Published by the ministry: January 31, 2017

Part A Background

This online guide replaces the “Noise Screening Process for S.9 Applications Supplement to Application for Approval” (February 2005), PIBS 4871e.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, it should not be construed as legal advice.

A.1 Purpose

This guide provides detailed instructions for the Preparer on how to use the Primary Noise Screening Method to complete the Primary Noise Screening Method form. The Director has approved the use of this form when the Primary Noise Screening Method is to be used.

A.2 When to use the Primary Noise Screening Method

The Primary Noise Screening Method may be used to assess noise emissions from a facility for the purpose of satisfying the noise assessment requirements for applications made under Section 20.2 in Part II.1 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

For information regarding the approval process under Part II.1 (Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA)) of the EPA refer to the Guide to applying for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA), Part C: Supporting documentation and technical requirements, section 3. Noise and Vibration.

The Primary Noise Screening Method may also be used to assess noise emissions from a facility for the purpose of preparing a noise report as required by Ontario Regulation 1/17: Registrations under Part II.2 of the Act – Activities Requiring Assessment of Air Emissions.

All requirements relating to registration in the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) are contained in Part II.2 of the EPA, O. Reg. 245/11: Registrations under Part II.2 of the Act – General and O. Reg. 1/17, which can be found on Ontario’s e-Laws website.

A.3 Noise assessment options

There are three noise assessment options that may be used to assess the impact of noise from a facility:

Depending upon the nature of the facility and the location of Points of Reception footnote 1 (PORs), a facility may be able to adequately assess noise emissions by completing the Primary Noise Screening Method or the Secondary Noise Screening Method. If the facility is not eligible for the Primary Noise Screening Method or the Secondary Noise Screening Method then an Acoustic Assessment must be performed.

  1. Primary Noise Screening Method: does not require detailed calculations and uses conservative assumptions for potential noise emissions from the facility to calculate the Minimum Separation Distance (MSD).
  2. Secondary Noise Screening Method: is less conservative and more rigorous than the Primary Noise Screening Method but less intensive than performing an Acoustic Assessment. The Secondary Noise Screening Method is used to determine the combined sound level at each affected POR. The Secondary Noise Screening Method considers the following information: the location of noise sources relative to the POR; the effect of barriers that break the line-of-sight; tonality; the intermittency of operation; and the background noise from major highways/roadways. The Preparer is not required to use the Primary Noise Screening Method prior to using the Secondary Noise Screening Method.
  3. Acoustic Assessment: is based on a detailed noise review of the noise sources at the facility and their impacts on affected PORs. If the facility is not eligible for the Primary Noise Screening Method or the Secondary Noise Screening Method then an Acoustic Assessment is required. It is not required that the Primary Noise Screening Method or the Secondary Noise Screening Method be used prior to performing an Acoustic Assessment.

Please note that ECA applications required to have a noise report will not be accepted without the inclusion of: a completed form for the Primary Noise Screening Method; or a completed form for the Secondary Noise Screening Method; or a completed Acoustic Assessment Report.

For a person required to have a noise report under the Air Emissions EASR regulation (O. Reg. 1/17), completing and printing the form for the Primary Noise Screening Method will form part of the noise report required in the Regulation, if the Primary Noise Screening Method is used.

The completed form for the Primary Noise Screening Method form, including all inputs and appendices mentioned throughout this guide, is required to be part of the noise report. Using the Secondary Noise Screening Method or performing an Acoustic Assessment are other available options that may form part of a noise report.

The noise report must be signed, sealed and dated by a licensed engineering practitioner and must set out the practitioner’s name and license number. For further instructions on the preparation of a noise report, refer to the:

A.4 Implementation by the MOECC

All new EASR registrations or ECA applications submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) that are required to have a noise report where the Primary Noise Screening Method is used, will be assessed in accordance with this guide.

A.5 How to use this guide

The following Ministry resources support the Primary Noise Screening Method – some in the context of an application for an ECA and some in the context of registration in the EASR:

A.6 Confidentiality

Information contained in the form for the Primary Noise Screening Method is part of the public file and will be made available to the public upon request. Information submitted as supporting information may be claimed as confidential but will be subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act process. If confidentiality is not claimed at the time of submitting the information, the MOECC may make the information available to the public without further notice to the Preparer.

A.7 Definitions

Actual Separation Distance (ASD) means the distance determined in Step 3 of the Primary Noise Screening Method (see B.3 of this guide).

Minimum Separation Distance (MSD) means the minimum required distance to achieve compliance with the MOECC sound level limits in accordance with the Primary Noise Screening Method.

Refer to Technical Definitions, Publication NPC-101 for the definition of Tonality.

ECA applicants should refer to Environmental Noise Guideline, Stationary and Transportation Sources – Approval and Planning, Publication NPC-300 for the following definitions:

  • Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 areas
  • noise
  • point of Reception (POR)

EASR registrants are to refer to Chapter 3 of “Environmental Activity and Sector Registry – Limits and Other Requirements” for the following definitions:

  • Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 areas.

