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Ford Street, Coventry

Noise Assessment

Environmental

Transportation

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Ford Street, Coventry

Noise Assessment

Revision Ver.1

Date November 2007

Notes E125 Noise

Author KF

Checked ND

Approved ND

Entran Limited Eden Lodge Studios Eden Office Park Chapel Pill Lane Ham Green Bristol BS20 0BX T: 01275 375 007 F: 01275 376 333 www.entranltd.co.uk

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CONTENTS PAGE

1 2 3 4 5 6

Introduction Assessment methodlogy Existing Conditions Noise Assessment Mitigation Measures Conclusion

1 3 5 13 19 22 23 25

APPENDIX A Introduction to noise APPENDIX B Full Tabulated Noise Measurement Results

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1 1.1 INTRODUCTION Entran Ltd has been commissioned by G & K Groundworks Ltd to measure, predict and assess the impact of noise at a site on Ford Street, Coventry, in respect of the sites suitability for residential development.

1.2

The site, which is currently occupied by a nightclub, is proposed for redevelopment into 55 residential student housing units spread over six floors (including ground level). The redline site boundary is identified in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 Site Location Plan

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1.3 Coventry City Council, hereafter referred to as CCC, has been consulted in order to ensure that appropriate noise criteria for the development are achieved in line with both national and local guidance.

1.4

The sites suitability for residential development has been determine by a combination of environmental noise measurements and road traffic noise predictions carried out in accordance with the CRTN prediction methodology in the noise modelling suite Cadna/A.

1.5

A combined measurement and predictive modelling approach has been adopted, as the site is located next to an elevated section of the Ringway, meaning that ground level noise measurements would not be representative of the likely noise levels at the upper floors that would have a clear line of sight to the carriageways of the Ringway. As such, the following assessment is driven primarily by the predictive modelling, with the environmental noise measurement being utilised for model validation purposes.

1.6

Where measured or predicted noise levels indicate that noise may need to be a determining factor in the granting of planning permission, mitigation measures have been proposed to ensure satisfactory internal noise conditions are provided.

1.7

This Report is necessarily technical in nature and contains terminology relating to acoustics and noise. Therefore, a glossary together with a brief introduction to the subject of noise, has been provided in Appendix A.

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2 2.1 ASSESSMENT METHODLOGY Following consultation with CCC, Planning Policy Guidance Note 24 (PPG 24)1 has been used to determine the suitability of the site for the proposed residential development.

2.2

PPG 24 sets out four Noise Exposure Category (NEC) bands, designed to assist local planning authorities in evaluating applications for residential development with respect to the existing noise climate.

2.3

Table 1 below shows each NEC band, defined by a range of free-field noise levels into which development land falls. The table relates to road traffic noise sources as the site is affected primarily by noise from road traffic. The relevant planning advice to the local authority with respect to each NEC is presented in Table 2 below.

Table 1: Road Traffic Noise Levels Corresponding to NECs for New Dwellings, LAeq,T dB Noise Exposure Category(NEC) A B C D 0700-2300 <55 55 63 63 72 >72 2300-0700 <45 45 57 57 66 >66 N.B. Additionally, during night-time (2300 0700), sites where individual noise events exceed 82 dB LAmax (slow time weighting) more than twice in any hour during this period should be treated as being in NEC C, regardless of the LAeq,8h (except where the LAeq,8h already puts the site in NEC D). Time Period Table 2: Planning Advice Corresponding to NECs for New Dwellings NEC A Advice to Local Planning Authority Noise need not be considered as a determining factor in granting planning permission, although noise at the high end of the category should not be regarded as a desirable level. Noise should be taken into account when determining planning applications and, where appropriate, conditions imposed to ensure an adequate level of protection against noise. Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where it is considered that permission should be given, for example because there are no quieter sites available, conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise. Planning permission should normally be refused.

Planning Policy Guidance Note 24 (1994), Planning and noise, Department of the Environment.

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2.4 Where the advice within PPG 24 is that conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise, mitigation measures are required to either reduce noise at the location to an acceptable level or control its impact.

