Celebrating Six Months with Graeme Hales, one of HA’s Senior Acoustic Consultants

We’re delighted to celebrate the first six months of Graeme Hales’ journey with HA Acoustics. Since joining us in January 2025 as a Senior Acoustic Consultant, Graeme has brought a wealth of experience, technical precision, and a collaborative mindset to our team—making an immediate and positive impact.

A Strong Start with Real-World Results

Graeme has already played a pivotal role in delivering a range of diverse and technically demanding projects. His recent work includes:

Noise Impact Assessments for Dog Daycare Centres

Graeme led two noise assessments to support planning applications for dog daycare centres—one in Braintree, Essex, and another in Kings Lynn, West Norfolk. These projects required detailed environmental noise monitoring, predictive calculations, and the development of practical mitigation strategies to ensure planning compliance and community reassurance.

Change of Use Assessment for a Place of Worship

In Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Graeme conducted a noise impact assessment for a proposed change of use from a commercial premises to a place of worship. His work involved evaluating potential noise impacts on surrounding properties and providing evidence-based recommendations to support the planning application.

Reverberation Study at a World-Renowned Equine Auction House

One of Graeme’s most unique projects involved an investigative reverberation assessment at a prestigious equine auction house in Newmarket. His approach included:

• Measuring reverberation time during quiet periods to assess sound decay
• Investigating speaker orientation, material absorption, and surface reflectivity
• Attending a live auction to subjectively assess speech clarity
• Creating an initial 3D acoustic model of the venue using specialist software, incorporating speakers, windows, doors, tiered seating, the roof atrium, and the auctioneer’s booth

This comprehensive analysis provided the client with a clear pathway to improve speech intelligibility for bidders and reduce fatigue caused by high ambient noise levels.

3D Acoustic Modelling for Educational Spaces

Graeme has also collaborated with our Principal Acoustic Consultant, Mark, to model the acoustics of several school halls and classrooms. These models simulate the acoustic performance of different materials (flooring, walls, ceilings), furniture layouts, and teacher/student positions—helping architects design optimal learning environments with clear speech transmission and minimal reverberation.

A Career Built on Sound Expertise

Before joining HA Acoustics, Graeme worked on the HS2 C1 sector with Align JV (Sir Robert McAlpine), where he managed noise, vibration, and air quality during construction. His responsibilities included:

• Conducting attended and unattended monitoring
• Performing BS5228-1 ABC method assessments
• Managing Section 61 consents and Dust Risk Assessments
• Engaging with local authorities and the public
• Presenting at IOA conferences and contributing to best practice publications

A Unique Perspective on Acoustics

Graeme’s background in audio production—spanning roles as a lecturer, studio technician, and project manager—adds a creative edge to his consultancy work. He holds an MA and BSc in Audio Production and has taught at SAE Institute London, giving him a deep appreciation for sound quality and user experience.

Thought Leadership and Recognition

Graeme is an Associate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (AMIOA) and has presented at several IOA events, including:

• Management of Construction Noise on HS2 (IOA Central Branch, 2023)
• Lessons Learned Monitoring Noise During Construction of the HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct and Chiltern Tunnels (IOA Acoustics 2023)
• Managing Low Frequency Noise During Precast Concrete Segment Production for HS2 (IOA Acoustics 2023)

He has also appeared on BBC One’s The One Show and BBC Essex’s The Dave Monk Show to discuss dialogue intelligibility in TV drama.

Looking Ahead

Graeme’s first six months at HA Acoustics have been marked by innovation, precision, and a passion for improving acoustic environments. We’re excited to see what the next chapter holds as he continues to shape spaces where sound works for people—not against them.

Please join us in celebrating Graeme’s achievements so far—and in looking forward to what’s next!

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