Case Study of Design for Noise Mitigation Measures

for Public Housing Developments in Hong Kong

Sustainable Building 2013
Hong Kong Regional Conference
12-13 September 2013
Ir. Kenneth H.K. WONG, Chief Civil Engineer, &
Mrs. Rosa HO, Chief Architect
Hong Kong Housing Authority

Content
1. Noise mitigation measures for high density living
At source
At propagation path
At receiver end

2. Innovative design approaches and case studies

Site specific modular flat design
Acoustic Balcony
Acoustic Window
3. Other Challenges
4. Way Forward

Road Traffic Noise/ Fixed-Noise & Railway Noise Standard

Environmental Assessment Study (EAS)
to demonstrate compliance ofRoad Traffic Noise under
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines
Domestic Premises
Noise Standards L10(1 hour)

Openable
window

Noise sensitive
receiver

1m

70 dB(A)

Fixed & Railway Noise under

Acceptable Noise Levels in Noise Control Ordinance Cap.400

Railway Noise

Fixed Noise

Noise Mitigation Measures

Application of Mitigation Measures

At Source

At Propagation Path

At Receiver End

Construction of
Development at
Ex-Cheung Sha
Wan Police
Quarters

Block 1

Block 2

39m

Low noise road surfacing

Noise Barrier

Building setback

Flat configuration & Disposition

Noise Enclosure

Non noise sensitive building

Acoustic Balcony

Acoustic Windows

Value for Money

Compliance Considerations

Site & technical constraints

A Balanced Solution

Urban Design Aspect

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Noise Mitigation Measure

Receiver & Propagation Path

Passive Design Approach

Green
Noise
Barrier
55m

32m

Optimized Block Disposition

Setback
Reduced view angle

Vertical Green Noise Barrier

Noise Mitigation Measure

At Source/ Propagation Path/ Receiver

Single
Aspect
Wing

Non Noise
Sensitive Building
- Carport
Noise Shield Public
Transport Interchange

Hung Shui Kiu Area 13

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Innovative Design Approaches

How to achieve noise compliance in a harsh environment?
Rezoning site
Site abutting heavy traffic, railway track
Industrial / residential interfaced site
Develop Innovative Building Design
through
Collaborative Efforts

Environmental Protection
Department

Academic
Institution

Housing
Authority

Environmental
Consultant

Case 1-Cheung Sha Wan Estate Side Window

Design in 2008

Provide 1390 flats for 3500 tenants

Completion in early 2013

Block 1

Non Noise
Sensitive Building
Un Chau Estate

Cheung Sha Wan Road 80dB(A)

Welfare
facilities
Block

39m
Construction of
Development at
Ex-Cheung Sha
Wan Police
Quarters

Welfare Facilities
Block
Wind
Flow

Lai Kok Estate

Block 1

Noise

Block 2

Site Elevation

Cheung Sha
Wan Road

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Site Plan

Set Back & Orientation

Welfare Facilities Block as Non
Noise Sensitive Building
Architectural Fins
Noise Shielding between flats
Total Reduction : 10dB(A)

Case 1-Cheung Sha Wan Estate Side Window

Noise
Architectural
Fins
Fixed
Fixed
Window Window
(19/F-36/F) (21/F-36/F)
Architectural
Fins

Noise
Architectural
Fins
Openable
Window
70dB(A)

Fixed
Window
73dB(A)

Fixed
Window
74dB(A)
Side
openable
window
70 dB(A)

Architectural
Fins
Openable
Window
70dB(A)

Site Specific Flat Layout

With a reduced view angle to noise source

Noise Reduction about 2-3dB(A)

Case 1-Cheung Sha Wan Estate Side Window

Openable
Window

Fixed
Side
Window Window

Architectural
Fins
Fixed
Window
Side
Window

View from Inside

View from Outside

No. of flats with side windows = 156 ( 11% of development)

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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Design in 2008

Provide 1488 flats for 3800 tenants

West Kowloon Corridor

Completion in mid-2013

78dB(A)

30m

Acoustic
Balcony

Low Noise
Road Surfacing
Architectural
Fins

Sai Chuen Road

Acoustic Balcony

Site Plan

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Low Noise Road Surfacing
Architectural Fins
Acoustic Balcony

4dB(A)
2.5-6.4dB(A)

Fu Cheong
Estate

West Kowloon
Corridor

Sai Chuen
Road
PRHD at Sai 30m
Chuen Road

Site Section

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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Absorptive Lining

Glass Panel
Sliding Grille

Extended Side Wall

Acoustic Balcony

Inside

Inside

Outside
Parapet

Flat with Acoustic Balcony

Extended Slab

Preliminary Design - ARC SCREEN

No. of flats with acoustic balcony = 276 ( 19% of development)
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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Arc-screen - Full scale Mock up at Dongguan
Measurement Scenarios

Scenario 1 Unmitigated Scenario 2 Concrete

with gap

About 10,000 measurement readings were

taken. Measurement points were placed
inside and outside windows and at different
height from floor.

