Traffic noise reduction due to the screening effect of balconies on a building façade

A Review on Natural Ventilation-enabling Façade Noise Control Devices for Congested High-Rise Cities

“…In an open space with a noise source on the ground, a standalone balcony on a building façade provides significant acoustical protection to the areas beyond it. Mohsen and Oldham [37] carried out a detailed experimental investigation, using a 1:10 scale model, to study the effects of source In an open space with a noise source on the ground, a standalone balcony on a building façade provides significant acoustical protection to the areas beyond it. Mohsen and Oldham [37] carried out a detailed experimental investigation, using a 1:10 scale model, to study the effects of source orientation, balcony form (in terms of depth and with and without parapet), window opening size, and locations, on the acoustical protection.…”

Improving the environment with an initial government subsidy

“…It is especially relevant in high density cities with high-rise buildings as in Hong Kong because it becomes very expensive to cut off traffic noise to the upper levels of buildings by installing noise barriers along the road (Cheng, Ng, & Fung, 2000). There were also many experiments that showed that a balcony acts as good noise barrier from nearby traffic (Mohsen & Oldham, 1977;May, 1979;Hammad & Gibbs, 1983;Hothersall, Horoshenkov, 1 The term ''sustainable development'' is defined as ''development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'' (World Commission for Environment and Development, 1987).…”

Acoustic performance of balconies having inhomogeneous ceiling surfaces on a roadside building facade

“…Therefore, there have been a diversity of studies on investigating the screening effect of balconies. Mohsen and Oldham [4] investigated a closed balcony by computer simulation and measurements on a scale model, and derived an empirical equation to predict the performance of a closed balcony. May [5] observed a significant increase in sound level on high-rise balconies close to freeways by field measurement, and the sound absorption treatment of the ceiling was found to provide effective noise reduction.…”