Thank you to Frank Monahan of Architecture at the Edge and the RIAI for hosting our CPD event titled ‘Acoustics for Architects’. We really had a great turnout and I look forward to working with AATE and the RIAI in the future.
Category Archives: News
GPG on TGD-E,2014 (Irish Building Regulations on Sound)
The AACI Good Practice Guidance Document on TGD-E,2014
The following document is at present under preparation at AACI and due for release at the latter part of quarter 1, 2020. The guidance is not considered to be a substitute for TGD-E, 2014, but instead, a document highlights good practice in an attempt to bring about higher construction standards and bring recognition to residential builders who exceed the minimum performance requirements described in TGD-E, 2014. The document will include practical checklists and set out the benefits of using qualified acoustic consultants when seeking design advice.
New revised Acoustics of Schools : a design guide in UK
This document jointly published by the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) and the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) is designed to accompany the revised performance standards for the acoustic design of schools published by the Department for Education in December 2014 (White cover below). This latest document is a revision of the guidance previously published in 2003 as Sections 2 to 7 of Building Bulletin 93: Acoustic Design of Schools and you can download the pdf here (Blue cover below).
Mum threatens neighbour over ‘noisy sex’ and telling her to ‘go and do it in a field!’
Source: The Sun
Date: 26th July 2018
Michelle Whelton hurled abuse at a woman in the street after her boyfriend moved in and they started making a lot of noise in Haverfordwest
Whelton was arrested and claimed her family had been disturbed by the woman have noisy sex in the flat next door.
A mum threatened a female neighbour after being enraged by her having “noisy sex”, a court heard.
Michelle Whelton, 49, hurled abuse at the woman as she left her home – and telling her: “Go and have sex in a field.”
Horrified neighbours and children watched as Whelton threatened that she would get a “good kicking.”
Whelton was arrested and claimed her family had been disturbed by the woman having noisy sex in a nearby flat.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones said: “She told police that when the woman has sex with her boyfriend she screams and makes a lot of noise.”
A court heard the victim moved house following the incident on February 21 after falling pregnant.
The row was sparked when the victim put in a noise complaint against Whelton for playing music late at night.
But furious Whelton got drunk and flew into a rage in the street at 6pm in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “It appears that Miss Whelton was drunk and she continued to be abusive.”
A victim impact statement said the mum was afraid to stay in her own home.
The mum said: “All I did was put in a noise complaint to the council and now I’m being punished for it.
“She has no idea of the impact of her behaviour.”
Defending Mike Kelleher said it was the culmination of “months of neighbourhood problems.”

He said: “The neighbour’s boyfriend moved in, and Miss Whelton was asking her to keep the noise down so her 13-year-old did not have to hear her.”Whelton, of Haverfordwest, claimed the neighbour said Whelton’s daughter should get to know the facts about the birds and the bees.
Owner of pub agrees to keep the noise down
The owner of a pub in Athenry has agreed to soundproof the premises following complaints from neighbours about noise.
The neighbours had lodged an objection to Kevin Kelly’s application to renew his publican’s licence for Dan’s Bar on North Gate Street, Athenry following the opening of a function room upstairs.
Gearóid Geraghty, representing Mr Kelly in the civil matter before Loughrea District Court, told Judge James Faughnan that his client had carried out some soundproofing adding that he had not held any music events on the premises since the complaint had been lodged.
In fact, apart from two pub quizzes being held this month — one last week and another this on March 23, that area was not being used.
Mr Geraghty pointed out that it would cost a total of €126,000 to completely soundproof the premises, which was money his client did not have. Mr Kelly had already spent €18,000 trying to resolve the issues.
Judge Faughnan insisted that both parties come to an agreement before the end of the court sitting, adding that there were simple steps that could be taken.
“He caused it, so it’s his problem. It’s a nuisance,” added the Judge.
Mr Geraghty said that there had been breaches unintended by his client and he was more than happy to come to an agreement with the complainants.
Judge Faughnan warned that Mr Kelly had now given an undertaking to the court and that any breach would be a breach of a court order.
Source: Connacht Tribune