Road traffic noise – new acoustics Standard published

Standards New Zealand has just published a new Standard Acoustics – Road traffic noise – New and altered roads NZS 6806:2010.The Standard aims to reduce traffic noise from new and altered roads by providing noise criteria to address the adverse effects of road traffic noise on people.

‘The acoustics Standard NZS 6806:2010 will help to achieve faster and more consistent decision-making nationally about road traffic noise,’ says Dr Bryan Pidwerbesky, Chair of the committee that developed the Standard. ‘I am pleased to see this important Standard published and I look forward to its implementation in upcoming roading projects.’

Standards New Zealand developed the Standard with support from the NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport. A wider committee was involved in drafting the Standard and included representatives of: Department of Building and Housing, INGENIUM, Local Government New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Acoustical Society, New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health Inc., New Zealand Transport Agency, Road Controlling Authorities (NZ) Inc. New Zealand, and Roading New Zealand.

The acoustics Standard NZS 6806:2010 will be used mainly by local authorities and road controlling authorities to manage road traffic noise on new or altered roads, as well as developers who are constructing or altering roads as part of a subdivision or land use development.

The Environment Court and Boards of Inquiry are also likely to take this new acoustics Standard NZS 6806:2010 into account when considering applications for major transport projects. The NZ Transport Agency has already made a resolution to apply the Standard to all relevant state highway projects. The Standard will also be of interest to roading contractors, land use and transport planners, road and traffic engineers, surveyors, urban and landscape designers, environmental managers, and noise professionals.

NZS 6806:2010 will help users to plan for and manage the adverse effects of road traffic noise from new and altered roads with higher traffic volumes by:

• providing consistent procedures and requirements to measure, predict, assess, and mitigate road traffic noise

• establishing reasonable criteria for road traffic noise, taking into account health issues associated with noise, the effects of noise levels on people and communities, and the potential benefits of new and altered roads to people and communities.

Helping users to implement the new Standard – guidance and tools

NZ Transport Agency Senior Environmental Specialist Rob Hannaby says a website has been developed to provide supplementary guidance and tools to help people to understand and apply NZS 6806:2010. ‘The NZ Transport Agency is also preparing an e-learning package to guide people through NZS 6806:2010 and to help them to understand how to use the Standard on their roading project,’ says Rob.

• For more information please visit www.acoustics.nzta.govt.nz or email info@nzta.govt.nz.

Rob says ‘NZS 6806:2010 is intended to be used together with the Resource Management Act 1991. The Quality Planning Website will include model provisions relating to the Standard that local authorities can use when developing their plans and policies.’

• Visit the Quality Planning Website at www.qualityplanning.org.nz.

To help increase understanding about whether or not alterations to an existing road constitute an altered road as defined in the Standard, the NZ Transport Agency has developed a web-based screening tool. This tool is aimed at ‘non-acousticians’ and generally takes a few minutes to complete.

• Access the web-based screening tool at www.acoustics.nzta.govt.nz under the ‘Tools’ tab.

Where to get more information

The Standard

Order or download NZS 6806:2010 from www.standards.co.nz (enter keyword ‘6806’ into the search panel), or email enquiries@standards.co.nz , or call 0800 782 632 during business hours.

Factsheet – including frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Visit www.standards.co.nz/news/Media+releases/Road+traffic+noise.htm for a factsheet about NZS 6806:2010.

Workshops

The NZ Transport Agency is organising workshops to be held around New Zealand in mid-2010. Details will be made available on the acoustics website (www.acoustics.nzta.govt.nz) when the workshops are finalised. If you would like to register your interest in attending a workshop please email info@nzta.govt.nz .

ENDS