Options for Assessment and Regulation of Low Frequency Noise

Abstract

Dutch legal limits for Lden noise levels are different for road traffic, railways, industry and airports. A justification for these differences might be found in the difference between dose-response relationships for noise annoyance. Nevertheless, frequently situations occur where people severely complain of low frequency noise, even when Lden levels amply comply with limits. So far, an effective regulation specifically for low frequency noise is not available. This paper discusses some options for improving the protection for LFN annoyance from Lden legislation. A potential solution might be to penalize Lden levels based on low versus high frequency ratio and tonality. This paper describes how such an approach is applied for a number of LFN cases in the Netherlands and discusses the results.