Scenario 4 Concrete
with absorptive surface

Scenario 5 Polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA)
parapet with gap

Scenario 3 Concrete
without gap

Scenario 6 Polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA)
parapet, ceiling & side
walls with absorptive
surface
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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Acoustic
Panel

Sliding
Grille

Glass
Panel

Acoustic Balcony
Use for clothes
drying and storage

780mm

Refined Design Acoustic Balcony

On Site Precast Balcony

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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Noise Reduction up to 6.4dB(A)

15

Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Noise Monitoring at Building Completion

Exterior Noise Monitoring

Interior Noise Monitoring
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Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Design in 2009

Provide 857 flats for 2400 tenants

Completion in late 2016

Kai Tak East

Playground
Rhythm Garden
San Po Kong Public
Housing Development

Prince Edward Road East 85dB(A)

Site Plan

Additional Low Noise Surfacing

Kai Tak Development

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Set Back & Orientation
Low Noise Road Surfacing
Architectural Fins
Flat with Acoustic Window
Total Reduction : 15dB(A)

3dB(A)
2dB(A)
2dB(A)
8dB(A)

Prince Edward
Road East
15m

Site Section

17

Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Bedroom

Living Room
Bathroom`

Kitchen

No. of flats with acoustic windows = 540

( 63% of development)

Flat with Acoustic Window

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Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Outside
Noise

Noise
Absorbent
Material

Outside
Air Flow

Openable
Window
Inside

1380mm
175mm

Air Flow

Casement Window

Outside
Sliding Window

Inside

Other Design Considerations :

Simple to operate
Easy reach for clothes hanging
Easy to clean
Safe and durable

Inside

Sliding Window

Window frame installed with precast

facade in factory
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Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Laboratory Testing at Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Window Set 1

Window Set 2

Window Set 3

Window Set 4

To investigate the effectiveness

of acoustic window design using
conceptual window.

Sound absorption material on 4

sides

Micro Perforated Absorber onto

panes

To compare how the performance

is affected by different
parameters window dimensions,
separation, use of sound
absorption materials, angle of
noise incidence to achieve
optimum results.
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Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Laboratory Testing - Results of Noise Attenuation Performance
Window Sets
without
Sound
Absorption
Material (SAM)

Around 10 ~ 14 dB(A)
could be achieved
Attenuation reduced
by 1 ~ 2 dB(A) if pane
separation increased
from 150 to 350 mm

Window Sets
with
SAM

Around 12 ~ 17 dB(A)
could be achieved
with SAM

Sound Attenuation Performance, dB(A)

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Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Insitu Testing at Twin Mock-up Flats

Site Location Plan

Mockup Flat - Layout Plan

To evaluate the sound attenuation of acoustic

window over standard window for modular
1-bedroom flat using window prototype and
under insitu noise situation.
To test the operational performance of an
actual window design.

About 10 measurement points were taken to

give representative results.

22

Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Sound attenuation calculation based on Numerical Analysis for flats with
Acoustic Windows
Flats>70dB(A) to
be omitted

23

Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Sky garden &

Vertical greening

Noise Reduction up to 8dB(A)

Panoramic view of the harbour 24

Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

On-site experience

Experience noise reduction and natural

ventilation with DC members on 17th July 2012

Conduct on-site measurement for noise

reduction of 8dB

25

Other Challenges
To comply Statutory requirements under Noise
Control Ordinance

Railway Noise

Fixed Noise

26

Mitigation Measures At Receiver

Block Disposition and Flats Orientation away from Railway
PRH Development at Po Heung Street, Tai Po
Two single
Aspect Blocks
with self
screening effect

Domestic flats
orientated away
from railway
sightline

27

Mitigation Measures At Source

Off-site Noise Barriers for Railway Noise
3000

8000

Proposed track-side
noise barrier

Location of Track-side Noise barrier

Tung Chung Area 56

MTR Tung Chung Line

28

Mitigation Measures At Source

Noise Cover for Public Transport Interchange

Shui Chuen O Area 52 PH. 2

Upstand wall to block line of sight

Section A-A

Openings to avoid use of mechanical

ventilation and sprinkler system

Hanger wall to block line of sight

29

Mitigation Measures At Source

Noise Cover for Public Transport Interchange

Single
Aspect
Wing
Hung Shui Kiu Area 13

Non Noise
Sensitive Building
- Carport
Noise Shield Public
Transport Interchange

30

Way Forward
We care for people and we care for the environment
Through Innovative Design, we create

Better Living Environment for the people of Hong Kong

Let us join hands to work towards a

GREENER and HEALTHIER City

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