Internal noise
Design to avoid excessive noise levels particularly from building services but also from office equipment & external sources
- management of noise-generating plant and equipment to control resulting noise levels experienced by staff & occupants (3)
- centralised printer, fax and photocopier zones to reduce noise in general office areas (2)
- double glazing to reduce noise levels and save energy (6)
- recommended noise levels from building services as set out in CIBSE Guide A, Section 1 Table 1.15 (8 - table 1.15, 5 - section 12, 4 - section 8)
- ventilation inlets on the sides of the building away from the principal noise sources (9 - section 02/01/03)
Design to recommended maximum and minimum noise levels
- Offices: the following indoor ambient noise levels: - Small offices (single occupancy): 35-40 dBLaeq,T; - Medium offices (up to 4 people): 40-45 dBLaeq,T; - Large offices (open plan): 45-50 dBLaeq,T (1 - credit HW17, 7 - section 7)
Reference Documents
| Series Number | Publisher | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRE | BREEAM 2006 | |
| 2 | Carbon Trust | What will energy efficiency do for your workplace | |
| 3 | #N/A | #N/A | |
| 4 | TM40 | CIBSE | Health Risks in Buildings |
| 5 | Guide B5 | CIBSE | Noise and vibration control for HVAC |
| 6 | BRE | The Office Toolkit - the guide for facilities and office managers for reducing costs and environmental impact | |
| 7 | BS 8233:1999 | BSI | Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings - Code of practice |
| 8 | Guide A | CIBSE | Environmental design |
| 9 | AM10 | CIBSE | Natural ventilation in non-domestic buildings |