ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION

Whether you’re in the heart of the inner city, or on the fringes of England’s motorways, there’s one thing we can all agree upon; the incessant drawl of cars is something we’d rather do without. No matter how convenient it is for your commute.

By focusing on noise complaints by their source, we look to solve your individual issues, rather than providing a panacea. That’s because disturbances such as airplanes and road traffic oscillate at different frequencies, which means in order to deal with them effectively, we have to deal with them differently.

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ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE

Depending on the time of day, the noise level of road traffic varies, often falling between 45-70+ decibels. This increases for proximity, vehicle type and and frequency, but falls just over the level that is seen to be ‘healthy’.

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MOTORBIKES

Motorbike exhausts have been restricted to 80 decibels in the UK, however this is still an extreme level, especially if it’s your neighbour revving their engine at 6 in the morning.

The tonal components in motorcycle exhaust noise were observed at around 50–80 Hz and 125–200 Hz. Conversely 2 stroke engines have tonal peaks in the 160 Hz, 315 Hz and 500 Hz third octave bands, reflecting the characteristic higher-frequency sound of a moped engine.

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SIRENS

If you live near a police station, hospital or fire station you will certainly be suffering from the sounds of sirens which go off at all times of the day. These tend to peak at around 120 decibels, which, to put into perspective, is 32 times louder than a vacuum cleaner.

In terms of frequency, emergency sirens tend to operate between 1kHz- 4kHz, often sweeping between these frequencies.

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CARS & MOTORWAYS

The loudness of a car will depend upon your proximity to the vehicle, and how fast the car is travelling. The following is a breakdown of noise pollution from cars at different speeds:

  • At idle: 39 – 47dB
  • At 55 mph: 59 – 69dB
  • At 65 mph: 65 – 73dB
  • At 85 mph: 65 – 84dB

Most frequency spectra of exterior tyre/road noise display a prominent peak in the range of 700 – 1300Hz.

THE PROBLEM

Aside from being generally annoying, studies have shown that road traffic noise pollution is responsible for a significant increase in the chances of developing cardiovascular disease, hypertension (due to disturbed sleep) and lack of effectiveness at work.

This has been proven to be especially impactful upon children, whose memory and capacity to learn can be hampered by continuous exposure to disturbing noise levels.

THE SOLUTION

Due to the variance in intensity, and the position of the window within the building, we often advise on a range of products for different properties. The following will give you a brief understanding of what we typically suggest for our clients suffering from road traffic noise pollution.

Bear in mind that the actual glazing that we suggest will be dependent upon your individual noise complaint and the frequency at which it is observed.

The prices displayed below do not include VAT and installation costs.

SOUNDPROOF WINDOWS

We recommend these windows for those who are experiencing moderate road traffic noise. In high pollution areas, we often suggest these windows for rear facing rooms, or those in which the decibel level is lower.

Noise Reduction:

~38dB

Moderate Road Traffic From Motorway:

300-1000m

Cost From:

£696

SOUNDPROOF PLUS

In high road traffic areas, we suggest these windows for those who are living along main roads, or in the inner city, and for front-facing rooms. Constructed with triple layered hardwood, and specialist noise reduction glass, we cite this as one of the finest stand alone solutions to noise pollution. These windows are especially recommended for soundproofing bedrooms, where getting a sound night’s sleep is extremely important.

Noise Reduction:

up to 45dB

High road traffic, close proximity to street, frequently used living areas and bedrooms.

Cost From:

£1,302

HIGH PERFORMANCE SECONDARY WINDOWS

(only available in casement)

We consider this the final solution, for properties in which the occupier is suffering from severe road traffic noise. This would be in the case of rooms or homes at street level on very busy roads, or in close proximity to a motorway. We also suggest the installation of these windows in buildings in which, for a variety of reasons, external windows cannot be replaced.

Noise Reduction:

up to 59dB

Severe road traffic noise, roadside buildings, buildings beside motorways.

Cost From:

£1,830

WANT SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY?

Download the Soundproof Windows brochure.

SOUNDPROOF WINDOWS FOR ROAD TRAFFIC

We pride ourselves on giving impartial advice on soundproof window products and noise pollution, so whether you want to speak to us about our products, or about the issues you are facing, get in touch.

PROUDLY SUPPORTING:

Trees for Life is a conservation charity dedicated to rewilding the Scottish Highlands. They currently have 44 tree planting sites and have planted nearly two million trees to date.

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10 YEAR INSURANCE BACKED GUARANTEE

All of our products come with up to a 10 Year Insurance Backed Guarantee provided by the Consumer Protection Association. So you can rest assured that your home is in safe hands.

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BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

We have been Trading Standards Approved and are proud to be enrolled on the Buy With Confidence Scheme, ensuring customers just like you have their interests protected.

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TRUSTMARK REGISTERED FOR QUALITY

Consumers can feel confident using a TrustMark registered business, as the government-endorsed scheme ensures high quality service and a range of consumer protection options.

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AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS & INSTALLATION

Following awards in 2020, and 2021, The Soundproof Windows was announced as the ‘Best Acoustic Window & Door Installation Company – London’ at the SME News Awards 2022.