Acustica Limited
Acustica
Technical advice on environmental noise policy, management, control and mapping.
ID: 208181228691-10
Lobbying Activity
Response to Assessment and management of environmental noise
2 Sept 2020
The proposed amendments to Directive 2015/996 are welcomed. The majority are based upon the extensive expert knowledge gained over the past five years implementing the methodology in calculation software, and in undertaking strategic noise mapping in line with the method. The majority of these issues were collated and discussed at length during the development of the RIVM report in 2019.
Our main concern is with regards to the proposed changes to section 2.8 on the assignment of noise levels to receiver points. This sets out a significant change to the previous method based on the VBEB:2007 methodology, which was used in a number of MS during R1, R2 and R3. The proposed change in the method will elevates the noise exposure levels for single facade dwellings which are not directly exposed to environmental noise. This deviates from the END requirement to determine the noise level at the most exposed facade of each dwelling.
It is appreciated that there are cases where the existing method may not be considered appropriate due to the layout of dwellings within apartment buildings, particularly where dwellings have more than one facade.
The issue is discussed in the attached file, and a revised methodology proposed which aims to combine both methods.
Please let us know if you have any questions or would like any additional information.
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