2.5

PPG 24 states that because noise should be taken into consideration when determining planning applications in NEC B (or higher), it has been assumed that the minimum amelioration measure available to an occupant will be to close windows, and reference is made to other standards that establish suitable internal noise levels, such as BS 8233 Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings Code of Practice Guidelines for Community Noise3.
2

and the WHO

2.6

The scope of BS 8233 is the provision of recommendations for the control of noise in and around buildings. It suggests appropriate criteria and limits for different situations, which are primarily intended to guide the design of new or refurbished buildings undergoing a change of use rather than to assess the effect of changes in the external noise climate.

2.7

The standard suggests suitable internal noise levels within different types of buildings, including residential dwellings. It suggests that an internal noise level of 30dB LAeq,T within bedrooms is a good standard, whilst 35dB LAeq,T is a reasonable standard. For living areas in the daytime, the standard recommends 30dB LAeq,T as a good standard and 40dB LAeq,T as being a reasonable standard. BS 8233 also states that individual noise events should not exceed 45dB LAFmax in bedrooms at night.

2.8

With respect to the night-time LAFmax noise criterion, the WHO guidelines present further clarity, stating: For good sleep, it is believed that indoor sound pressure levels should not exceed approximately 45dB LAFmax more than 10-15 times per night.

2.9

The guidance contained within BS 8233 is almost identical to that presented in the WHO guidelines, therefore, the recommended noise levels above have been used as a target to ensure that the occupants of any proposed residential dwellings, in areas categorised in NEC B or above receive a commensurate level of protection against noise.

2.10 Consultation with CCC identified that internal noise levels within the proposed dwellings at the site should work towards the good criteria of BS 8233.

2 3

British Standard 8223 (1999): Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings Code of Practice. British Standards Institute. World Health Organisation (1999): Guidelines for Community Noise. WHO

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

3.1

The existing noise conditions at the site have been determined by a combination of environmental noise measurements and computerised noise modelling techniques. This combined approach was employed to allow noise levels at the site to be visually represented and to allow noise levels at the upper storeys of the proposed development that will not benefit from the any screening of noise from the elevated section of the Ringway to be determined.

Noise Monitoring 3.2 The primary purpose of the noise monitoring was to directly measure noise levels at one location close to the proposed development site that could be used to validate the accuracy of the noise predictions.

3.3

All noise measurements were undertaken by a consultant certified as competent in environmental noise monitoring, and, in accordance with the principles of BS 74454 and following the guidance given in PPG 24.

3.4

All acoustic measurement equipment used during the noise surveys conformed to Type 1 specification of British Standard 616725. A full inventory of this equipment is shown in Table 3 below:

Table 1: Inventory of Acoustic Measurement Equipment Item Sound Level Meter Preamplifier Microphone Calibrator Make & Model Rion NA-28 Rion NH-23 Rion UC-59 Rion NC-74 Serial Number 00370297 60306 00386 34662223

3.5

The noise measurement equipment used during the surveys was calibrated at the start and end of each measurement period. The calibrator used had itself been calibrated by an accredited calibration laboratory within the twelve months preceding the measurements. No significant drift in calibration was found to have occurred on the sound level meter.

4 5

British Standard 7445: 2003: Description and measurement of environmental noise. BSI British Standard 61672: 2003: Electroacoustics. Sound level meters. Part 1 Specifications. BSI.
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3.6 The microphone was positioned adjacent to Cox Street, at a height of 1.5 m in a free-field location, i.e. excluding the effect of reflections from buildings or structures and on hard ground. The location of the measurement is identified in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2 Noise Measurement Location

3.7

Weather conditions during the survey period were suitable for noise measurement, it being dry and sunny with very light winds.

3.8

It was originally intended to undertake the measurement in accordance with the shortened CRTN6 measurement procedure, which ultimately allows the LAeq,16hour daytime noise level to be derived from a 3-hour continuous noise measurement (as explained in more detail subsequently). However, 2-hours into the noise survey very loud road works commenced approximately 30 metres from the selected monitoring position. As such, the measurement was aborted after just two hours, but the levels measured are considered representative of the full 3-hour period.

