Environmental noise barriers: a guide to their acoustic and visual design

282 Pages·2009·18.49 MB·English

by  Benz Kotzen

Environmental Noise Barriers
2nd edition

Environmental
Noise Barriers
A guide to their acoustic and
visual design
Second edition
Benz Kotzen and Colin English
First edition published by E & FN Spon 1999
This edition published 2009 by Taylor & Francis
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX144RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Taylor & Francis
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
Taylor & Francis is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group,
an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2009.
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© 1999, 2009 Benz Kotzen and Colin English
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
This publication presents material of a broad scope and applicability.
Despitestringent efforts by all concerned in the publishing process, some
typographical or editorial errors may occur, and readers are encouraged to
bring these to our attention where they represent errors of substance. The
publisher and author disclaim any liability, in whole or in part, arising from
information contained in this publication. The reader is urged to consult with
an appropriate licensed professional prior to taking any action or making
any interpretation that is within the realm of a licensed professional practice.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kotzen, Benz.
Environmental noise barriers: a guide to their acoustic and visual design /
Benz Kotzen and Colin English. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Noise barriers—Design and construction. 2. Traffic noise. I. English, C. E.
(Colin E.) II. Title.
TD893.6.T7K5852009
625.7(cid:118)9—dc22 2008032407
ISBN0-203-93138-6 Mastere-bookISBN
ISBN10: 0–415–43708–3 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0–203–93138–6 (ebook)
ISBN13: 978–0–415–43708–0 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978–0–203–93138–7 (ebook)
Contents
Preface to second edition ix
Preface to first edition xiii
Acknowledgements xvii
Locations of photographs xix
1 Introduction 1
Background 1
Environmental noise barrier terminology 4
Noise is a landscape issue 6
Barrier use: a contrast in provision 9
References 14
2 Defining the need for barriers 15
Legislation and policy 15
Introduction 15
The Land Compensation Act, 1973 16
The Noise Insulation Regulations, 1975 16
The Highways Act, 1980 17
National Government policy 17
Local government policy 19
Alternative European approaches 20
The Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided
Transport Systems) Regulations, 1996 21
European Union directives 22
Risk to health 23
Design process 24
Acoustic assessment 25
vi Contents
Landscape decision-making process 26
Landscape assessment 26
Assessment of visual intrusion 27
DMRB Assessment, consultation and design process 30
Summary of mitigation design strategies 33
Taking design strategies further 35
References 38
3 Acoustic performance of barriers 41
Introduction 41
Barrier theory 41
Sound insulation 44
Barrier placement 45
Barrier length 46
Bunds versus screens 47
Dealing with reflections from barriers 48
Reflections from vehicles 49
Improving the acoustic performance of a screen 51
Introduction 51
Cantilevered barriers 52
Tunnels 52
Galleried barriers 52
Louvred covers 52
Sonic crystals 53
Diffracting-edge modifications 53
Noise leakage through gaps 58
Varying longitudinal profiles 60
Noise screening by vegetation 61
Acoustic performance testing 62
References 63
4 Barrier morphology and design 67
Anatomy of barriers – elements and characteristics 67
Top section and top edge 67
Middle section 73
Bottom section and bottom edge 75
Barrier façades 76
Ends 77
Vertical profile – angled, contoured and cantilevered barriers 80
Support structures, transitions and foundations 84
Fixings 97
Other considerations 98
Viewing at speed 98
Two-faced barriers 100
Barriers: vertical or horizontal landscape elements? 105
Repetition 105
Pattern 112
Contents vii
Texture 112
Colour 114
Light and shade 120
Profiling 122
Materials and design 123
Choosing materials – visual neutrality and compatibility 129
Night-time barriers 134
References and endnotes 134
5 Types of barrier and barrier materials 135
Introduction 135
DMRB guidelines 136
Noise barrier types 140
Earth mounds 140
Earth mounds and planting 145
Timber barriers 148
Sheet-metal barriers 151
Concrete barriers 158
Brick barriers 164
Plastic, PVC and fibreglass barriers 164
Transparent barriers 164
Cantilevered barriers 174
Thatch barriers 177
Bio-barriers 178
Integrated barriers 186
Barrier materials on bridges 193
Barriers and solar panels 193
Tunnels 195
Escape routes 202
Planting and barriers 202
Barriers and sustainable materials 205
References and endnotes 207
6 Climbing plants and other plants for use on barriers 209
Introduction 209
Considerations for choosing plant species 209
Vertical planting and potentials 211
Select list of climbers for use in the UK 214
References 219
7 Engineering, safety, environmental and cost considerations 221
Introduction 221
Engineering considerations 221
Environmental considerations 223
Graffiti 227
Costs 230
References 231
viii Contents
8 Contemporary issues, developments and considerations 233
Introduction 233
Noise is an ecological issue 233
Introduction 233
Birds 234
Other species 236
The potential for environmental noise barriers to
enhance biodiversity 236
Environmental noise barriers and energy production 237
Photovoltaic barriers 237
Environmental noise barriers and air pollution production 240
Introduction 240
References 246
Author Index 251
Subject Index 253
Preface to second edition
Undertaking the research for this second edition has allowed us to revisit
many of those people whose help and advice proved so valuable when writ-
ing the first edition. Travelling to see new barriers inevitably took us past old
friends and allowed us to see how well these structures had stood the test of
time. Once again we were struck by the wide discrepancy of provision from
country to country. European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland,
Austria and Italy continue to build substantial barriers to enhance the living
conditions of their populations living near major roads, while, further afield,
Australia is also creating some impressive barriers. Curiously, it is not always
the poorer countries that fail to invest in good barriers to achieve acceptable
environments, and for some unknown reason some countries simply lack the
political will to invest in noise mitigation on behalf of their people.
Our travels allowed us to view many of those barriers that had made the
greatest impression on us a decade ago. These continue to work well acousti-
cally, but we were surprised to see how dated the more elaborate designs
looked after ten years’ service. It was often the simpler designs which
appeared to fit into the current landscape better. Sadly, the ravages of time
and graffitists have all too often taken their toll and this reinforced our
opinion that, as with any built structure, barriers need occasional cleaning
and maintenance. Planting is still considered important in barrier integration
and is still one of the best ways of deterring graffiti.
As before, it is the Netherlands that leads the way in barrier development
and innovation. For many years air quality and noise have both been seen as
environmental impacts of major roads and it was exciting to see that impor-
tant work is being undertaken in the Netherlands to design noise barriers
that can reduce the air pollution caused by the road traffic. In the past a few
barriers have been designed with additions to exploit solar energy. This ten-
tative exploration for amalgamating barrier design with photovoltaics has
seen a sea change in the design of the 1,200 metre long 620 kilowatt