Polina Pirch, MSc – Acoustics and noise propagation Rough estimate

What does a noise barrier achieve?

With this calculator you can estimate how effective noise control measures between a road and a house can be. With the sliders you can set a long or short noise barrier, a balcony with a glass parapet and side walls along the property boundaries, and the noise reduction in octave bands and the noise propagation sketch are recalculated. Only the relative effect of the measures is calculated. How much noise actually reaches the window depends on the road geometry, the traffic volume, the terrain and neighbouring buildings and has to be calculated separately. The result is a rough estimate. I calculate the noise situation reliably and quickly for you: office@immissionspunkt.at

12 m
20 m
3.0 m
100 m
Measure: glass parapet on the balcony
Measure: side walls at the barrier ends
Speed and ground
Cross-section, heights exaggerated
Plan view

Noise reduction (insertion loss) 0.0 dB Uncertainty ±2 dB

A difference of 1 dB can only be detected in a listening test in which two sounds are played directly one after the other, and is regarded as the threshold of perception. In everyday conditions a change becomes just audible from about 3 dB. A reduction of 10 dB is perceived as roughly half as loud.

Insertion loss per octave band, barrier attenuation Dz limited to 20 dB

The result applies at the open window, without reflection from the facade of the house. A source 0.5 m above the carriageway, the barrier centred on the window, flat ground and air at 10 °C are assumed. The barrier reflects on its rear side, so noise sources between barrier and house become louder at the window.

Disclaimer. The calculator is meant as a first orientation during planning. The results are estimates without any warranty of accuracy or completeness and replace neither a noise study nor individual advice. Liability for decisions made on the basis of this estimate is excluded to the extent permitted by law.

For a specific property I calculate with a terrain model, surrounding buildings and reflections, and deliver a written assessment with a comparison of measures. office@immissionspunkt.at