N G Child & Associates

22 Britannia Road Consultants in Transport

Castle Hill NSW 2154 Energy and the Environment

Telephone: 61-2-9899 1968 E-mail: ngchild@canda.com.au

Facsimile: 61-2-9899 1797 Mobile: 61-409 393 024
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January 30th, 2020

Mr Tarun Chadha
Director
Archidrome Architects
By Email: tarunchadha@archidrome.net

Dear Tarun,

Preliminary Acoustic Report

Proposed Child Care Centre
25 Terry Road Rouse Hill NSW

Thank you for your recent instructions re the conduct of an acoustic assessment, and the preparation
of an appropriate acoustic report, for your proposed childcare centre development at 25 Terry Road,
Rouse Hill, NSW.

The proposed development, which will from part of a residential apartment development proposed for
the site, will conform with the indicative plans and drawings included for reference as attachments to
this letter, as follows:

Figure 1 – Basement 1 Plan

Figure 2 – Basement 2 Plan

Figure 3 – Ground Floor Plan

Figure 4 – Ground Floor Plan Childcare Centre Design

Figure 5 – Section 4A

I have completed the necessary unattended background sound level monitoring required for the
assessment, and considered the acoustic issues in question, based on the plans and drawings
summarised above.

On the basis of the completed acoustic assessment work, and pending finalisation of the formal acoustic
report, I am able to provide the following findings regarding acoustic issues:

1 BACKGROUND SOUND LEVELS:

Reference background sound levels were measured by continuous, unattended noise monitoring
conducted over a seven-day period, in accordance with relevant acoustic assessment guidelines and
protocols.

Background sound level measurements were recorded at an elevation of 1.5 metres above ground level
in free field conditions, as required by relevant acoustic assessment guidelines and protocols.

Weather conditions during the monitoring period were essentially clear and fine, with low prevailing
winds. Meteorological conditions were not such as to distort the background sound level measurements.

The proposed childcare and early learning centre will operate on an essentially daytime basis,
corresponding with the weekday “day-time” measurements reflecting the period 7:00am to 6:00pm.

Accordingly, the Rated Background Sound Levels (RBL’s) adopted for this assessment, in accordance
with relevant acoustic assessment guidelines, are as shown in Table 1, on the following page. In
accordance with standard assessment practice, these RBL’s have been rounded to the nearest whole
number.
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Table 1 – Rated Background Sound Levels

Rated Background Sound Levels for Assessment Purposes (dBA)
LA90 50
LAeq 57

2 ACOUSTIC IMPACTS ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

2A Indoor Areas

Sound levels within the proposed child care centre will be influenced by the ambient external sound
levels as indicated by the rated background sound levels as summarised in Table 1, which will be subject
to attenuation or reduction by the external and internal structural features of the proposed development,
and the proposed construction detail (refer Attachments 1 to 5)

Acoustic protection to the internal spaces of the proposed centre will be provided by the external
masonry structural walls and the external glazed elements of the building, together with internal dividing
walls associated with the proposed construction, and the various floor and wall finishes used.

Sound Transmission through Structures

The structural elements of buildings (walls, windows, doors etc) reduce the level of sound. The degree
of sound reduction varies from material to material.

The weighted sound reduction index (Rw) is the measure used to describe the acoustic performance of
the various building elements making up a construction system.

The Rw rating is measured in decibels (dB) and in effect indicates the reduction that is achieved when
noise passes through a given material.

If the noise outside is 70 dB and inside it is 40 dB, the structural element (wall, window, door etc) is said
to have an Rw rating of 30.

Acoustic Qualities of Solid Walls

Typically, solid form external wall elements have sound reduction (or attenuation) ratings in excess of
35 dBA, and in the case of masonry elements in excess of 45 dBA.

This means that the maximum rated external sound level in this case, which is 56 dBA, can readily be
reduced to the desired maximum indoor sound levels of 40 dBA maximum (general areas) and 35 dBA
objective maximum (cot rooms) by the effect of external walls, and in the case of internal spaces by the
combined effect of external walls and internal structural elements.

External Windows & Doors

The most acoustically “vulnerable” elements of the external building facades are the glazed windows
and doors. Glazed construction elements (windows and doors) provide lower levels of sound attenuation
(or reduction) than solid structural elements such as walls.

The indicative acoustic reduction effects provided by various glazing options available for the doors and
windows fitted to the facades of the proposed childcare centre are shown in Table 2, below.

Table 2 – Acoustic Attenuation due to Glazing

Glazing Type Sound Attenuation *
10.38 mm laminated 35
6.38 mm laminated 31
10 mm float 33
6 mm float 27
4 mm float 22
* Based on specifications provided by Pilkington Glass

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The maximum rated external background sound level (RBL) in this case, based on continuous
monitoring is 56 dBA (refer Table 5.3).

The sound level required to be achieved within the general internal spaces of the proposed centre, with
windows and doors closed, is 40 dBA maximum. The objective sound level adopted for internal sleep
and cot areas is 35 dBA.

