Keeping traffic noise outdoors

Abstract

Proper design of housing near major traffic routes must include appropriate noise insulation provisions. A guideline has been developed which includes both a model for calculating the outdoor sound level (Leq) from road traffic and a building design procedure. The noise prediction model takes account of many acoustically significant parameters, and incorporates several novel features. The heights of relevant noise sources (tires, truck exhaust, etc.) are allowed for in evaluating the effective source height, which is of obvious importance in assessing the effectiveness of barriers. The barrier noise reduction calculation includes a simple correction procedure to allow for sound coming around the ends of a short barrier. Parameters in the ground attenuation calculation include source height, receiver height, horizontal source‐receiver distance, and the height of any intervening barrier. The building design procedure permits selection of appropriate components to provide the required noise reduction for eac...