EASR registrants should refer to O. Reg. 1/17: Registrations under Part II.2 of the Act – Activities Requiring Assessment of Air Emissions for the following definitions:

  • EASR publication
  • licensed engineering practitioner
  • point of (noise) reception (POR)

For EASR registrants please note that the term Point(s) of Reception in this guide and in the form for the Primary Noise Screening Method has the same meaning as “point(s) of noise reception” in O. Reg. 1/17.

A.8 Acronyms

ASD
Actual Separation Distance
EASR
Environmental Activity and Sector Registry
ECA
Environmental Compliance Approval
MOECC
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
MSD
Minimum Separation Distance
NAICS
North American Industry Classification System
NPC-300
Environmental Noise Guideline, Stationary and Transportation Sources – Approval and Planning, Publication NPC-300
POR(s)
Point(s) of (Noise) Reception

A.9 Questions

For any questions about this guide or the form, refer to A.5 How to use this guide and Part B: Primary noise screening method, or contact:

Client Services and Permissions Branch (CSPB) Help Desk
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5

Part B Primary noise screening method

This section explains how to use the Primary Noise Screening Method to complete the form that the Director has approved for using the Method.

B.1 Confirm eligibility (step 1)

The first step of the Primary Noise Screening Method is to determine whether the facility:

If any of the above criteria are met, using the Primary Noise Screening Method will result in an indication that another noise assessment option must be used to assess noise emissions from the facility.

The Preparer must identify the facility’s six digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code using the Statistics Canada publication North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017 - Canada, as amended. For more information visit Statistics Canada website.

The Primary Noise Screening Method can be applied to mining, utilities and manufacturing operations. Specifically, the Primary Noise Screening Method can be used for facilities with NAICS codes starting with 21, 22, 31, 32 or 33.

Facilities with different NAICS codes are eligible provided that all significant noise sources present at the facility are identified on the following list:

  • Cooling towers
  • Chillers
  • Air compressors
  • Boilers
  • Exhaust and general ventilation

B.2 Identify the closest point of reception (step 2)

Step 2 of the Primary Noise Screening Method is to determine the closest POR that is affected by any of the facility’s noise sources. ECA applicants must refer to NPC-300 for the definition of Point of Reception and EASR registrants must refer to O. Reg. 1/17 for the definition of point of noise reception.

Land use zoning designation plan

A Land Use Zoning Designation Plan is information used in the Primary Noise Screening Method and must be appended to the form. The Land Use Zoning Designation Plan can be obtained from the municipality’s planning department and must indicate:

  • Facility property lines;
  • Closest POR affected by any of the facility’s noise emissions;
  • Current zoning and permitted land uses; and
  • A legend, scale and north arrow.

The form for the Primary Noise Screening Method also requires the Preparer to include a description of the closest POR and to identify the POR’s acoustical classification (i.e., Class 1 to 3).

B.3 Determine actual separation distance (step 3)

Determine actual separation distance

ASD is the distance between the facility and a POR measured in metres.

ECA applicants and EASR registrants are to refer to the respective section below for an explanation of how to determine ASD.

ECA applicants

To measure the ASD, the Preparer must measure from the closest facility wall or outdoor noise source, as applicable to the property line of the closest POR.

For PORs in Class 3 areas, where properties may be larger and may include areas that would not be considered noise-sensitive, PORs only include locations within 30 metres of a dwelling or camping area where sound or vibration originating from other than those premises is received.

For larger facilities with several outdoor noise sources, this process may have to be repeated for each outdoor noise source and different PORs in order to identify the shortest ASD to the closest POR.

EASR registrants

To measure the ASD, the Preparer must measure from the closest facility wall or outdoor noise source, as applicable to the property line of the closest POR. The ASD shall be measured from Point A to Point B in accordance with the following:

  1. Point A is,
    1. the point that is located on the exterior wall of a building at the facility and that is closest to the property boundary of the POR, or
    2. if there is an outdoor source of sound located closer to the property boundary of the POR than the point mentioned in subparagraph i, the point that is located on the edge of the outdoor source of sound and that is closest to the property boundary of the POR.
  2. Point B is the point that is located on the property boundary of the POR and that is closest to Point A.

There is an exception to the measurement rule set out above. If the closest POR is a dwelling or a camping area that is located in a Class 3 area, a person may use Point C instead of Point B in the measurement rule set out above, where, Point C is the point that is located 30 metres from the exterior wall of the dwelling or edge of the camping area and closest to Point A.

However, if the distance between Point A and Point C is less than the distance between Point A and Point B, the distance between Point A and Point B must be used to measure the ASD.

For facilities with several outdoor noise sources, this process may have to be repeated for each outdoor noise source and different PORs in order to identify the shortest ASD to the closest POR.

Scaled area location plan

A Scaled Area Location Plan is information that is used in the Primary Noise Screening Method and must be appended to the form. The Scaled Area Location Plan must indicate the location of:

  • Facility property lines;
  • The closest POR affected by any of the facility’s noise emissions;
  • All buildings on the facility’s site;
  • All noise sources at the facility located outside a building envelope;
  • ASD to the closest POR shown as a line measured in metres;
  • The relative location of the PORs to any 400 series and/or provincial highways and regional roads. This distance is measured from the edge of the pavement of the highway/roadway to the property line of the POR; and
  • A legend, scale and north arrow.

