According to Polish law, each new investment should be designed in such a way that acceptable noise level – both in the case of existing and planned buildings – has not been exceeded. What are the permissible noise standards outside the building?
Permissible noise level in the environment (outside the building)
Permissible noise level outside the building was specified in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of June 14, 2007. According to it, depending on type of terrain noise must not exceed certain standards. The highest permissible noise level this is in the case of:
- protection zone A (spa) i out-of-town hospitals – 45 decibels during the day and 40 at night,
- areas single-family housingareas of hospitals in cities, areas of nursing homes and development areas related to the temporary or permanent stay of children and youth - 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night,
- areas multi-family housing development, areas of collective residence, areas of homestead development, residential and service areas and recreation and leisure areas - 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night,
- areas in the downtown area cities with more than 100 inhabitants – 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In order for the measurement of noise in the environment (outside the building) to be reliable, it is necessary meet certain conditions. First, it should be carried out over a specified time period and the results obtained should be averaged. In the case of night measurements, this should be the hour when the noise is the most annoying.
Second, the noise level meter should be placed four meters above street level. Third, you have to eliminate the acoustic backgrounde.g. a passer-by shouting near the device. It could distort the results. Therefore, it is worth entrusting noise measurements to specialists who will take care of all the details and suspend the operation of the meter at the right moments, so as to eliminate sounds disturbing the test.
Acceptable noise level in the apartment - applicable standards
Polish law also specifies noise standards in the apartment. According to them, the permissible equivalent level of sound penetrating into living quarters located in residential buildings, hotels, workers' hostels, pensioners' homes or dormitories may not exceed 40 decibels during the day and 30 at night.
Norma pn-87/b-02151/02 also defines acceptable noise level, which penetrates into rooms and is produced by devices being elements of the technical equipment of the building or by other devices located inside and outside the building. According to it:
- the average A-weighted sound level (steady noise) or equivalent sound level (unsteady noise) produced by the equipment must not exceed 35 decibels on the day and 25 decibels in the night,
- the maximum sound level A with unsteady noise cannot be higher than 40 decibels on the day and 30 decibels in the night.
Measurement of noise in the apartment should also be carried out by specialists. Only then is the accuracy of the results guaranteed. At EkoMeritum, we have knowledge, experience and specialized equipment, which allows us to conduct professional sound intensity tests. We measure industrial noise and communication. We measure inside and outside buildings. We also suggest what to do to meet certain requirements.
Mentioned noise standards they are used not only in the design of new buildings, but also in the modernization of old ones. If a given building (or device) is acoustically incorrectly constructed, then reducing the sound level may prove to be a costly and technically difficult undertaking. Therefore, the investor should take care of it from the very beginning acceptable noise standards have been fulfilled. Without professionally made measurements, it will be difficult to do. That is why it is worth using the support of experts.
