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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..

       Quiet Facades

 Context

The façade of a dwelling represents a significant reduction of the exterior noise level. The insulation of the façade depends strongly on the mass of the building elements used. Often, the windows represent the weakest link, their insulation depending on the window frame sealing type and the glazing (single or double glazing; glass panel thickness; air filled or gas filled). When the window is open (for ventilation purposes) the insulation is highly affected. Permanent sound proof ventilation devices may serve to create good ventilation without affecting the insulation of the window.

 Exposure to noise inside dwellings can cause annoyance and complaints. Good practice floor plan design includes situating the sensitive rooms (sleeping rooms, living rooms) with large windows on the quiet side of the dwelling, and less sensitive rooms (facilities, kitchen) on the side facing the noise source.

 It is plausible to expect that the annoyance is less likely to occur in dwellings where the resident can experience relative quiet from one side, and is well protected against high noise levels from the other side of his home. Compared to a dwelling with noise on both side, the resident in a dwelling with one quiet side is better off. He can open the windows on the quiet side and experience a calm environment; he can use this side to let fresh air in without being disturbed by noise, whereas the windows on the noisy side are (permanently) closed and hence the noise does not disturb him.

 Definitions

Various definitions of a quiet façade can be found in literature. Some examples:

                quiet façade, meaning the façade of a dwelling at which the value of Lden for the noise emitted from a specific source, is more than 20 dB lower than at the façade having the highest value of Lden (END, Annex VI)

                quiet façade, meaning a façade of a dwelling at which the value of Lden is not higher than 55 dB

The City of Amsterdam applies the following definition:

                Façade in urban residential area can be considered quiet if:

o    noise level on façade is not higher than at other façades; and

o    noise level < 55 dB Lden (Lnight ≤ 45 dB); and

o    outdoor space has sufficient quality (e.g. garden or park vs.parking lot).

 Effects

Various studies show a difference in noise impact from the noisy side of at least 2.5 dB in situations with one noisy and one quiet façade. This occurs at level differences of 10 dB and higher between the façade with the highest value of Lden and the façade with the lowest level of Lden.

 Practical guidelines

Quiet façade are best created at the moment that a new building block is projected into an existing urban situation. In existing situations, quiet façades can be created by:

                reducing or banning the traffic in the back street,

                closing gaps between building blocks so that closed court yards are created

                glass roofing court yard spaces (creating atria)