Mitigation of Structureborne Noise Nuisance

摘要

This paper presents a noise complaint case in Hong Kong. A newlywed couple in aresidential unit complained to the Government that the noise emitted from the pump roomdirectly beneath their unit was very annoying, especially in the night-time period. The ownerof the building was then required by the Government to mitigate the noise to the night-timestatutory noise requirement within 30 days, otherwise he would be prosecuted. Ideally, thestructureborne noise from the pump room could be effectively mitigated by the installation ofa floating slab and vibration isolators under the pumps. Also, the water tanks and water pipeswere required to be isolated from the walls and floor. However, this work was impossible tobe completed within 30 days to stop the prosecution. Water supply to the above residentswould be seriously interrupted during the construction period. As the only noise parameter inthe statutory requirement was the A-weighted 30 minute Leq, the most effective and practicalway in this situation was to reduce the pump operation time within any 30 minute period todecrease the Leq values. In addition, the water pipes and pumps were also required to beisolated from the walls and floor with resilient materials to break the vibration channels.These noise mitigation measures were successfully applied to the pump room before the endof the 30 days. Finally, the noise levels inside the complainant’s unit were found to meet thestatutory requirement. The noise complaint case was then closed by the Government.