sydney-city-centre-review-of-environmental-factors

Non-residential receivers
For other relevant land uses within the study area the following NMLs were adopted
from the ICNG and were applied to the assessment:
Industrial uses: external 75 dB(A) L Aeq(15minute)
Office and retail uses: external 70 dB(A) L Aeq(15minute)
Classrooms/educational facilities, hospitals: internal 45 dB(A) L Aeq(15minute)
Places of worship: internal 45 dB(A) L Aeq(15minute)
Passive recreational areas: external 60 dB(A) L Aeq(15minute) .
The criteria in Table 6-13 were used in conjunction with the short-term and long-term
noise monitoring to determine NMLs for the assessed residential receivers. The
specific NMLs determined for each location are described in Appendix C.
Construction noise (sleep disturbance) assessment criteria
The Application Note of the INP (EPA, 2000) describes a maximum night-time noise
level (L Amax ) as being the RBL + 15 dB above which sleep disturbance may occur,
which in this case would be 69–78 dB(A) based on the limits above.
Construction vibration assessment criteria
Construction vibration can have two potential impacts, for which limits have been set
under different guidance:
Structural (cosmetic) damage
Loss of amenity due to human comfort impacts.
Structural damage assessment criteria
The following two standards were used to assess structural damage:
Australian Standard AS 2187.2-2006 Explosives – Storage and Use – Part 2:
Use of Explosives, which recommends frequency-dependent vibration guideline
values
British Standard BS 7385:2-1993 Evaluation and Measurement for Vibration in
Buildings Part 2, which provides an assessment method to assess cosmetic
damage in the absence of an Australian Standard.
The Australian Standard guideline values are based on the lowest vibration levels
above which damage can be credibly demonstrated. These levels are judged to give
a minimum risk of vibration-induced damage where the minimal risk is usually taken
as a 95 per cent probability of there being no effect. In addition to the guideline
values, the standard advises that ‘a building of historical value should not, unless it’s
structurally unsound, be assumed to be more sensitive’. For this reason, vibration
impacts on heritage listed buildings have not been specifically considered.
Human comfort and loss of amenity
The following two standards were used to assess human comfort amenity impacts:
Accessing Vibration: A Technical Guideline (Department of Environmental and
Conservation, 2006), which nominates preferred and maximum vibration goals
for critical areas, residences and other sensitive receptors
Environmental Noise Management, Assessing Vibration: A Technical Guideline
(DECC, 2006), which includes goals to reduce the level of annoyance from
construction vibration.
Sydney City Centre Capacity Improvement 213
Review of Environmental Factors