Assessing noise with provisions for ventilation and overheating in dwellings

Abstract

In the design of residential developments, it has been common practice for façade sound insulation (to protect against outdoor noise) to be considered separately from the provisions for ventilation and for mitigating overheating. This fragmented approach has led to different designers making different, incompatible assumptions about the internal environmental quality conditions: the acoustic designer assumes that windows are closed to control external noise ingress, while the mechanical designer assumes that windows are open for ventilation or mitigating overheating. This leaves occupants with a choice between reasonable noise levels or thermal comfort, but not both. This problem is exacerbated by increased overheating risk in modern buildings and future climate scenarios. In response to this issue, the Association of Noise Consultants has produced the draft Acoustics Ventilation and Overheating Residential Design Guide – the ‘AVO Guide’. The AVO guide recommends an approach to acoustic assessment that takes regard of the interdependence of provisions for external noise ingress, ventilation and overheating. This paper describes the context, background and content of the AVO Guide. There are references to passive attenuated options for ventilative cooling to help designers avoid simply specifying mechanical cooling. Practical application: This paper is entirely focused on the practical application of the guidance in the Association of Noise Consultants’ Acoustics, Ventilation and Overheating Residential Design Guide. It describes the current practical problem that designers face, and the mistakes that are the common practice across the industry, of failing to integrate the design for noise with the ventilation strategy and provisions for overheating. It outlines how this can be achieved to enable better internal environmental quality conditions for occupants, supported by the current English Planning regime and professional good practice guidance available.