What limits or thresholds do councils usually enforce for vibration?

Most UK local authorities follow the guidance in BS 5228 or BS 7385 when setting vibration limits for construction projects. These standards aren’t strict laws, but they are widely accepted benchmarks.

A common threshold is around 1 mm/s to 3 mm/s PPV (Peak Particle Velocity) for places like homes, offices and public buildings. PPV is just a measure of how fast the ground is moving — it’s the main indicator used to judge whether the vibration might be annoying or potentially damaging.

For very sensitive buildings, such as historic structures, the limits may be set lower. For heavy industrial zones or less sensitive areas, limits can be a bit higher.

Local councils usually specify limits through planning conditions. If vibration levels exceed the agreed threshold, the contractor normally has to review their method of work, adjust equipment, or even pause operations until they can bring levels back down.