August 2008 imac flying high

Congratulations to ASA’s Ian MacArthur, overall winner of the Club Class Nationals competition and proud holder of the The Royal Sun Alliance National Gliding Trophy. For more details go to http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk/comps/content/node/24.  Now all we have to do is lobby to have gliding included as an Olympic event for 2012...

 ASA is also proud to be supporting the 2008 Sailplane Grand Prix and Air Display, to be held on 6th September at Lasham Airfield.  You’ll be able to see Ian in action, and track the competition live.  For more information go to  http://www.gp2008.co.uk/.

March 2008 Promotion for Joao
Congratulations to Joao Goncalves, who is continuing ASA’s tradition for acoustics consultants with tricky names.  He has just been promoted to the role of CONSULTANT after joining us last summer.

December 2007 Dan is a member
Dan Saunders is continuing to forward the family tradition, and has now been confirmed as a full corporate member of the IOA.  Membership of the ANC requires us to maintain at least 50% of our consulting staff at this level or above.

November 2007 The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Solar
Solar Communications have completed ASA’s new phone system install and office network integration using very whizzy IP voice-data integration which assists us in more easily and quickly responding to client requests.

October 2007 Motorsport Working Group
Ed Clarke has been instrumental in the genesis of a joint ANC / IOA working group which met for the first time this month at the IOA Autumn Conference.  The group hopes to establish guidance in suitable methods for measuring noise emissions from motorport activity to provide more consistent comparison for use in noise impact assessments in this often contentious field.

July 2007 Mary’s Day
Welcome to our newest recruit: Mary Day.  Mary joins us after graduating from the ISVR (Institute of Sound and Vibration Research) at Southampton University, from where she was hand picked to join our consulting team.

June 2007 Congratulationss to Jamie D
 We are proud to announce the promotion of Jamie Duncan to the role of CONSULTANT. Jamie has been a great asset since joining us in August 2004, since when he has successfully completed his Institute of Acoustics Diploma and completed his “apprenticeship” as an assistant consultant.


May 2007 New consultant transfers to ASA
 Richard Sullivan started at ASA on 14th May as our latest signing to support a diverse and expanding workload. Richard joins us after having worked for a respected and worthy rival consultancy firm for new challenges at our Winchester office.


ANC AGM
 Halfway into Ed Clarke’s two year chairmanship of the Association of Noise Consultants, the annual general meeting was well attended, and reported a record level of membership and a very healthy financial position. This is due primarily to the ANC’s Registration Scheme for Sound Insulation Testing, which has now been operating for 3½ years, and processed over 75,000 tests – the results of which are all held in a central database.


April 2007 Concrete Objections Crushed
A successful outcome has been secured at public inquiry for Capital Demolitions, based in Addlestone, Surrey. ASA’s clients were seeking planning consent for concrete crushing plant which forms part of the UK’s move towards sustainable construction activity by recycling of demolition waste. The crushing plant can be relatively noisy, so the inspector has to be convinced that sufficient mitigation was in place to protect neighbouring residents who were very concerned about their loss of amenity which might result. Congratulations to all of the inquiry team.


January 2007 A Plague of Jamies
A new assistant consultant has joined ASA this month. Jamie Terrington will be known as Terry from now, as our roster of James-based names is once again full.


December 2006 Ecohomes Testing Resolved
ANC testing has been confirmed to be valid for all Ecohomes testing following further discussion with BRE Acoustics, as confirmed in an instruction to Ecohomes assessors issued on 18th December.


Ukuleles Rock
On the social front, ASA had an unusual festive treat with a Christmas meal combined with a performance by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Any sceptics who have not yet been converted can check them out at http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com or watch them play “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on the Jools Holland show at this link http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4559510005057780538


November 2006 Stop Shouting !
ASA are working with Brands Hatch Circuit operators MotorSport Vision and public address system experts Witwam on controls to limit the noise impact of commentary during races. Neighbours have commented on PA noise between races, when the level could actually be reduced significantly. Site tests have shown that it may be possible to do this automatically. www.motorsportvision.co.uk www.whitwam.ltd.uk


3rd Time lucky at bus station
Planning consent has finally been granted, at the third time of asking, for a £50m “all weather family dining and leisure facility” on the site of the old bus station at Exeter Road, Bournemouth. Developers Licet Holdings Ltd estimate 500 new jobs will be created.


October 2006 Sound Insulation – less is more
An unusual solution to improving sound insulation in lightweight constructions is being refined, as for the third time in recent months ASA has successfully implemented an in-situ fix based on removing material rather than adding it. Unhelpful resonances in lightweight constructions can be successfully “tuned-out” with selective core drilling. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME !