Noise Attenuation in Green Building

A Green Home Is Reasonably Quiet

Noise comes from many places. Green builders must anticipate and control them.

Airborne sounds travel through walls or floor/ceiling assemblies and can stem from either human activities (loud voices, amplified sound systems, animal noise) or from mechanical noise within the building systems such as HVAC systems, elevators, dish or clothes washing systems, plumbing systems, or even trash compactors.

Environmental noise can be caused by a wide variety of sources such as transportation (highway, rail, aircraft), industrial, and recreational facilities (race tracks, ball parks, children's outdoor play areas).

Environmental noise is normally controlled thorough the building envelope. The most important elements of noise abatement through design of the envelope include:

• Roofing material.
• Glazing (glass thickness, double pane design etc.).
• Caulking standards.
• Insulation.
• Doors.
• Attic ventilation or lack thereof.
• HVAC system.

Products are available to dampen noise. They control noise through absorption. Examples would be wall boards with sound control properties, foam insulation, suspended ceilings, floor coverings, curtains, furniture, and partitions with absorptive properties. 

Building a continuous barrier to trap or stop air movement can greatly reduce airborne sound transmission. Foam insulation around plumbing pipes or seals around doors are examples of ways to eliminate airborne sound,. The effectiveness of this form of noise control is reduced when there are breaks in the barriers such openings under doorways or even the innocent-seeming in can lights and power outlets. 

Interior and exterior walls, ceilings, floors, all allow sound to travel between and through them. Green home designs such as staggering openings of windows and doors help block noise. Other design controls are placing noisy rooms (kitchen or play room) away from quiet rooms (study and bedrooms), using buffer zones (hallways or closets) to separate noisier areas of home from quieter areas, or placing quiet rooms further from outside noise sources such as traffic or outdoor play areas.

Isolate noise by confining it to the areas where it originates when possible. Insulation usually helps control noise transmission.

In multiple-story homes, overhead noise is a problem. Examples of overhead noise control include, floating and hollow floors, floor coverings, stairs, and landings.

HVAC systems generate noise that can be transmitted into the home.  Examples include: 

1. Breakout noise.

2. Excess fan noise transmitted down the ductwork.

3. Drumming of duct walls,.

4. Regenerated noise in ducts at elbows, dampers, and diffusers.

5. Vibration transmitted from blowers.

Vibration control refers to any mechanism that reduces vibration at the source, along the vibration path, or at the receiver location.

Do you need a green builder/remodeler
 in North Central Texas 
or the Dallas-Fort Worth area? 
Contact Terry Jensen 
972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140