3.9

The full results of the noise survey are presented in Appendix B and are summarised below in Table 3.

Former Department of Environment: 1988: Calculation of Road Traffic Noise. HMSO

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Table 3: Summary of Noise Measurement Results LA90,T LA10,T 30/10/2007 1 2-hours 64.5 87.5 56.2 67.7 12:53 3.10 The noise climate at the location was dominated by road traffic on Cox Street, with further contributions from Ford Street, the Ringway and passing pedestrians. Although discernible, noise from the Ringway was not considered to be particularly loud at ground level, as a result of the screening provided by the leading edge of the elevated road section. Position Start Duration Noise Level, dB LAeq,T LAmax

Noise Modelling 3.11 Road traffic data for Cox Street, Ford Street and the Ringway has been utilised to predict noise levels from ground to fifth floor level at the site and to provide a basis from which to assess the impact of future levels at the site.

3.12 Traffic data for Cox Street in 2007 was provided by Mott McDonald who manages the traffic data models in the Coventry area. Traffic data for Ford Street was provided by Paul Castle Consultancy, on the basis of an automatic traffic count carried out in 2007. Traffic data for the Ringway was taken from 2005 Department of Transport traffic flow figures that had been factored to be representative of 2007.

3.13 The predictions have been carried out using the noise-modelling suite Cadna/A, in accordance with the CRTN prediction methodology for road traffic noise, with LAeq,16hour daytime and LAeq,8hour night-time values being calculated in accordance with the Annex 1 TRL LA10,18hour End Correction. 3.14 In addition to the traffic flow data used in the predictions, the model also considers the effects of the topographical conditions throughout the area, ground absorption, atmospheric absorption, acoustic reflections, acoustic screening as well as applying a light downwind propagation correction to represent worst case.

3.15 The model has been used to determine the range of free-field daytime LAeq,16hour (0700 to 2300) and night-time LAeq,8hour (2300 to 0700) noise levels at the site, from ground floor to fifth floor level. The output from the daytime and night-time baseline noise models presented in the form of noise maps overlaid on an OS basemap of the area are presented in Figures 3 and 4 below for ground floor level and Figures 5 and 6 for fifth floor level.

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Figure 3 Daytime LAeq,16hour Noise Levels, Ground Floor Level

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Figure 4 Night-time LAeq,8hour Noise Levels, Ground Floor Level

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Figure 5 Daytime LAeq,16hour Noise Levels, Fifth Floor Level

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Figure 6 Night-time LAeq,8hour Noise Levels, Fifth Floor Level

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3.16 Figures 3 to 6 identify that noise levels at the location of the proposed development are slightly higher at fifth floor level, due to the influence of the direct line of sight to the Ringway.

3.17 In terms of the noise models validity for the purpose of the following assessment, Figure 3 identifies a predicted level of just over 65 dB(A) at the location of the validation noise measurement. Detailed analysis of the noise model identifies that the exact predicted level at the location of the validation measurement is 66 dB(A).

3.18 In accordance with the guidance presented in CRTN, assuming that the 2-hour noise measurement is representative of the full 3-hour shortened CRTN period, the LA10,3hour level measured can be converted to an LA10,18hour (0600-0000) level by the subtraction of 1 dB. Then in accordance with the guidance presented in PPG 24, this derived LA10,18hour level can be converted to an LAeq,16hour (0700-2300) daytime level by the subtraction of 2 dB. As such, the representative LAeq,16hour noise level at the validation measurement position is 64.7 dB(A).

3.19 Comparison of the predicted daytime LAeq,16hour noise level, with the level derived from the validation noise measurement identifies a difference of just over 1 dB(A), with the predicted noise level being slightly higher than the measured level. As such, the noise levels being predicted by the model are considered to provide a good correlation with measured levels, albeit slightly higher which in respect of the subsequent assessment represents a robust worst case.

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4 NOISE ASSESSMENT

4.1

The suitability of the site for residential development has been determined by plotting PPG 24 NECs across the site. These are presented in Figures 7 and 8 for ground floor level during the day and the night, and in Figures 9 and 10 for fifth floor level.

