Aggregates & Construction Materials
Noise & Vibration Assessment and Control Solutions
Stone, sand and gravel, collectively referred to as “aggregate”, are the most mined materials in the world. Extracted from pits and quarries, these resources are either employed in their raw form, or are further processed to become ingredients in construction derivatives such as cement, concrete and asphalt that become the foundations of our construction and road building projects. Serving fast growing municipalities across the continent, Aggregates and their construction derivatives are a multi-billion dollar industry in North America.
The Challenges of Expanding Communities
While pits, quarries and cement plants are typically located in rural areas, they are rarely found or established without sound-sensitive homes nearby; more recently, the encroachment of expanding communities has become an increasing challenge for existing pits and quarries. After production, concrete and asphalt have a limited shelf life; such production facilities are therefore, by their nature, located close to and often within those expanding communities. As such, these industries face a common challenge of greater environmental scrutiny from all levels of government and the communities with which they co-exist.
Regulatory and Acoustical Know-how and Expertise
HGC has a strong track record of providing comprehensive and cost-effective vibration and noise mitigation solutions to the acoustical challenges of leaders in this industry. We work directly with environmental co-ordinators and managers, planners, engineers and lawyers to address all related noise and vibration approval issues. From assessing and controlling noise to achieve regulatory compliance to noise complaint investigations and provision of expert testimony in dispute resolution, we are intimately familiar with the regulatory process and operating environment of the Aggregate and construction derivatives industry.
HGC is also a sitting member on the Environmental Committees of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA), Concrete Ontario (Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario) and The Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council (APC).
Safety First
HGC is fully-versed and experienced conducting noise assessments under the strict safety protocols followed at pits/quarries, cement plants, ready-mix concrete batching plants, hot-mix asphalt plants, and the like. We are a qualified vendor to Lafarge Canada Inc. through Avetta and CRH Canada Inc. through Browz.
We have completed hundreds of projects in all sub-market areas including:
- Aggregate Pits and Quarries
- Aggregate Crushing Operations (Portable)
- Cement Plants
- Ready-Mix Concrete Batching Plants (Fixed & Portable)
- Hot Mix Asphalt Plants (Fixed & Portable)
Acoustical Consulting Services Include:
- Acoustic Assessments for Environmental Compliance Approval
- Noise Impact Studies for Pit/Quarry License – Unique to this industry in Ontario, Noise Impact Studies are required to support an application to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNRF”) for a Pit or Quarry License as per the Technical Reporting requirements of the Aggregate Resources Act (“ARA”)
- Acoustic Audits
- Peer Reviews
- Expert Witness Testimony
- Baseline Noise Studies
- Noise Complaint Investigations
- Workplace Noise Studies
- Noise and Vibration Control
Cement Plants, Quarries & Environmental Noise Issues: Part 1
Cement Plants, Quarries & Environmental Noise Issues: Part 2
NPC-300 brings major changes to Ontario’s environmental noise guidelines
What is Sound Intensity Measurement and Analysis?
Who We Help
Our Markets
Engineers, Architects, Planners, Environmental Health & Safety Specialists, Developers, Owners/Operators and Property Managers in sectors including:
Need Answers?
Reach out to our acoustical consultants now.