1. Aircraft Noise and Sound Insulation
Fred Pierson
Navy East Coast
AICUZ Center of
Excellence

3. RESULTS Reduced take-off weights Quiet hours Flight track changes
Reduction in operations
Litigation
Loss of flying mission

4. Air
Installations
Compatible
Use
Zones

5. The AICUZ Program Defines Noise Zones Accident Potential Zones
Recommends Land Use Guidelines

6. The AICUZ Program AICUZ is non-binding
Land use control is the responsibility of local, regional and state governments
Building codes w/proper NLR reduces noise impact

7. What are the benefits of Sound Insulation?
Reduces
Speech interference
Sleep disturbance
It’s energy efficient
Reduces air infiltration
Higher “R” value
What are the benefits of sound insulation?
First, it is energy efficient, reducing heating and cooling costs.
Sound insulation also reduces interference with speech and reduces sleep interference.
The goal of sound insulation is to reduce the interior noise to at least 45 decibels. Consequently, if a home is in the 75 DNL noise contour of an airport, 30 decibels of sound insulation would be required to bring the interior noise down to 45 decibels.

8. Aircraft Noise and Sound Insulation
Concerns go back to 1960’s
1967-Development of Sound Insulation methods for use around LAX
1971-Noise Control Act
Late 1980’s-DOD and FAA prepared Sound Insulation Guide
1992- Publication DOT/FAA/PP 92-5

9. New Sound Insulation Guidelines
2005- Navy sponsored update
Serves as a guide for NLR in residential buildings
Covers
Building materials and cost
New and existing construction
The Navy has recently produced a book on sound Insulation Guidelines for residences. This book is downloadable at the address on the slide. Further information is also available from Mr. Fred Pierson at the Navy’s AICUZ Center of Excellence, at (757) A brochure on sound insulation is also available.

10. Mitigating Aircraft Noise
Aircraft noise can be disturbing
Sound insulation is not Sound elimination
DNL and the Noise Exposure Zones

11. DNL
DAY-NIGHT AVERAGE SOUND LEVEL
24-hour Average Sound Level with a weighting factor for night operations
Often used for environmental noise, especially aircraft noise in the U.S.
EPA and FAA established an interior goal of 45 DNL

13. Noise Zones v. Contours <65 DNL 65-69 DNL 70-74 dB DNL

14. Changes in Noise Environment Changes in NOISE SYSTEM
Mitigation
Changes in Noise Environment
result from
Changes in NOISE SYSTEM
SOURCE
PATH
RECEIVER

15. Sound Insulation Sources of Noise Paths Gaps and Cracks
Windows and Doors
Walls and Ceilings
Fireplaces
Air Conditioners
Exhaust fans
Ventilation
All building elements must work together in a balanced manner to reduce noise intrusion
Houses provide paths for noise to enter. These paths include windows, doors, walls, ceilings, fireplaces, in-wall air conditioners, exhaust fans, and windows left open for ventilation. Each of these paths must be addressed if a significant noise level reduction is to be achieved.

16. Costs
Depends on noise zone—the higher the noise level, the greater the cost
Average cost to insulate an existing home near an airport $10K-$50K.
Most modern construction already reduces interior noise by about dB
New home sound insulation is less
So, what are the costs? Costs will vary with the noise zone—the higher the noise zone the more sound insulation is required.
While the average cost to insulate an existing home dB is $15,00 to $45,000, in reality, good construction techniques may already provide decibels of sound insulation. The cost of insulation is even less with new construction because it does not require the cost of retrofitting.
(NOTE—IT WOULD BE WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THE VERY HIGH NOISE CONTOURS COVER LITTLE LAND OFF-STATION]

17. Model Building Code
Appendix D, “Noise level reduction Design Requirements”
For NLR of
25 dB (65-70 DNL)
30 dB (70-75 DNL)
35 dB (75-80 DNL)
Adaptable for:
Commercial structures
Civil Airports

20. 68 dB + 3 dB = 71 dB DNL 25 dB (65-70 DNL) 30 dB (70-75 DNL)

21. Questions?