Day noise insulation scheme

BAA Heathrow is investing over £10 million to protect homes most affected by aircraft noise. If you have lived around Heathrow for some years, you may have taken part in noise insulation schemes run by the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions - the government department responsible for aviation policy.

The noise insulation scheme is a voluntary scheme that has been introduced by BAA Heathrow to provide quality insulation products direct to the home. As well as reducing noise disturbance, the scheme offers choice and flexibility with different options and products to choose from.

Who is eligible to apply?
The scheme commenced in 1996 and is open to approximately 8,500 homes around the airport boundary. We have defined the boundary using a noise contour which represents the onset of high noise disturbance - known as the 69 LAeq contour.

The options
BAA Heathrow's scheme is designed to offer choice and flexibility to meet different people's needs.

Those eligible to apply can choose from:

• Free secondary glazing to fit existing windows
  or
• A fifty per cent contribution to standard double glazed PVCu replacement windows
  or
• A fifty per cent contribution to high specification double glazed PVCu replacement windows, specially designed to reduce noise levels
  or
• A combination of these options

If you are eligible to apply and have had double glazing fitted in the past and do not want it replaced, BAA Heathrow will arrange a free home survey to identify whether the home's current insulation qualities can be improved under the scheme.

Ventilation and loft insulation is offered free of charge as part of the scheme. Loft insulation helps to further reduce noise disturbance.

BAA Heathrow has appointed Everest to carry out the work. Everest is a well known glazing firm with a reputation for high quality products and service.

If you have any questions about the noise insulation scheme, please call BAA Heathrow on 020 8745 7930.

Latest information
In 2002, we reviewed our voluntary residential noise insulation scheme and consequently extended it to include primary schools within the 69 decibel noise boundary.  Actual work started in early 2003. To date 8 schools have been completed: Cranford Infants School, Cranford Junior School, Bedfont Infants School, Bedfont Junior School, Grove Road School, Hounslow Heath Infants School, Marjory Kinnon School, Pippins School and Beavers School is in the process of being completed.  The majority of the work was undertaken during school holidays to minimise disruption. On average, our insulation programme has delivered a reduction in noise of between 5dba and 10dba per classroom/assembly hall.

Additionally, approximately 200 homes received noise insulation during 2004/05 - this was in the form of loft insulation, ventilation and double/secondary glazing to windows. 

Voluntary noise insulation schemes.
Some people live very close to the airport and it is these people who are most affected by noise. For these residents, we have provided noise insulation – special double or secondary glazing – and we pay for all or part of the cost. We’ve also done this in some local schools.

But noise insulation has to be a last resort, because we believe that it is far better to have lower levels of noise.