Open space, nonresidential land uses, and barrier buildings could be organized to protect residential areas or other noise-sensitive activities from sound, and homes could be oriented away from the sound.
Acoustical architectural design incorporates sound-reducing concepts from the details of individual buildings.
Acoustical construction requires the use of construction materials and methods to decrease noise transmission through walls, doors, windows, ceilings, and flooring. This area includes lots of new and conventional “soundproofing” theories.
Noise barriers can be erected between sound sources and noise-sensitive places. Barrier types include berms made from sloping mounds of ground, walls and fences constructed of an assortment of substances, thick plantings of trees and shrubs, and combinations of these substances.
These physiological techniques vary widely in their noise reduction characteristics, their expenses, and notably, in their applicability to particular locations and conditions. This section isn’t designed to give complete criteria for choosing a solution to specific noise issues and isn’t intended as a substitute for acoustical design. Instead, its goal is to illustrate the broad range of possible alternatives that may be considered from the architectural and engineering planning procedure.
Knowledgeable municipal officials can provide invaluable aid to designers, developers, and contractors who might not be knowledgeable about sound attenuation methods which are most relevant locally.
