Noise reduction and energy savings of standard sound insulation packages for the control of road traffic noise

Sound insulation of noise-sensitive buildings is a common means of mitigating road traffic noise. Methods for selecting appropriate sound insulation measures varies, with some Australian States requiring compliance with Australian Standard AS2107 or other internal noise criteria. An alternative used in some States is to specify standard packages of sound insulation measures based on external noise levels; noise-sensitive buildings (usually dwellings) exposed to higher external noise levels are required to have measures with higher noise reduction ratings incorporated into the building facade. VicRoads recently commissioned Marshall Day Acoustics and Earth Systems to undertake a study that broadly reviewed practises in some other Australian States; investigated the noise reduction achieved by a range of standard packages for both existing dwellings and, in the case of new residential estates near existing roads, new dwellings; and estimated the energy savings attributable to the standard packages.