Intrusive Automotive Noise in Buildings over Arterial Highways

Abstract

A recent experiment indicates that the intrusive automotive noise levels in air-rights buildings can be predicted from the floor slab transmission loss and the 50-ft truck levels published in Report 78 of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. Correlation between data and predictions was used to determine an average effective source height for truck noise. A design goal for this intrusive noise was determined from spectrum shape and the expected ambient air-handling noise within the building. The impact was evaluated in terms of A-level, preferred speech interference level, and NC rating. The prediction procedure was used to develop floor slab recommendations for a proposed future air-rights building over a section of planned urban interstate highway. Use of the STC rating to design against air-rights intrusive noise was evaluated.