Peel and Niagara, Haldimand County, County of Oxford, Municipality of Grey Highlands, plus many others. Valcoustics has also provided peer review services to the private sector, MECP and the PEO.
FURTHER PROJECT DETAILS CAN BE FOUND BELOW:
MECP Noise Guideline NPC-300
Valcoustics was contracted by the Ontario MECP to review and provide a draft update of the MECP’s Noise Pollution Control Guidelines “Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 1 and 2 Areas (Urban)” – Publication NPC-205 and “Noise Assessment Criteria in Land Use Planning” – Publication LU-131 (Noise Guideline documents).
The scope of work included a literature and jurisdiction search of other national/international noise policies, criteria, and guidelines, stakeholder consultations and drafting the new guideline. The revised noise guideline has been released as NPC-300 “Environmental Noise Guideline – Stationary and Transportation Sources, Approval and Planning” in 2013. All environmental noise reports in the Province of Ontario are based on this noise guideline.
City of Toronto Noise By-Law Technical Manual & Training Course
Valcoustics was retained multiple times by the City of Toronto to draft a technical training manual and seminar course for Toronto By-law enforcement officers to provide updated training for the revised By-law issued the fall of 2019.
City of Toronto Noise By‑law Review
Valcoustics was retained to assist the City of Toronto’s Municipal Licensing & Standards Division with creating a new noise by‑law (Chapter 591 of the Toronto Municipal Code).
Our work included but was not limited to: reviewing the proposed changes to the By‑law; researching the noise by‑laws of other popular cities to determine the best practices; and preparing a report outlining any issues, areas of concern and recommendations that can be applied to the new By‑law.
Ontario MECP Offshore Wind Farm Noise Model Assessment (2016)
Retained by the MECP to review offshore noise propagation models for use in Ontario for assessment of Offshore Wind Farms. Scope of work also included best practices and jurisdictional scan from around the world.
Metrolinx GO Best Practices for Noise Mitigation (2016)
As an effort to assist with planning and decision making as the the rail network expands, Metrolinx retained Valcoustics to review noise mitigation best practices around the world to be considered for implementation into the GO Commuter Rail service. The guide is used to enhance the ability to anticipate, manage and respond to noise issues and concerns during a period of growth and expansion.
Guidelines for New Proximity to Railway Operations (2015)
Valcoustics provided seminars to acoustical consultants and land use planners from across Canada on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Railway Association of Canada on the use of the new Guideline for New Development in Proximity to Railway Operations (issued May 2013). Seminars were held in Saskatoon and Halifax.
Design Guidelines for British Columbia Courthouse Facilities (2014)
Valcoustics developed the acoustical design standards portion, covering room acoustics, sound isolation and noise control for courthouse facilities in British Columbia.
City of Kingston Best Practices for Sound Level limits due to Stationary Noise Sources (2014)
The City of Kingston retained Valcoustics to complete an Environmental Noise Control and Best Practices report for City staff. The emphasis of the assignment was to assist with assessing, controlling and regulating stationary noise sources
Ontario MECP Compliance Protocol for Wind Turbine Noise (2011)
Valcoustics was retained by the Ontario MECP to complete a peer review of the draft protocol prepared by another consultant.
Ontario MOE Guideline for Assessing Audible Noise from High Voltage Electricity Transmission Lines (2011)
We were retained by MECP to prepare the above guideline, including working sessions and presentation to stakeholders.
Haldimand County Noise By-law (2009)
Valcoustics was retained by the County to prepare a new noise by-law for the amalgamated municipality (formerly three separate municipalities) accounting for potentially different concerns and needs in different geographic areas. The scope included conducting public meetings to obtain input from the public. On our initiative, a survey questionnaire was developed for those unable to attend and distributed by the municipality in such places as public libraries and also made available to the public on the municipal website. The project culminated with a recommended noise by-law and a presentation of the same to Council, with the final form prepared by the municipality’s legal counsel.
