Acoustic comfort

CONTEXT

This section covers acoustic contamination as a key factor when choosing a site for a residential development.

Locating housing developments in a noisy area may make it difficult for residents to rest, affect the normal development of their everyday life and consequently cause physical problems (headache, high blood pressure, loss of hearing, cardiovascular diseases...) and psychological problems (anxiety, depression…). In fact, there is scientific evidence on the relationship between noise and the risk of suffering immunological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders (see "Noise").

Recently, it has been determined that noise especially affects people over the age of 50. Specifically, every 10 decibel increase in noise over the level recommended by the WHO registers a 14% increase in the risk of a heart attack. In the case of people over 65, this risk increases to 27%.

Cities are presenting increasingly higher levels of noise, so much so that according to the World Health Organization, almost 80% of the population in modern cities are subjected to noise in excess of recommended levels. The main triggering factor is traffic, followed by others like industrial activities, public works and leisure activities.

OBJECTIVE

Guarantee acoustic comfort in the building and reduce conditions associated with excess noise.

PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Proposals and recommendations for the development of housing (public and private)

Actions outside of the building

Carry out a preliminary analysis of the immediate environment from the noise perspective: noise studies that enable the implementation of corrective measures when emissions or immissions are above the regulatory levels.
If serious noise pollution is detected, the land should be discarded for residential use, reserving it for other uses that do not require such a high acoustic comfort level. If the land cannot be discarded, the acoustic insulation of walls and windows should be improved.
Installation of acoustic screens (in cases of proximity to a major source of noise emission). They are acoustic protection systems that aim to strengthen the barrier effect of construction components that form the separation between the exterior acoustic environment and the interior space or between separate but contiguous interior acoustic spaces. Their function consists of preventing the penetration of noise from the exterior or from premises that produce noise to another inhabitable interior space. Any type of folded building envelope can act as an acoustic screen.
If there are no sites with acceptable acoustic conditions, a variety of instruments can be used to generate new building plots:
- Reservation of land for its acquisition as Municipal Land and Housing Assets (PMSH); and the transfer of assigned assets for PMSH.
- Establishment and operation of a register of undeveloped plots.
- Acquisition of land, buildings or housing on the free market and through the rights of first refusal and redemption.

Actions in relation to the location of the building

Design and interior and exterior orientation of the buildings in accordance with exterior noise factors:
- Positioning of spaces that are sensitive to noise in the part of the building opposite to the source of noise.
- Protect peaceful areas.
- Prevent the generation of additional traffic.
Locate homes on higher floors within the building to separate them from the ground, where there are usually more sources of noise.
Strategic placement of plant life to reduce the acoustic impact of traffic. It generally seems that a mixed composition of deciduous and evergreen trees, along with bushes, could be the most efficient option to attenuate noise. However, the tree effect is modest in this sense and only in the case of parks of a certain size can effective management measures be taken.
Prepare local acoustic maps in accordance with the legislation described in the corresponding section.

Actions in relation to the building

Good building envelopes to protect against noise from the street. Air barriers in the building envelope, and the use of acoustic glass, such as double glazing with argon gas and laminates.
Introduction of more mass into the building envelope.
Use specific insulation materials like cork and combine different materials.
Perform exhaustive checks during the installation of light building envelopes (laminated gypsum board) to guarantee good sealing in all the perimeters.

Proposals and recommendations for the administration

Incorporate acoustic control measures in municipal plans and by-laws and in the architectural projects of buildings.
Prepare noise maps: strategic noise maps and acoustic capacity maps.
Prepare action plans to improve and recover acoustic quality: management tools for the preservation, recovery and improvement of acoustic quality.
Establishment of economic aid to facilitate the improvement of housing in relation to noise. It may be interesting to identify the environments with the greatest noise problems in the municipality in order to prioritise intervention if the causes are difficult to resolve.

REFERENCE EXPERIENCES

Information only available in Catalan

Mapa estratègic del soroll. Ajuntament de Barcelona. Aquesta eina representa gràficament sobre plànol els nivells sonors per tram de carrer en 3 franges horàries (dia-vespre-nit). que en per ús residencial hauria de ser de 50 dB durant la nit.
Pla per la reducció de la contaminació acústica. Barcelona 2015-20. El pla fa un anàlisi de la situació acústica de la ciutat, determina els valors límits segons els usos del sòl i les línies estratègiques i accions per millorar la situació actual.
Illes Sonores – Bilbao. 2015. Espais públics conformats amb diferents solucions constructives que permeten el confort acústic per poder realitzar activitats tranquil·les i relaxants. L’objectiu és la millora de la salut amb més qualitat de vida i benestar, a través de la qualitat ambiental sonora dels espais públics.
SICA. Sistemes d´Informació sobre la Contaminació Acústica. Base de dades per l´organització de la informació relativa a la contaminació acústica, i en particular, la referent als mapes estratègics de soroll i plans d´acció.
Associació Catalana Contra la Contaminació Acústica. Entitat sense ànim de lucre que lluita contra les causes i els efectes dels sorolls. També desenvolupa una tasca d’informació i assessorament als afectats/des per la contaminació acústica i a la ciutadania en general.

LEGISLATION

Decret 305/2006, de 18 de juliol, pel qual s'aprova el Reglament de la Llei d'urbanisme de Catalunya
Llei 18/2007, de 28 de desembre, del Dret a l'Habitatge a Catalunya.
Decret 176/2009, de 10 de novembre, pel qual s´aprova el Reglament de la Llei 16/2002
Decret 245/2005, de 8 de novembre, pel qual es fixen els criteris per a l´elaboració dels mapes de capacitat acústica.
Directiva europea 2002/49/CE del Parlament Europeu i del Consell, del 25 de juny de 2002, sobre avaluació i gestió del soroll ambiental.
Llei 37/2003 de 17 de novembre, del soroll.
Real Decreto 1371/2007, de 19 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el documento básico "DB-HR Protección frente al ruido" del Código Técnico de la Edificación.
Llei 16/2002, de 28 de juny, de protecció contra la contaminació acústica.
Reial decret 1367/2007, de 19 d´octubre, pel qual es desenvolupa la Llei 37/2003, de 17 de novembre, de soroll, pel que fa a zonificació acústica, objectius de qualitat i emissions acústiques.

STUDIES AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

OTHER LISTINGS OF THE GUIDE

Àmbit equipaments. Condicions saludables. Fitxa "Soroll".
Àmbit Espai Públic. Medi ambient, canvi climàtic i sostenibilitat. Fitxa "La contaminació acústica".
Àmbit Habitatge. Entorn saludable. Fitxa "Soroll".
Àmbit Planificació urbana. Medi ambient, canvi climàtic i sostenibilitat. Fitxa "Contaminació acústica".
Àmbit Espai públic. Fitxa "La gestió dels beneficis del verd urbà: millores en la contaminació acústica i atmosfèrica, i en el confort tèrmic".

More information about addressing the Public Health Service: entornurbasalut@diba.cat

Date of last update:
dt., 11 de maig 2021 13:23:50 +0000

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