Case study: A survey of perceived noise in Canadian multi-unit residential buildings to study long-term implications for widespread teleworking

Abstract

Trends of urbanization, densification, and telework all point to increasing exposure to ambient noise for workers. With the lockdown policies implemented in response to COVID-19, a research opportunity to study perceived noise exposure for teleworking arose. This paper presents the results of a survey on noise issues in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and the consequent effects on occupants' well-being and productivity during the lockdown. Responses were collected from 471 MURB occupants across Canada. The results show that, despite the decrease in environmental noise, many are annoyed by outdoor noise, particularly from traffic and construction activities, and indicated that it affects their ability to work. Effects on ability to work from home were more frequently reported for indoor noise sources particularly airborne and impact noises coming from neighboring suites. Our findings, however, show that noise coming from occupants in the same suite (i.e. roommates and family) present the biggest issue. The findings indicate that existing noise conditions in MURBs might not be suitable for a permanent large-scale implementation of teleworking.

Increases in noise complaints during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spring 2020: A case study in Greater London, UK

“…They reported that neighbour noise was more annoying than outdoor noises during the lockdown, suggesting that this type of noise source is more problematic than other typical sources of community noise, when considered in the context of an enforced “stay home” policy. This brought other researchers to question what the positive role of indoor soundscape could be to promote well-being in times of social distancing ( Andargie et al, 2021 ; Dzhambov et al, 2021 ).…”

Associations between indoor soundscapes, building services and window opening behaviour during the COVID-19 lockdown

“…An increasing part of the literature has dealt so far with the effects of the environmental conditions on building occupants' health, mental health and quality of life, [1][2][3] and several studies have specifically focused on the quality of the domestic environment for building occupants' during the COVID-19 lockdown. [4][5][6] Industry and research are debating on the design and operation of buildings [7][8][9] in the light of the new home uses (e.g. working from home, WFH) and the need to control the spread of the virus (e.g.…”

Anthropogenic noise variation in Indian cities due to the COVID-19 lockdown during March-to-May 2020

“…In another study, it was found that people living in multi-unit residential buildings across Canada experienced a somewhat increased annoyance due to the vehicular noise despite a general decrease in ambient levels during the lockdown. 20 For a quiet residential area in Japan, the survey suggested that the participants perceived the noise levels to be the same during the lockdown and a few weeks after the restrictions were eased. 21 A survey of over 1000 participants across Turkey revealed that annoyance due to outdoor noise reduced considerably during the lockdown, particularly for busy residential neighborhoods, and it positively correlated with stress and anxiety levels.…”