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Differences between Outdoor and Indoor Sound Levels for Open, Tilted, and Closed Windows

Author

Listed:
  • Barbara Locher

    (Empa, Laboratory for Acoustics/Noise Control, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
    Current address: Müller-BBM Schweiz AG, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland)

  • André Piquerez

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Manuel Habermacher

    (n-Sphere AG, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Martina Ragettli

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
    Centre for Chronobiology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Martin Röösli

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
    Centre for Chronobiology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Mark Brink

    (Federal Office for the Environment, 3003 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Christian Cajochen

    (Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Danielle Vienneau

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
    Centre for Chronobiology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Maria Foraster

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
    Centre for Chronobiology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Uwe Müller

    (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin, 51147 Köln, Germany)

  • Jean Marc Wunderli

    (Empa, Laboratory for Acoustics/Noise Control, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland)

Abstract

Noise exposure prediction models for health effect studies normally estimate free field exposure levels outside. However, to assess the noise exposure inside dwellings, an estimate of indoor sound levels is necessary. To date, little field data is available about the difference between indoor and outdoor noise levels and factors affecting the damping of outside noise. This is a major cause of uncertainty in indoor noise exposure prediction and may lead to exposure misclassification in health assessments. This study aims to determine sound level differences between the indoors and the outdoors for different window positions and how this sound damping is related to building characteristics. For this purpose, measurements were carried out at home in a sample of 102 Swiss residents exposed to road traffic noise. Sound pressure level recordings were performed outdoors and indoors, in the living room and in the bedroom. Three scenarios—of open, tilted, and closed windows—were recorded for three minutes each. For each situation, data on additional parameters such as the orientation towards the source, floor, and room, as well as sound insulation characteristics were collected. On that basis, linear regression models were established. The median outdoor–indoor sound level differences were of 10 dB(A) for open, 16 dB(A) for tilted, and 28 dB(A) for closed windows. For open and tilted windows, the most relevant parameters affecting the outdoor–indoor differences were the position of the window, the type and volume of the room, and the age of the building. For closed windows, the relevant parameters were the sound level outside, the material of the window frame, the existence of window gaskets, and the number of windows.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Locher & André Piquerez & Manuel Habermacher & Martina Ragettli & Martin Röösli & Mark Brink & Christian Cajochen & Danielle Vienneau & Maria Foraster & Uwe Müller & Jean Marc Wunderli, 2018. "Differences between Outdoor and Indoor Sound Levels for Open, Tilted, and Closed Windows," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:1:p:149-:d:127597
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Brink & Dirk Schreckenberg & Danielle Vienneau & Christian Cajochen & Jean-Marc Wunderli & Nicole Probst-Hensch & Martin Röösli, 2016. "Effects of Scale, Question Location, Order of Response Alternatives, and Season on Self-Reported Noise Annoyance Using ICBEN Scales: A Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michail Evangelos Terzakis & Maud Dohmen & Irene van Kamp & Maarten Hornikx, 2022. "Noise Indicators Relating to Non-Auditory Health Effects in Children—A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Wonhee Lee & Chanil Chun & Dongwook Kim & Soogab Lee, 2021. "Modeling and Mapping of Combined Noise Annoyance for Aircraft and Road Traffic Based on a Partial Loudness Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Sarah Rocha & Michael G. Smith & Maryam Witte & Mathias Basner, 2019. "Survey Results of a Pilot Sleep Study Near Atlanta International Airport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Ricardo Moreno & Francesco Bianco & Stefano Carpita & Alessandro Monticelli & Luca Fredianelli & Gaetano Licitra, 2023. "Adjusted Controlled Pass-By (CPB) Method for Urban Road Traffic Noise Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Mark Brink & Beat Schäffer & Danielle Vienneau & Reto Pieren & Maria Foraster & Ikenna C. Eze & Franziska Rudzik & Laurie Thiesse & Christian Cajochen & Nicole Probst-Hensch & Martin Röösli & Jean Mar, 2019. "Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance from Road, Rail and Aircraft Noise: Exposure-Response Relationships and Effect Modifiers in the SiRENE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Beat Schäffer & Armin Taghipour & Jean Marc Wunderli & Mark Brink & Lél Bartha & Sabine J. Schlittmeier, 2022. "Does the Macro-Temporal Pattern of Road Traffic Noise Affect Noise Annoyance and Cognitive Performance?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-24, April.
    7. Krzysztof Nering & Alicja Kowalska-Koczwara & Anna Shymanska & Michał Pawluś, 2022. "The Possibility of Providing Acoustic Comfort in Hotel Rooms as an Element of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    8. Martin Röösli & Mark Brink & Franziska Rudzik & Christian Cajochen & Martina S. Ragettli & Benjamin Flückiger & Reto Pieren & Danielle Vienneau & Jean-Marc Wunderli, 2019. "Associations of Various Nighttime Noise Exposure Indicators with Objective Sleep Efficiency and Self-Reported Sleep Quality: A Field Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    9. Sarah Weidenfeld & Sandra Sanok & Rolf Fimmers & Marie-Therese Puth & Daniel Aeschbach & Eva-Maria Elmenhorst, 2021. "Short-Term Annoyance Due to Night-Time Road, Railway, and Air Traffic Noise: Role of the Noise Source, the Acoustical Metric, and Non-Acoustical Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-17, April.
    10. Melanie Schubert & Karla Romero Starke & Julia Gerlach & Matthias Reusche & Pauline Kaboth & Wolfram Schmidt & Dieter Friedemann & Janice Hegewald & Hajo Zeeb & Andrea Zülke & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller , 2023. "Traffic-Related High Sleep Disturbance in the LIFE-Adult Cohort Study: A Comparison to the WHO Exposure-Response-Curves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-17, March.

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