Description

Good acoustic quality is an invisible building feature. When done well, you don’t notice it, but if not, there can be significant negative effects.

AS DWELLING density increases, building occupants often become more aware of noise, that is, any unwanted sound the occupant cannot control.

For building designers, key areas that need consideration in the design of dwellings are:

• inter-tenancy noise – from adjacent dwellings and neighbours
• environmental noise – street or building-generated noise, such as traffic, exuberant people, night clubs and bars, night street works or construction
• building services noise – air conditioning, heat pumps, drainage, plumbing, lifts.

Scope

This article includes:

• Noise can impact health
• Main types of sound transmission
• Barriers to acoustic comfort
• Are there any rules?
• Reducing external noise impact
• Reducing internal noise impact