Restaurant extractor fan audible from garden

SameOldRoundabout

lapaillade90 said:

Barny1979 said:

I can't imagine they can do anything themselves and I would expect the fan is standard and therefore acceptable noise from it, so Environmental Health would not look to take enforcement action.

You'd think it would be possible to install a quieter fan though, no? I can't say I've ever previously walked past a takeaway and thought someone is mowing a lawn in there...

Possible? Maybe. Likely to happen because you have a moan? Not on your nelly. I do have some sympathy as it must be annoying but really, you should’ve heard on viewing or noticed the takeaway and questioned any noise/smell implication. 

FaceHead

lapaillade90 said:

 living under a flight path generates noise, it's not comparable as those aren't really within anyone's control

I'd say that aeroplane noise is just as much in the control of an airline as an extractor fan is of a restaurant. They make a choice to make the noise or not, and the alternative is closing their business.

lapaillade90 said:

 A noise nuisance is one that "interferes significantly with your right to enjoy your home".

Your right to enjoy your home has to be balanced with other people's rights, such as to make a living or to keep their staff and customers safe. Even if it is a "nuisance" that doesn't automatically mean it should be shut down.

Given that it isn't happening after 11pm (the time after which you would have greater expectation of quiet) or on a Sunday, it seems that having a normally functioning extractor at these times strikes the balance correctly.

I think the question is then whether the extractor fan is making really excessive noise because it is faulty. In which case you might talk to the owner, and if it really bothers you that much you might offer to contribute to the cost of the replacement - they seem to go for £100 - £400 and have a noise level of 25 - 50 dBA at 3 meters. Perhaps try to measure the noise at 3 meters. The in-line ones, where the motor is inside the building will then have a lot less noise as heard outside. 

I don't think you have any 'right' to have this noise reduced or eliminated, but you might be able talk to the owner and work something out. 

lapaillade90

FaceHead said:

lapaillade90 said:

 living under a flight path generates noise, it's not comparable as those aren't really within anyone's control

I'd say that aeroplane noise is just as much in the control of an airline as an extractor fan is of a restaurant. They make a choice to make the noise or not, and the alternative is closing their business.

lapaillade90 said:

 A noise nuisance is one that "interferes significantly with your right to enjoy your home".

Your right to enjoy your home has to be balanced with other people's rights, such as to make a living or to keep their staff and customers safe. Even if it is a "nuisance" that doesn't automatically mean it should be shut down.

Given that it isn't happening after 11pm (the time after which you would have greater expectation of quiet) or on a Sunday, it seems that having a normally functioning extractor at these times strikes the balance correctly.

I think the question is then whether the extractor fan is making really excessive noise because it is faulty. In which case you might talk to the owner, and if it really bothers you that much you might offer to contribute to the cost of the replacement - they seem to go for £100 - £400 and have a noise level of 25 - 50 dBA at 3 meters. Perhaps try to measure the noise at 3 meters. The in-line ones, where the motor is inside the building will then have a lot less noise as heard outside. 

I don't think you have any 'right' to have this noise reduced or eliminated, but you might be able talk to the owner and work something out. 

Thanks - the second part of your response answers the crux of my question, which is whether the noise is excessive (rather than whether the restaurant is allowed to have a fan). For what it's worth, I've stood at the back of the commercial property (I'd guess about 10m from the fan, which is located high up), and got a reading of ~50dB. I couldn't easily get within 3 metres, but based on what you've said, that would suggest the fan is noisier than it should be!

On your last point, I disagree. If the noise is excessive, that is specifically the sport of thing the council should be addressing.

AdrianC

To put it into perspective, 50dB is a quiet suburb or a normal domestic conversation.

The height is probably a large part of why the sound spreads so far - but equally is required to take the heat and smells away from your garden...

bolwin1

Let's get this right - you move close to a restaurant with a normal commercial extract fan & then complain that you are close to a restaurant with an extractor fan. 

I think the other responders are being very polite with you.

lapaillade90

bolwin1 said:

Let's get this right - you move close to a restaurant with a normal commercial extract fan & then complain that you are close to a restaurant with an extractor fan. 

I think the other responders are being very polite with you.

Have you just not read any of this thread? I know restaurants need extractor fans. The point of this thread is to ask whether a restaurant having an extractor fan which sounds like a lawnmower three properties down is normal.

GDB2222

Suppose that there’s nothing actually wrong with the fan, but there’s a newer model that is quieter. Would you offer to pay to install that? 

You are only going to get frustrated with the free ‘advice' available here. You need an expert to advise you.

lapaillade90

GDB2222 said:

Suppose that there’s nothing actually wrong with the fan, but there’s a newer model that is quieter. Would you offer to pay to install that? 

Yeah, possibly.

coffeehound

On first approach, you might say something like you would contribute [at least half the cost of a new install, whatever that is] towards the installation if it reduced noise levels below [xx] dB measured at [location] using a calibrated meter.

Going straight in asking them to just replace it is likely to attract an unfavourable response.

GDB2222

lapaillade90 said:

GDB2222 said:

Suppose that there’s nothing actually wrong with the fan, but there’s a newer model that is quieter. Would you offer to pay to install that? 

Yeah, possibly.

You can approach the restaurant owners first, or get someone who knows about extraction systems to take a look. If he says that there’s nothing to be done on a practical basis, that’s an answer. Not the one you want, but it’s better than trying to change something that can’t be changed.