Page 44 - Build 165

Medium-density housing
MDH environments, particularly apartment buildings and multi-unit dwellings. These included:
● activitiesofotherresidents,suchasloud
conversations
● televisions and loud music, particularly
bass sounds
● plumbingsystems
● heating, air-conditioning and ventilation
(HVAC) systems
● buildingservices,suchaslifts
● exteriorpedestrianandvehicletra c
● foot noise from the oor above, adjacent
walkways or stairways
● doorsbanging
● appliance noise, such as washing
machines.
The report provides a range of guidance and techniques to achieve Building Code clause G6 Airborne and impact sound minimum sound insulation requirements for dwelling units of STC ≥55 for inter- tenancy walls and floors and IIC ≥55 for inter-tenancy floors.
The advice uses simple design concepts to enhance acoustic performance within a dwelling, such as positioning noisy living areas away from noise-sensitive spaces and using low-amenity areas as a bu er between noise-sensitive areas. Other guidelines
Medium-density housing at Hobsonville Point, Auckland.
recommend ways to mitigate noise from external sources and help designers select materials to control sound transmission.
Focus on technical guidance
In the future, the BRANZ programme will look at some of these earlier research nd- ings in greater depth.
‘Over the course of the programme, we will use research results to provide the building industry with the technical information it needs to create high-quality medium-density housing,’ says Kate Bryson, Research Programme Leader at BRANZ.
‘Much of this work will deal with improving design and construction quality and addressing historically problematic areas in higher-density buildings,’ she says. ‘But we also intend to consult directly with industry practitioners to better understand the technical issues they face with medium- density housing. The results of this survey will help steer the future direction of the programme.’
For more For information on BRANZ’s MDH research programme, including links to published study reports and the upcoming industry survey, see branz.co.nz/mdh.
42 — April/May 2018 — Build 165
FEATURE SECTION
PHOTO – SNPA/ROSS SETFORD