Guidelines On Design of Noise Barriers

Contents

Introduction Design considerations Aesthetic aspects Maintenance Checklist Bibliography / References

1. Introduction

This booklet provides guidelines in the detailed design of roadside noise barriers including vertical & crank-top barriers, semi-enclosures, full enclosures and deck over. These roadside noise barriers are in general termed as Direct Technical Remedies. Their locations, dimensions, types and shapes are normally determined and defined in statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies or other non-statutory Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) studies etc.

This booklet intends to cover various aspects at the detailed design stage including determination of acoustic properties of noise barriers like transmission loss, material selection, some important tips at design and construction stages. However, it is not the intention of this booklet to cover calculation methodologies as these would have been dealt with during EIA and NIA studies.

Design engineers are reminded that during detailed design stage, sufficient space should be allowed for the erection of noise barriers. Without sufficient space, design options for noise barrier will be limited. As laid down in the WBTC 19/98 and 19/98A, the noise barrier design proposal should be submitted to ACABAS for consideration of its aesthetic acceptability.

Also, the reader is advised to make reference to the relevant design manuals currently adopted such as "Structures Design Manual, Highways Department, Government of the HKSAR" and "Transport Planning and Design Manual, Transport Department, Government of the HKSAR".