To achieve these internal sound levels, with a reasonable margin for error and variation, glazing with a
minimum effective sound attenuation capability of 25 dBA is considered appropriate.

Glazing equivalent in acoustic quality to at least 6 mm float glass would be required for external windows
and doors installed as part of the development, if internal noise levels were the only issue.

In this case however, consideration must also be given to the protection of immediately adjacent
residential receivers from possible noise generated within the childcare centre.

For this reason, the higher acoustically rated 6.38mm laminated glass is recommended for external
windows. It is assumed that laminated glass of this type would be used for safety reasons in any external
doors, for safety reasons.

To ensure that projected noise reduction or attenuation is achieved by external windows and doors, it is
also proposed that the window and door frames are sealed into the façade openings using a
polyurethane sealant such as “Bostik Fireban One”, or equivalent, and that full perimeter acoustic seals
equal to Schlegel Q-Lon seals are fitted to all external windows and doors.

2B Outdoor Play Areas

The measured background sound level (RBL) is 56 dBA (refer Table 1).

A sound level of 55 dBA is required in the outdoor play areas of the centre.

The combined effect of distance from the noise source (Terry Road), and the acoustic shielding that will
be provided by structural elements, will ensure that the required outdoor play area acoustic level of 55
dBA is achieved.

2C Road Traffic & Car Park Noise

The measured LAeq RBL of 56 dBA includes the effect of existing environmental noise, including road
traffic on Terry Road and other local thoroughfares.

Noise associated with vehicular access to and from the proposed basement car parks is considered
unlikely to significantly impact the proposed childcare centre.

The childcare centre will be shielded from any noise generated in the basement car parks by the acoustic
shielding effect of the building structure.

2D Summary: Implications of Estimated Noise Levels

General Indoor Areas

Typical maximum ambient sound levels in the general indoor areas of the proposed centre are estimated
to be in the range 35 – 40 dBA. This assessment demonstrates that sound levels in the general interior
spaces of the proposed centre will satisfy the typical criterion of 40 dBA applicable to childcare centres.

Interior Cot Room & “Indoor Play Areas”

Sound levels projected to apply in any interior cot rooms of the proposed centre have been
conservatively estimated to be in the range 30-35 dBA. These projected noise levels are considered to
be more than appropriate for the more acoustically sensitive sleep and rest areas for children.

Outdoor Play Areas

Background noise levels in the outdoor play areas will be less than 55 dBA, based on the measured
RBL for the site.

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3 IMPACT OF SOUND FROM THE CENTRE ON SURROUNDING PREMISES

3A Measured Sound Pressure Levels of Young Children at Play

Typical sound levels of 70 – 75 dBA have been assumed for the outdoor play area in this assessment.

Higher sound levels have been taken into account as a contingency.

3B Acoustic Impact from the Child Care Centre

Noise Emissions from Indoor Activities

Noise generated within the centre itself will be reduced or attenuated by the internal and external
structural elements of the building.

Noise generated by activities within the centre is also attenuated or reduced by the building structure by
30 dBA in terms of impact outside the building.

Assuming maximum (“worst case”) noise levels in the range 70 – 75 dBA during periods of play within
the indoor play areas at the centre, (this is conservative – and represents perceived noise levels
between two and three times that of typical adult conversation) the maximum acoustic impact due to
internal activity within the centre immediately outside the centre, and at adjoining property boundaries,
is projected to be 40 - 45 dBA, which complies with the applicable requirement, that is that noise
associated with the centre should not result in an increase of greater than 5 dBA over existing
background sound levels at any affected residential boundary.

Acoustic Impact from Outdoor Play Areas

“Worst case” maximum noise levels generated within play areas have been assessed as being 70-75
dBA .

The measured LA90 RBL is 50 dBA, which must not be exceed by more than 5 dBA generally in the
case of residential receivers, and not by more than 10 dBA for a maximum of two hours each day.

This means that a maximum attenuation of (70-75) – 55 dBA, or 20 dBA maximum, is generally required
in the case of residential receiver’s subject to immediate acoustic impact, with this attenuation reducing
by 5 dBA for a maximum two-hour period each day.

In addition to the sound reduction provided by the sound absorbing effect of floor and wall treatments
(including rubber based soft fall materials) acoustic protection is provided by the types of external fences
around the outdoor play area.

These can include solid panel acoustic fences; laminated glass fences; lapped timber fences; louvered
timber privacy/acoustic screens, metal mesh privacy/acoustic screens, or simply solid form metal panel
fences.

In our professional opinion, the minimum acoustic protection required to ensure that external activities
associated with the proposed centre will not unduly impact on surrounding and adjoining receivers, in
particular residential receivers, will involve the following measures:

❑ Boundary fencing along the rear wester, southern and eastern property boundaries comprising
1800mm fencing with a minimum Rw rating of 20; and

❑ Use of appropriate soft fall and other acoustic floor treatments in the play areas as feasible.

