www.chiaramonte-consult.eu The Hague
Good Practice Guide on Quiet Areas

Introduction

Sound, noise and quiet

Definitions and selection criteria

Health benefits of quiet &  biodiversity 

The economic value of quiet areas

Lessons learned from commitments by MS and other competent authorities

Methods for identifying quiet areas

Recommendations and Conclusions


More on:
- references & useful documents and links
- health effects
- quiet facades
-  protection and monitoring

Disclaimer: this site is based on the published EEA document, but not identical. Over time the differences will increase as more recent material will be added to this site by Chiaramonte Consult. Please send your comments and suggestions for extensions and improvment to info@quietareas.eu.

Definitions and selection criteria

 

The END defines separately quiet areas in and outside agglomerations, and also quiet façades:

 ·           Quiet Area in agglomeration : shall mean an area, delimited by the competent authority, for instance which is not exposed to a value of Lden or of another appropriate noise indicator greater than a certain value set by the Member State, from any noise source (p. 14);

·           Quiet Area in open country : shall mean an area, delimited by the competent authority, that is undisturbed by noise from traffic, industry or recreational activities (p. 14).

·           Quiet façade : meaning the façade of a dwelling at which the value of Lden four metres above the ground and two metres in front of the façade, for the noise emitted from a specific source, is more than 20 dB lower than at the façade having the highest value of Lden (p. 24).

 

The first two definitions are  operational. The first aims to define ‘quiet area’ on a physical basis, whereas the second is more directed towards the effect - disturbance. The definition of quiet façade borders quite literally on the definition of quiet area in agglomerations: connect a number of quiet façades, and a quiet area is the natural result, and vice versa.

 

An analysis of current practices shows that there is a large variety in approaches and methods for identification of quiet areas, as well as in physical  and effect oriented definitions or selection criteria (Table 1).

 

Table 1      Selection criteria for quiet areas (not-limitative set)

Type

Indicator

Range criteria

Urban

Range criteria

Open country

Acoustic

Leq,24h

40  dB(A)

25-45 dB(A)

 

Lden

50-55  dB

 

 

L50

 

35-45 dB(A)

 

L90

 

30   dB(A)

 

L95

30  dB(A)

 

 

Lday

45-55  dB(A)

30-40  dB(A)

Difference Level 3-15  dB(A)

Functional

 

 

 

 

Recreation

Moderate intensive 
activity

Passive activity

 

Nature protection

Moderate

Priority

 

Health protection/restoration

Health protection

Restoration priority

Distance

 

 

 

 

From motorway

 

4-15 km

 

From agglomeration

 

1-4 km

Soundscape

 

 

 

 

Perceived acoustic quality /appreciation

 

 

Size

 

100-100,000 m2

0.1-100 km2

Visual

Areas with established values in official documents (eg. Land use plans or nature conservation plans)

 

 

 

Many of these criteria can be (and are) used in combination, often in separate steps in a process. One such scheme is to apply first a course selection on the base of functional and acoustic criteria, and apply the other criteria on the then resulting areas.

The sections methods  and health aspects present evidence that support selection criteria based on sound-pressure levels. This is summed up in Table 2, which summarizes a number of studies on the effects of sound-pressure levels on visitors in quiet areas. In the section health aspects  there is also more information on possible dose-response relations.

 

Table 2           Sound-pressure levels related to perceived acoustic quality/appreciation

Sound-pressure levels (LAeq, Lday)

Perceived  acoustic quality/appreciation1)

< 45

~100% of visitors perceive acoustic quality as good

45-55

~50% of visitors perceive acoustic quality as good

> 55

% of visitors perceiving acoustic quality as good falling rapidly with rising sound-pressure levels

1) Besides sound-pressure levels, the score also depends on other qualities of the area (visual, air quality, perceived type of sounds – human, nature, technology). See health aspects .





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