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Figure 7 Daytime NECs, Ground Floor Level

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Figure 8 Night-time NECs, Ground Floor Level

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Figure 9 Daytime NECs, Fifth Floor Level

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Figure 10 Night-time NECs, Fifth Floor Level

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4.2 The NECs presented in Figures 7 to 10 identify that during both the daytime and night-time, from ground floor level to fifth floor level, the site would be classified as NEC C.

4.3

The guidance presented in PPG 24 for a site falling within NEC C is a follows, Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where it is considered that permission should be given, for example because there are no quieter sites available, conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise.

4.4

As this site has been identified as falling within NEC C, and in accordance with PPG 24, mitigation measures to provide a commensurate level of protection against noise for future occupants are required. As such, an assessment of the sound insulation provided by the dwellings has been undertaken, to determine level of sound insulation that will be required to provide good internal noise levels during the day and the night as required by CCC.

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5 MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1

Consideration has been given to the level of sound attenuation that will be provided by the construction of the proposed dwellings, to determine whether a commensurate level of protection against noise is likely to be provided for the future occupants of the residential units.

5.2

In its explanation of the noise limits that define the boundary between NEC B and NEC C, PPG24 states that: Because noise should be taken into account when determining planning applications in NEC B, it has been assumed that the minimum amelioration measure available to an occupant at night will be to close bedroom windows.

5.3

Therefore, in order to assess the acoustic performance of the proposed dwellings, it is appropriate in the first instance to explore the level of protection that will be afforded by the performance of the glazing elements.

5.4

Annex 6 of PPG 24 provides examples of typical noise reductions for a dwelling faade with windows set in a brick/block wall. The table shows various levels of noise reduction provided by different glazing configurations and for different noise sources. The values shown are the level difference (in dBA) between the outside and the inside of a typical dwelling and to represent worst case, it is assumed that the outside level is a faade measurement. For a road traffic noise spectrum, PPG 24 states that standard thermal double glazing will provide a faade sound insulation performance of 33 dB(A), which for free-field noise levels as predicted in this case would be 30 dB(A).

5.5

Likely internal noise levels have been determined for the proposed development for both daytime and night-time periods, using the data contained within PPG 24 and the predicted noise level at the proposed development faades most affected by noise; overlooking the Ringway, Ford Street and Cox Street. It is assumed that the default choice of glazing for the proposed development will be standard thermal double glazing, with an acoustic performance that is equal or greater than the example presented in PPG 24, i.e. a freefield performance of at least 30 dB(A).

5.6

Where a range of faade noise levels are predicted along the facade, the highest value has been used in the following assessment to represent worst case. The results are shown in Table 4 below, with the corresponding internal standard that achieved when compared to the guideline values presented in BS 8233.

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Table 4: Predicted Internal Noise Levels for Rooms on the Most Affected Facades with Standard Thermal Double Glazing Level Primary Source Free-field Level, LAeq,16hour dB 65 Internal Level. LAeq,16hour dB 35 Better than Reasonable Internal Standard

Southern Faade, Daytime Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Ford Street 3rd th 4 5th Southern Faade, Night-time Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Ford Street 3rd th 4 5th Eastern Faade, Daytime Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Cox Street 3rd th 4 5th Eastern Faade, Night-time Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Cox Street 3rd th 4 5th Western Faade, Daytime Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Ford Street 3rd th 4 5th Western Faade, Night-time Ground 1st 2nd Ringway & Ford Street 3rd th 4 5th 5.7

66

36

58

28

Good

66

36

Better than Reasonable

58 59 58 61 62 64 65 53 54 55 57

28 Good 29 28 31 32 34 35 23 24 25 27 Better than Reasonable

Good

Table 4 identifies that for the southern and eastern facades adjacent to Ford Street and Cox Street respectively, noise levels are not predicted to vary much from ground floor to
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fifth floor level. Detailed analysis of the predictions identifies that this is because as the floor level is increased, the contribution of noise from the ground level road adjacent to each faade reduces, but the contribution of the elevated section of the Ringway increases.

