Exterior Noise

Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Project location :

United States

January 13, 2016

Regarding the exterior noise requirements - are projects required to implement acoustical solutions to exterior noise in accordance with ANSI Standard S12.60–2010? The credit language, Reference Guide and v4 Acoustic Performance Calculator do not appear to contain any specific minimum requirements relative to exterior noise. Could anyone confirm that our understanding is correct? If not could you point to further guidance which describes the minimum performance requirements beyond a narrative, exterior noise measurements and a description or drawings of measures and strategies implemented to minimize exterior noise.

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Daniel Hicks

Daniel Hicks, E.I., INCE

Geiler & Associates

LEEDuser Basic Member

175 thumbs up

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 21:22

If exterior noise levels are 60 dB(A) or higher (hour averaged Peak Leq), the credit requires measures to reduce noise transmission into the classrooms and core learning spaces. Basing the measures on ANSI S12.60 makes sense since the credit is based on that standard. Since there are no metrics in the calculator a narrative, measurements, and description seems appropriate.

Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 21:33

I agree that makes sense but it does not appear to be required.

Leanne Conrad

Project Manager

Entuitive

LEEDuser Basic Member

19 thumbs up

Thu, 02/28/2019 - 17:21

Has there been any further communication or direction regarding the exterior noise reduction? We are designing a school beside a set of highly used train tracks. What sound level do we need to reduce the exterior noise to or do we just need to write a narrative describing the measures we took to mitigate the exterior noise effects?