The acoustic protection provided by this combination of design and construction elements is
summarised in Table 6.10, on the following page.

On this basis, a boundary fence with the minimum acoustic qualities of an 1800 mmm double lapped &
capped timber fence will be required on the site boundary adjacent to the outdoor pay area (refer
Attachment 4).

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3C Residential Receivers

As indicated above, the acoustic impact resulting from noise projected to be generated within the
childcare centre will not exceed the existing measured LA90 background sound level by more than 5
dBA at any affected residential boundary.

Similarly, subject to the installation of appropriate acoustic boundary fencing, the acoustic impact
resulting from noise projected to be generated In the outdoor play area associated with the proposed
childcare centre will not exceed the existing measured LA90 background sound level by more than 5
dBA at any affected residential boundary.

Accordingly, the projected acoustic impacts from the proposed centre will comply with the relevant
acoustic guideline.

3D Motor Vehicle Noise

Noise associated with the drop off and pick up of children from the centre will essentially be contained
to the basement car park area and is not expected to impose a noise burden of greater than, or even
approaching, 5 dBA above the measured LA90 RBL background level of 50 dBA at any potentially
affected residential boundary.

3E Industrial & Commercial Receivers

The NSW Noise Policy for Industry requires that the impact of any commercially or industrially sourced
noise, in this case the noise from the proposed childcare centre, must not exceed 65 dBA at any existing
industrial or commercial boundary.

In our professional opinion, this acoustic requirement will be readily achieved.

4 OTHER ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS

4A Acoustic Impacts Generally

In our professional opinion, due to the relatively low level of sounds projected to be generated by
activities associated with the proposed centre, and the various attenuation or noise reduction factors
involved, and subject to the recommendations made in this report, there is very little likelihood that the
proposed child care centre will cause any undue acoustic impacts on nearby receivers.

4B General Acoustic Considerations

The activities of children at the proposed childcare centre will be additional to background, ambient
sound levels. However, these incremental sound levels will be subject to the following management and
control:

Structural Attenuation: Sound levels generated within the proposed centre will be subject to
attenuation by the materials used in the construction and fit-out of the centre, such as wall and
flooring finishes. It is considered reasonable to assume that a measurable reduction in noise
impact will be achieved by this means.

Effect of Management and Supervision: It is also considered reasonable to assume that

sound generated by the activities of children playing in play areas at the proposed centre will
be subject to minimisation and control as a result of appropriate management and supervisory
protocols.

These factors will provide additional acoustic management and minimisation controls.

5 OVERALL ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT

5A Key Findings

This report presents the results of an acoustic assessment undertaken in relation to a Child Care Centre
proposed for development proposed for 25 Terry Road Rouse Hill NSW. The following is a summary of
the key findings of this assessment:
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1. Sound levels of less than 40 dB(A) will be achieved throughout the internal areas of the
proposed childcare centre, based on measured background sound levels and proposed layout
and centre design details as described in this report;

2. Sound levels in the range 30-35 dB(A) will be achieved in any cot rooms associated with the
proposed centre, based on measured background sound levels; and proposed layout and
centre design details as described in this report;

3. Noise levels of less than 55 dBA are projected to be achieved within the outdoor play areas
associated with the centre;

4. The level of noise estimated to be generated by activities within the internal areas of the
proposed centre is projected to be essentially contained by the building structure of the centre
itself, and accordingly is projected to have no negative or non-compliant impacts on surrounding
buildings, activities and individuals;

5. The level of noise estimated to be generated by activities within the outdoor activity areas
associated with the childcare centre is projected to have no negative or non-compliant impacts
on surrounding buildings, activities and individuals, subject to the implementation of the
recommendations summarised below; and

6. On this basis, the acoustic performance of the proposed childcare centre will comply fully with
the requirements of all relevant acoustic guidelines and requirements.

5B Recommendations

The assessment has found that the proposed childcare centre will comply with the requirements of all
relevant acoustic guidelines and regulations, subject to the advice provided generally in this report;
adherence to normally accepted design and building practices, and the implementation of the following
recommendations:

1. External windows and doors are fitted with 6.38 mm laminated glass, or minimum acoustic
equivalent;

2. External window and door frames are fitted to façade openings with a sealant such as “Bostik
Fireban One”, or equivalent;

3. Full perimeter acoustic seals equal to Schlegel Q-Lon seals to be fitted to all external windows
and doors; and

4. Boundary fences of minimum height 1800mm and with an Rw rating of at least 20 dBA should
be installed along the eastern, southern and western boundaries of the ground level outdoor
play area.

Please contact me at any time if I can provide any further or more detailed information at this stage.

Yours Very Truly

Noel Child
BSc (Hons), PhD, MIEA, MRACI
Principal, NG Child & Associates

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Attachment 1 – Basement 1 Plan

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Attachment 2 – Basement 2 Plan

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Attachment 3 – Ground Floor Plan

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Attachment 4 – Ground Floor Plan Childcare Centre Design

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Attachment 5 – Section 4A
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