5.8

Comparison of the predicted internal noise levels with standard thermal double glazing on the three most affected faades, with the guidance presented in BS 8233, identifies noise levels during the day will be better than reasonable and noise levels during the night will be good.

5.9

In order to achieve good internal noise levels during both daytime and night-time periods, it will be necessary for glazing that achieves a free-field sound reduction of 36 dB(A) for a road traffic noise spectrum to be used on all floor levels in the construction of the southern and eastern facades. For the western faade, it will be necessary for glazing that achieves a free-field reduction of between 31 and 35 dB(A) for a road traffic noise spectrum to be used, with the required performance increasing as floor level increases.

5.10 The above calculations do not make any allowance for the incorporation of permanent ventilation to the dwellings. On ventilation, BS 8233 advises that: The Building

Regulations on ventilation recommend that habitable rooms in dwellings have background ventilation. Trickle ventilators can provide this, and sound attenuating types are available. Where sound insulation requirements preclude opening windows for rapid ventilation and cooling, acoustic ventilation units incorporating fans are available for insertion in external walls; these can provide sound reduction comparable with domestic secondary glazing.

5.11 Where appropriate, the preferred choice of ventilation is through the use of natural ventilation openings such as trickle vents, air-bricks and passive ventilation devices. Such ventilators can be used to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations Approved Document F for background ventilation.

5.12 The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has published an Information Paper on the acoustic performance of such passive ventilation systems7, detailing a study into the sound reduction performance of fourteen different window mounted trickle ventilators and seven different through-wall passive ventilators. The measured sound reduction performance, after taking into account flanking sound paths (i.e. sound paths that do not travel directly

IP4/99: 1999: Ventilators: Ventilation and Acoustic Effectiveness

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through the vent) and the effective area of the ventilator were 14 to 40 dB(A) for window mounted trickle vents and 30 to 46 dB(A) for passive through wall ventilators.

5.13 Trickle vents or passive through wall ventilators are available that meet the requirements of the Building Regulations Approved Document F for background ventilation and also provide a sound reduction performance that meets or exceeds that required from the glazing elements. As such, it is recommended that ventilators with a sound reduction performance that is at least equivalent to that of the glazing system for each faade is used to prevent the sound insulation of the glazing being undermined by the ventilation of the buildings.

5.14 Glazing and passive ventilation systems that meet or exceed the performance values recommended above are readily available and as such, providing the recommended performance values are achieved then the proposed residential development will provide a commensurate level of protection against noise for the future residents and comply with the internal noise level standards stipulated by CCC.

CONCLUSION

6.1

In order to assess the suitability of the site for residential development in accordance with the procedure described in PPG 24 and the requirements of CCC, a combination of environmental noise measurements and detailed noise modelling has been undertaken.

6.2

The results of the assessment have shown that the site falls within PPG 24 NEC C. The advice within PPG 24 for sites classified as NEC C is that Planning permission should not normally be granted. Where it is considered that permission should be given, for example because there are no quieter sites available, conditions should be imposed to ensure a commensurate level of protection against noise.

6.3

Mitigation measures have been proposed, on a faade by faade basis, in terms of the required sound insulation performance for the glazing and ventilation elements of the proposed development to achieve good internal noise levels as required by CCC.

6.4

Glazing and passive ventilation systems that meet or exceed the recommended performance values are readily available and as such, providing the recommended performance values are achieved, the proposed residential development will provide a commensurate level of protection against noise for the future residents and comply with the internal noise level standards stipulated by CCC.
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APPENDIX A INTRODUCTION TO NOISE In order to assist the understanding of acoustic terminology and the relative change in noise, the following background information is provided. The human ear can detect a very wide range of pressure fluctuations, which are perceived as sound. In order to express these fluctuations in a manageable way, a logarithmic scale called the decibel, or dB scale is used. The decibel scale typically ranges from 0 dB (the threshold of hearing) to over 120 dB.

The ear is less sensitive to some frequencies than to others. The A-weighting scale is used to approximate the frequency response of the ear. Levels weighted using this scale are commonly identified by the notation dB(A).

