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The hustle of moving vehicles, the sound of police or ambulance sirens, the rumble of garbage trucks and the background music echoing through stores and supermarkets. Cities are synonymous with noise. While many individuals have come to embrace this noise as an inherent aspect of their daily existence, it does not mean that the situation should be deemed normal. Recognising the importance of sound insulation when it comes to urban planning is crucial for fostering a healthier and more peaceful urban environment.
THE 2ND MOST HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
Excess sound has been associated with discomfort and illnesses such as stress, sleeping disorders, behavioural disturbance and poor performance, heart disease, diabetes and obesity and/or cognitive impairment in childhood.
Despite people having become accustomed to the constant sound of cars and other vehicles driving around the city, the World Health Organization (WHO) deems traffic-related noise the second largest environmental cause of health problems. It holds this position just after the impact of air pollution, and far above the noise from trains and aeroplanes.
The UK Health and Security Agency, too, stresses the detrimental effects of noise. In a 2023 study, UKHSA researchers assessed the impact of noise on health using the metric of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Each DALY is the equivalent of one year of healthy life lost. The team discovered that some 100,000 DALYs were lost due to traffic noise in England in 2018. Additionally, 13,000 DALYs lost were attributed to railway noise, and 17,000 to aircraft noise.
Most of these losses were linked to people grappling with “chronic noise annoyance” (a prolonged state of distress or disturbance induced by noise) and sleep-related issues, followed by conditions such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes. Consequently, chronic noise annoyance has been tied to reduced overall well-being and quality of life, and a higher risk of serious health issues like anxiety, depression, and heart disease.
CAREFUL URBAN PLANNING
The WHO and UKHSA research underscores the importance of incorporating health considerations related to noise in the decision-making processes around new transport infrastructure and urban planning. For instance, areas with fewer trees or other greenery have a higher level of noise exposure.
Urban planning actions that governments can take within current transport infrastructure include:
- implementing quieter road surfaces, tires, and vehicles
- limiting traffic volume
- lowering speed limits
- promoting quiet areas, such as parks
- ensuring smoother wheels and rails for trains
- thoughtfully designing flight paths
Implementing such measures to mitigate noise exposure is crucial for preventing adverse health effects.
SOUND INSULATION IN HOMES AND BUILDINGS
Enhancing the acoustic design of residential developments is a crucial aspect of the solution. To mitigate the impact of noise on our daily lives, ensuring proper soundproofing in homes and buildings is essential. Soprema offers various solutions to block noise coming from both outside and inside the building.
By tackling excessive echoes and reverberations, both PURE-KUSTIK and FIBRO-KUSTIK Barcelona contribute to achieving optimal acoustics.
- The PURE-KUSTIK range features panels made from recycled polyester fibres (60% recycled). Specifically designed for indoor spaces, PURE-KUSTIK effectively reduces noise by absorbing sound waves. This range is produced without VOC or formaldehyde emissions, earning it an A+ classification (ISO 16000) and an Öko-Tex 100 environmental label class 1 (ISO 17050-1). This fully recyclable product maintains excellent dimensional stability after cutting.
- FIBRO-KUSTIK Barcelona, in turn, is available in SOLO or DUO options, with sound absorption levels of up to 0.8 αw and up to class A (0.9-1.0) respectively. The eco-friendly acoustic slabs or ceiling tiles consist of super fine wood fibres from sustainably managed forests (PEFC™ or FSC™ certifications), cement and marble powder binder. With more than 64 colours to choose from and the possibility of customised printing, FIBRO-KUSTIK combines acoustic performance with architectural aesthetics, providing a versatile solution for spaces where design meets functionality.
Lastly, our TECSOUND products prevent noise transmission between rooms, and protect against external noise intrusion from all directions. They can be combined with lightweight and rigid materials like gypsum boards, but they also demonstrate a high sound damping capacity when applied to metal surfaces. TECSOUND’s flexibility and adaptability make it suitable for uneven surfaces, too. Easy to handle and cut, the products maintain good performance at low temperatures without any risk of breaking or cracking. With negligible water absorption and being rot proof, they ensure long-lasting performance.
LET’S ADDRESS THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN
Despite the common perception of noise as merely annoying rather than a public health concern, research increasingly points to the fact that excessive sounds like road traffic, rail, and aircraft noise, contribute to a collective health problem. At Soprema, we continue to update our sound insulation range to help address this pressing issue.
For more information on EXCESS SOUND: INSULATION AND URBAN PLANNING MUST GO HAND IN HAND talk to SOPREMA UK