Base maps showing the features of the surrounding neighbourhood may be obtained from the municipality, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or other mapping companies.

B.4 Determine minimum separation distance (step 4)

If the ASD from the closest POR to the facility is greater than or equal to 1,000 metres, then the Preparer is only required to complete the Facility Information, and Steps 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the Primary Noise Screening Method. For the purposes of this scenario, the MSD will be 1,000 metres.

If the ASD from the closest POR to the facility is greater than or equal to 500 metres and the facility does not have any of the equipment identified in Question 9 of the form for the Primary Noise Screening Method, then the Preparer is only required to complete the Facility Information, Steps 1, 2, 3, 6 and Step 4, Question 9 of the Primary Noise Screening Method. For the purposes of this scenario, the MSD will be 500 metres.

There are multiple criteria that determine the MSD including: NAICS code, equipment, activities, acoustical classification of the POR and hours of operation. The following will help the Preparer determine if the facility will meet the requirements of the Primary Noise Screening Method:

MSD is 1,000 metres if,

  • The facility has a NAICS code that begins with 21, 22111, 324, 3251, 32731, 32741, 3311 or 3313; or
  • The facility has any of the equipment identified in Question 9.

MSD is 300 metres or 500 metres if,

  • The facility has a NAICS code that begins with 22112, 2213, 321, 322, 325 (except 3251), 326, 327 (except 32731 and 32741), 331 (except 3311 and 3313), 332 (except 33271 and 3328), 333, 335, 336; and/or
  • The facility has any of the activities identified in Question 10.

For facilities with a MSD of 300 metres or 500 metres the Preparer will be required to identify the facility’s hours of operation (Question 11). The acoustical classification of the closest POR will be compared against the facility’s hours of operation to determine applicable MSD (300 metres or 500 metres).

Class 1

Hours of OperationMinimum Separation Distance
Daytime (07:00 to 19:00) and Evening (19:00 to 23:00) Operation Only300 metres
Nighttime Operation (23:00 to 07:00)500 metres

Class 2

Hours of OperationMinimum Separation Distance
Daytime Operation (07:00 to 19:00) Only300 metres
Evening (19:00 to 23:00) and Nighttime (23:00 to 07:00) Operation500 metres

If the closest POR is in a Class 3 area, then the MSD will be 500 metres regardless of hours of operation.

MSD is between 50 metres and 500 metres if,

  • The facility’s NAICS code does not begin with 21, 22, 31, 32, or 33; or
  • The facility does not have any of the equipment or activities identified in Questions 9 and 10, respectively.

For facilities with a MSD between 50 metres and 500 metres, the Preparer will be required to complete Questions 11 – 19.

If the closest POR is located within 100 metres of the edge of pavement of a 400 series highway; or within 30 metres of the edge of pavement of a provincial highway or a regional road then the Preparer will be required to assess the next closest POR that is not affected by a roadway by completing Questions 20 – 22.

If applicable, the following explanations will help the Preparer complete Questions 15, 17 and 18:

Question 15: Air compressors

Question 15 only applies to air compressors used to provide process air or for pneumatic conveying systems located at the facility.

Question 17: Process and general ventilation fans

The Preparer is required to sum the total maximum volumetric flow rate for all process or general ventilation fans or blowers at the facility that are not directly referenced elsewhere in Questions 11 - 19. If fans are capable of operating at two speeds, the higher volumetric flow rate should be used. It is not necessary to include fans associated with cooling towers or fans that are part of packaged HVAC equipment. Fans serving condensers or other cooling units should be included.

Question 18: Location of air compressors, fans or blower motors

The Preparer is required to identify if any of the fans, blowers or air compressors are located outside the building envelope. For example if a fan serving a dust collector is located outside, then the answer is yes. If the fan and dust collector are inside the building envelope, then the answer is no.

B.5 Compare actual separation distance with minimum separation distance (step 5)

If the ASD determined in Step 3 is less than the MSD determined in Step 4, then the facility does not meet the requirements of the Primary Noise Screening Method. See ‘A.3 Noise Assessment Options’ for additional noise assessment options.

If the ASD determined in Step 3 is greater than or equal to the MSD determined in Step 4, the facility meets the requirements of the Primary Noise Screening Method.

If the second closest POR is required to be assessed, then the ASD identified in Step 4 Question 22 must be greater than or equal to the MSD determined in Step 4 for that POR, to meet the requirements of the Primary Noise Screening Method.

B.6 Preparer statement (step 6)

The Preparer must sign the Preparer Statement.

If the Primary Noise Screening Method was used for the purposes of satisfying the noise assessment requirements for applications made under Section 20.2 in Part II.1, then the completed form for the Primary Noise Screening Method, including all inputs and appendices mentioned throughout this document, is required to be submitted as part of an ECA application.

If the Primary Noise Screening Method was used for the purposes of satisfying the noise report requirements set out in the Air Emissions EASR regulation (O. Reg. 1/17), then the completed form for the Primary Noise Screening Method, including all inputs and appendices mentioned throughout this document, is required to be part of the noise report.