A noise impact on a community is deemed to occur when a new noise is introduced that is out of character with the area, or when a significant increase above the pre-existing ambient noise level occurs. For levels of noise that vary with time, it is necessary to employ a statistical index that allows for this variation. These statistical indices are expressed as the sound level that is

exceeded for a percentage of the time period of interest.

In the UK, traffic noise is measured as the LA10, the noise level exceeded for 10% of the measurement period. The LA90 is the level exceeded for 90% of the time and has been adopted to represent the background noise level in the absence of discrete events. An alternative way of assessing the time varying noise levels is to use the equivalent continuous sound level, LAeq. This is a notional steady level that would, over a given period of time, deliver the same sound energy as the actual fluctuating sound.

To put these quantities into context, where a receiver is predominantly affected by continuous flows of road traffic, a doubling or halving of the flows would result in a just perceptible change of 3dB, while an increase of more than 25%, or a decrease of more than 20%, in traffic flows represent changes of 1dB in traffic noise levels (assuming no alteration in the mix of traffic or flow speeds).

Note that the time constant and the period of the noise measurement should be specified. For example, BS 4142 specifies background noise measurement periods of 1 hour during the day and 5 minutes during the night. The noise levels are commonly symbolised as
A90(1hour)

and

LA90(5mins). The noise measurement should be recorded using a FAST time response equivalent to 0.125 ms.

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Table A1: Glossary of Terms Term Decibel (dB) Definition A scale for comparing the ratios of two quantities, including sound pressure and sound power. The difference in level between two sounds s1 and s2 is given by 20 log10 (s1/s2). The decibel can also be used to measure absolute quantities by specifying a reference value that fixes one point on the scale. For sound pressure, the reference value is 20Pa.

A-weighting, dB(A) The unit of sound level, weighted according to the A-scale, which takes into account the increased sensitivity of the human ear at some frequencies. Noise Level Indices Noise levels usually fluctuate over time, so it is often necessary to consider an average or statistical noise level. This can be done in several ways, so a number of different noise indices have been defined, according to how the averaging or statistics are carried out. Leq,T A noise level index called the equivalent continuous noise level over the time period T. This is the level of a notional steady sound that would contain the same amount of sound energy as the actual, possibly fluctuating, sound that was recorded. A noise level index defined as the maximum noise level during the period T. Lmax is sometimes used for the assessment of occasional loud noises, which may have little effect on the overall Leq noise level but will still affect the noise environment. Unless described otherwise, it is measured using the 'fast' sound level meter response. A noise level index. The noise level exceeded for 90% of the time over the period T. L90 can be considered to be the "average minimum" noise level and is often used to describe the background noise. Far from the presence of sound reflecting objects (except the ground), usually taken to mean at least 3.5m The totally encompassing sound in a given situation at a given time, usually composed of a sound from many sources both distant and near (LAeq,T). The ambient noise remaining at a given position in a given situation when specified sources are suppressed to a degree such that they do not contribute to the ambient noise level (LAeq,T) The equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level at the assessment position produced by the specific noise source (the noise source under investigation) over a given time interval (LAeq,T)

Lmax,T

L90,T

Free-Field Ambient Noise Level Residual Noise Level Specific Noise Level

Rating Noise Level The specific noise level plus any adjustment for the characteristic features of the noise (LAr,Tr).

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APPENDIX B FULL TABULATED NOISE MEASUREMENT RESULTS

Table B1: Full-Tabulated Noise Measurement Results Start Time 30/10/2007 12:53 30/10/2007 13:08 30/10/2007 13:23 30/10/2007 13:38 30/10/2007 13:53 30/10/2007 14:08 30/10/2007 14:23 30/10/2007 14:39 Duration Noise Level, dB LAeq,T LAFmax 65.2 78.9 64.8 87.5 64.0 76.4 64.1 75.5 65.9 82.7 62.8 80.7 64.8 80.5 62.7 77.9 LA90,T 55.8 55.8 56.4 56.6 55.6 55.6 56.8 57.0 LA10,T 69.3 68.1 67.9 67.5 68.9 65.6 67.6 67.0

15-mins

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