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BEAM P
LUS FOR
E
XISTING
B
UILDINGS
I
NDOOR
E
NVIRONMENTAL
Q
UALITY
(I
EQ
)
V
ERSION
1.2
I
EQ
21 B
ACKGROUND
N
OISE
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 146
6
IEQ
6.7
A
COUSTICS AND
N
OISE
I
EQ
21 B
ACKGROUND
N
OISE
E
XCLUSIONS
Buildings/premises in which speech intelligibility is not important.
O
BJECTIVE
Control as far as practicable the background noise in premises at levels
appropriate to the intended use of the premises.
C
REDITS ATTAINABLE
1
P
REREQUISITES
None.
C
REDIT REQUIREMENT
1 credit for demonstrating background noise levels are within the
prescribed criteria.
Based on the nature of the building, relaxation should be allowed in
considering the acceptance of this credit. The applicant should provide
full submission of the design and calculation to justify the relaxation.
A
SSESSMENT
BEAM regards background noise in premises/rooms as a matter having
an important bearing on quality and productivity. Given that different
criteria may be used the Client shall define the criteria appropriate to the
type and use of the premises/rooms in the building. However, for the
purposes of assessment account should be taken of the criteria given
below. Where alternative criteria are used the Client shall provide
evidence as to the suitability of the alternative, e.g. by making reference
to authoritative guidance. Likewise, where criteria appropriate to the type
and use of premises/spaces is not stated herein, the Client shall provide
evidence as to the suitability of the criteria adopted.
Compliance shall be demonstrated by detailed calculations or
measurements, or both, depending on the Client’s preference. Sufficient
numbers of calculations and/or measurements shall be made to ensure
that the requirements are met in all specified premises, but in particular
for premises near street level and major outdoor sources. Some
relaxation of the noise criterion for residential units may be considered.
The intruding noise sources shall include external noise sources such as
traffic noise, railway noise, etc.
Site measurements on the completed building should be on at least one
sample of each type of premises/room, taking account the worst case
conditions of exposure to noise sources external to the space, and
undertaken during periods appropriate to the usage pattern for the
space. Measuring equipment shall conform to the accuracy requirements
given in IEC 60804 [1] to type 2 or better, or equal equivalent standard.
For non-residential buildings, the assessment shall take into account
noise from building services equipment while for residential premises,
the assessment shall only consider the external noise sources (e.g. road
traffic, etc).
The Client shall submit details in the form of a report prepared by a
suitably qualified person providing a schedule of the premises and
spaces in the building, relevant design details as they impact on noise
isolation, the rooms/premises subject to field tests or for which detailed
calculations have been made, the background noise criteria used,
underlying assumptions, and the results of tests or calculations
demonstrating compliance with the criteria (expressed in parameters that
are consistent with the test and/or calculation methods).
Where it can be demonstrated that background noise isolation, as
measured or calculated for the most susceptible spaces/rooms/premises,
1
International Electroctechnical Commission. IEC 60804: 2000. Integrating-averaging sound level meters.