title: The Norwegian Façade Insulation Study: the efficacy of façade insulation in reducing noise annoyance due to road traffic.
abstract: The efficacy of façade insulation in providing an improved indoor noise environment and in reducing indoor noise annoyance was examined in a socio-acoustic before-and-after study with a control group. An average equivalent noise reduction inside the dwellings of 7 dB was obtained from the façade insulation. Whereas 42% of the respondents were highly annoyed in the before-situation, this dropped to 16% in the after study. The conclusion is therefore that the façade insulation provided a substantial improvement in the indoor noise environment. The advantage with respect to indoor noise annoyance, of having the bedroom facing the least noise-exposed side of the dwelling corresponded to a 6 dB noise reduction. The changes in annoyance from noise reduction due to the façade insulation were in accordance with what would be expected from the exposure-response curves obtained in the before-situation. A total of 637 respondents participated in the before-study. Of these, 415 also participated in the after study. Indoor and outdoor noise exposure calculations for each of the dwellings were undertaken before and after the façade insulation was implemented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transport Economics (TOI), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway. astrid.amundsen@toi.no
authors.forename: Astrid H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Amundsen
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klæboe
authors.forename: Gunn Marit
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Aasvang
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003252:Construction Materials; D004644:Emotions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009664:Norway; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires