Acoustical Investigation of Laneway House Facades

Authors

  • Rosa Lin British Columbia Institute of Technology
  • Maureen Connelly British Columbia Institute of Technology

Abstract

A laneway house (LWH), permitted under Vancouver B.C.’s high-density urban growth policy, is a free-standing, small wood-frame house typically less than 1.5 stories high and averaging approximately 650sf in floor area.  LWH may require special attention for acoustical design due to its small architectural form and siting within the urban noise environment.  Façades from six laneway houses in Vancouver were examined for sound insulation performance and compliance with CMHC residential criteria.  The methods of investigation included ASTM field measurements, the CMHC/NRC road traffic noise algorithms for housing, and AFMG Soundflow with laboratory data.  Sound transmission loss metrics, quantified from the various methods, were compared and discussed.  Depending on the method applied, less than half of the case studies investigated met noise criteria for residential health.  Design and construction factors contributing to low sound isolation of the LWH façades were explored and discussed.  This study emphasized the need for acoustical design tools, specifications and guidelines for LWH, and for acoustical awareness in the design of compact dwellings in high density urban contexts.

 

Keywords: small building, laneway housing, transmission loss, sound isolation, sound insulation, façade, wall assembly, building envelop, windows, glazed doors, CMHC, road traffic noise, wood frame, residential noise criteria

 

Author Biographies

Rosa Lin, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Research AnalystBCIT Centre for Architectural EcologyArchitectural acoustics, acoustical environment, sound ecology, and urban noise.MASc. Building Science/Building Engineering, BCITBA Architecture, U.C. Berkekely

Maureen Connelly, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Director/FacultyBCIT Centre for Architectural Ecology/Graduate Program in Building Science/Building Engineering

Additional Files

Published

2016-08-24

How to Cite

1.
Lin R, Connelly M. Acoustical Investigation of Laneway House Facades. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2016 Aug. 24 [cited 2025 Feb. 13];44(3). Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/2936

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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