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

2
Road Traffic Noise/ Fixed-Noise & Railway Noise Standard

Environmental Assessment Study (EAS) Openable

to demonstrate compliance of- window
Noise sensitive
receiver
Road Traffic Noise under
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines 1m
Domestic Premises
70 dB(A)
Noise Standards L10(1 hour)

Fixed & Railway Noise under

Acceptable Noise Levels in Noise Control Ordinance Cap.400

Railway Noise

Fixed Noise 3
 Noise Mitigation Measures
 Application of Mitigation Measures
At Source At Propagation Path At Receiver End

Construction of
Development at
Ex-Cheung Sha Block 1 Block 2
Wan Police
Quarters
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
4
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 5

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

6
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 Housing

Department Authority

Academic Environmental
Institution Consultant

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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 Noise
facilities
Block

39m Welfare Facilities

Block
Construction of
Development at
Ex-Cheung Sha Lai Kok Estate Wind
Flow
Wan Police Block 1 Block 2
Quarters Cheung Sha
Wan Road
Site Elevation

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Set Back & Orientation
Welfare Facilities Block as Non
Site Plan Noise Sensitive Building
Architectural Fins
Noise Shielding between flats
Total Reduction : 10dB(A) 8
Case 1-Cheung Sha Wan Estate Side Window

Noise

Architectural
Fins
Noise
Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed
Window Window Architectural Window Window Architectural
(19/F-36/F) (21/F-36/F) Fins 73dB(A) 74dB(A) Fins
Architectural
Fins Openable Openable
Window Side Window
70dB(A) openable 70dB(A)
window
70 dB(A)

Site Specific Flat Layout

With a reduced view angle to noise source

Noise Reduction about 2-3dB(A)

9
Case 1-Cheung Sha Wan Estate Side Window

Openable Fixed Side

Window Window Window

Architectural
Fins
Fixed
Window
Side
Window
View from Inside View from Outside

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

10
Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony
Design in 2008 Provide 1488 flats for 3800 tenants Completion in mid-2013

West Kowloon Corridor 78dB(A)

30m Acoustic
Balcony

Low Noise
Road Surfacing

Sai Chuen Road Architectural

Fins

Acoustic Balcony
Site Plan

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Low Noise Road Surfacing
Architectural Fins 4dB(A)
Fu Cheong West Kowloon
Estate Corridor
Acoustic Balcony 2.5-6.4dB(A)
Sai Chuen
Road
PRHD at Sai 30m
Chuen Road

Site Section 11
Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Absorptive Lining

Glass Panel
Sliding Grille Extended Side Wall
Acoustic Balcony
Inside Outside

Inside 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 Scenario 3 – Concrete

with gap without gap

About 10,000 measurement readings were

taken. Measurement points were placed Scenario 4 – Concrete Scenario 5 – Polymethyl Scenario 6 – Polymethyl
inside and outside windows and at different with absorptive surface methacrylate (PMMA) methacrylate (PMMA)
height from floor. parapet with gap parapet, ceiling & side
walls with absorptive
surface
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Case 2-Wing Cheong Estate Acoustic Balcony

Acoustic Sliding
Panel Grille

Glass
Panel Acoustic Balcony
• Use for clothes
drying and storage

780mm
Refined Design – Acoustic Balcony On Site Precast Balcony 14
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) Additional Low Noise Surfacing

Kai Tak Development

Site Plan

Noise Mitigation Measures:

Set Back & Orientation 3dB(A)
Low Noise Road Surfacing 2dB(A)
Prince Edward
Architectural Fins 2dB(A) Road East

Flat with Acoustic Window 8dB(A) 15m

Total Reduction : 15dB(A)

Site Section 17
Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Bedroom

Living Room
Bathroom`

Kitchen

 No. of flats with acoustic windows = 540 Flat with Acoustic Window
( 63% of development) 18
Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

Noise Outside
Absorbent
Material Air Flow
Outside Openable
Window
Noise Inside

1380mm

175mm
Air Flow
Casement Window

Outside Inside

Sliding Window Sliding Window

Inside

Other Design Considerations :

• Simple to operate • Window frame installed with precast
• Easy reach for clothes hanging facade in factory
• Easy to clean
• Safe and durable 19
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.
• To compare how the performance
is affected by different
parameters – window dimensions,
separation, use of sound
absorption materials, angle of
noise incidence to achieve
Sound absorption material on 4 Micro Perforated Absorber onto optimum results.
sides panes 20
Case 3-San Po Kong Acoustic Window

 Laboratory Testing - Results of Noise Attenuation Performance

Window Sets • Around 10 ~ 14 dB(A)

without could be achieved
Sound
• Attenuation reduced
Absorption
Material (SAM) by 1 ~ 2 dB(A) if pane
separation increased
from 150 to 350 mm

Window Sets Around 12 ~ 17 dB(A)

with could be achieved
SAM
with SAM

Sound Attenuation Performance, dB(A)

21
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

Proposed track-side
noise barrier

8000
Location of Track-side Noise barrier

Tung Chung Area 56

MTR Tung Chung Line

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 Mitigation Measures At Source
Noise Cover for Public Transport Interchange

Shui Chuen O Area 52 PH. 2

A A

Upstand wall to block line of sight

Openings to avoid use of mechanical Hanger wall to block line of sight

Section A-A ventilation and sprinkler system
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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

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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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