House attenuation of aircraft and street traffic noise in relation to annoyance: A pilot study

Abstract

House barrier sound attenuation was measured as differences between the levels of street traffic and aircraft noise found outdoors near the front (street facing) and rear façades, and in rooms of two one-story houses. Also, attenuation of street traffic and aircraft noise between the front and rear façades of similar one-story houses was calculated in accordance with acoustical models. Findings: (1) relative to levels measured near the front façade, street traffic noise near the rear façade, and in rooms inside the houses, was, on average, 9 max dB and 8 SEL dB more attenuated than was aircraft noise. (2) When attenuation of street traffic noise was measured relative to its level near the front façade, and attenuation for aircraft noise was measured relative to its level near the rear façade, street traffic noise was, on average, 7 max dB and 6 SEL dB more attenuated than aircraft noise. (3) Calculated barrier attenuation of street traffic noise was, on average, 1.3 max dB less than measured; calculated barrier attenuation of aircraft noise differed from measured by ∼0.4 max dB. Implications of the findings for guidelines for assessing impact of these noises on communities and land-use zoning are discussed.