Residential outdoor-to-indoor acoustic conditions: Method and pilot data

Health and well-being of people is directly influenced by the indoor environmental quality of the buildings they occupy. Noise exposure, for example, is not only a cause of annoyance but it is established as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and it is a cause of sleep disturbance. As part of a broader research project focused on establishing guidance for suitable interior conditions for adults as they age, the National Research Council of Canada is developing a field study to measure, among other environmental conditions, outdoor-to-indoor noise conditions at homes. Objective parameters such as sound pressure levels will be monitored for a period of time and compared to residents’ health and well-being assessments through sensors and surveys. The methodology and instrumentation used for the acoustic measurements will be presented as well as the early results from pilot tests. The future outcomes of this study will contribute to guidance for both new-build and retrofit scenarios of dwellings for aging in place.