Passive Design
Designing the building and the spaces within it to benefit from natural light, ventilation and even temperatures.
Using Zones to Control Noise
When you’re designing a home:
- locate noise-sensitive rooms such as studies and bedrooms away from noisy activities (for example, laundries or children’s play) and from sources of external noise such as roads
- locate the least noise-sensitive rooms (for example, garages and laundries) closer to sources of noise, where they’ll act as a sound buffer to more sensitive rooms
- use corridors, cupboards and storerooms to buffer noise
- stagger doors across passageways so noise won’t travel directly from room to room.
Zoning works best for new houses, but it may be possible to reallocate rooms or make suitable alterations in existing houses. When you’re considering zoning for noise, you’ll also need to consider orientation for sun, views and wind.
- Zone planning for known external sources of noise
When you’re designing a home, locate noise-sensitive rooms such as studies and bedrooms away from noisy activities (for example, laundries or children’s play) and from sources of external noise such as roads. The least noise-sensitive rooms (for example, garages and laundries) can be closer to sources of noise, where they’ll act as a sound buffer to more sensitive rooms.
Zoning works best for new houses, but it may be possible to reallocate rooms or make suitable alterations in existing houses. When you’re considering zoning for noise, you’ll also need to consider orientation for sun, views and wind.