Noise and Vibration Feasibility Study Proposed Residential Development Phase 2 & 3, Port Robinson Estates Port Robinson, ON
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Noise and Vibration Feasibility Study Proposed Residential Development Phase 2 & 3, Port Robinson Estates Port Robinson, ON Prepared for: Legacy Communities (Thorold) Inc. 125 Villarboit Crescent Vaughan, Ontario L4K 4K2 Prepared by Harry Cai, EIT Reviewed by Sheeba Paul, MEng, PEng July 20, 2020 HGC Project No: 01900002 Table of Contents 1 Introduction and Summary .......................................................................................................1 2 Site Description and Noise Sources..........................................................................................2 3 Noise Level Criteria..................................................................................................................2 3.1 Road and Rail Traffic Noise ..............................................................................................2 3.2 Ground-borne Vibration from Rail Traffic .......................................................................4 4 Traffic Sound Level Assessment ..............................................................................................4 4.1 Rail Traffic Data ................................................................................................................4 4.2 Road Traffic Data ..............................................................................................................5 4.3 Road Traffic Noise Predictions .........................................................................................6 5 Discussion and Recommendations ...........................................................................................7 5.1 Outdoor Living Areas ........................................................................................................7 5.2 Minimum Setback Distance ..............................................................................................8 5.3 Indoor Living Areas and Ventilation Requirements .........................................................8 5.4 Building Façade Constructions .........................................................................................8 5.5 Assessment of Ground-borne Vibration from Rail Traffic .............................................10 6 Warning Clauses .....................................................................................................................11 7 Summary and Recommendations ...........................................................................................12 7.1 Implementation................................................................................................................13 Figure 1: Key Plan Figures 2a/b: Draft Plan Showing Prediction Locations Figures 3a/b: Draft Plan Showing Ventilation Requirements Figures 4 – 13: Measured Vibration Velocity & Acceleration Spectrum from Rail Pass-bys Appendix A: Rail Traffic Information Appendix B: Road Traffic Information Appendix C: Sample STAMSON 5.04 Output Noise and Vibration Feasibility Study, Proposed Residential Development Page 1 Phase 2 & 3 Port Robinson Estates, Port Robinson, ON July 20, 2020 1 Introduction and Summary HGC Engineering was retained by Legacy Communities (Thorold) Inc. to conduct a noise and vibration feasibility study for Phase 2 and 3 of a proposed residential development located near Port Robinson Road and Kottmeier Road in Port Robinson, Ontario. The residential development will consist of various townhouses and single detached dwellings, along with associated roadways and open park spaces. The primary sources of noise are road traffic on Port Robison Road and Kottmeier Road and rail traffic on the Trillium Railway Canal Spur line. Rail traffic data was obtained from Trillium Railway personnel, and road traffic data was obtained from the Region of Niagara. Rail and road traffic data was used to predict future traffic sound levels at the proposed building façades and in outdoor living areas. The predicted sound levels were compared to the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to develop noise control recommendations. The results of the study show that the proposed development is feasible with the noise control measures described in this report. The future daytime sound levels of the blocks adjacent to Port Robinson Road will exceed MECP guideline sound levels, and will require forced air ventilation systems with ductwork sized for the future installation of central air conditioning by the occupant. Upgraded glazing construction and exterior wall construction (brick veneer or masonry equivalent construction) is required for the dwelling units adjacent to the Trillium railway. Noise warning clauses are also required for those dwelling units to inform future occupants of the traffic noise impacts, to address sound level excesses, and proximity to existing industrial uses. For all other dwelling units, any building construction meeting the minimum requirements of the Ontario Building Code will provide sufficient acoustical insulation for indoor spaces. Ground-borne vibration levels from rail pass-bys were measured at the location of closest proposed dwellings to the Trillium railway right-of-way and were found to be below the limits of railway guidelines. Vibration mitigation is not required for the proposed dwellings. Noise and Vibration Feasibility Study, Proposed Residential Development Page 2 Phase 2 & 3 Port Robinson Estates, Port Robinson, ON July 20, 2020 2 Site Description and Noise Sources Figure 1 is a key plan indicating the location of the proposed site. The site is located east of Kottmeier Road, with Phase 2 located south of Port Robinson Road and Phase 3 located north of Port Robison Road. Figures 2a and 2b show the draft plan of Phase 2 and 3, respectively, prepared by Upper Canada Consultants, dated July 1, 2020. The proposed development will consist of various townhouses and single detached dwellings, along with associated roadways and open park spaces. HGC Engineering personnel visited the site in June 2020 to make observations of the acoustical environment and to leave an automatic vibration monitor to measure vibration due to rail passbys. During the site visit, it was noted that the sources of noise impacting the site were road traffic on Port Robinson Road and Kottmeier Road, and rail traffic on the Trillium Railway Canal Spur line to the east of the site. The site is currently occupied by detached dwellings and farmlands. The areas around the site are flat and mostly agricultural. There is an at-grade rail crossing at Port Robinson Road. A manufacturing facility (ES Fox Ltd.) is located approximately 500 metres southeast of the Phase 2 lands. Sound emissions from the facility were not audible at the site area during the site visit, and are not expected to significantly impact the site. Nevertheless, it is recommended that a noise warning clause to identify that such industrial uses may be audible at times be included in the property and tenancy agreements. 3 Noise Level Criteria 3.1 Road and Rail Traffic Noise Guidelines for acceptable levels of road and rail traffic noise impacting residential developments are given in the MECP publication NPC-300, “Environmental Noise Guideline Stationary and Transportation Sources – Approval and Planning”, release date October 21, 2013, and are listed in Table I below. The values in Table I are energy equivalent (average) sound levels [LEQ] in units of A-weighted decibels [dBA]. Noise and Vibration Feasibility Study, Proposed Residential Development Page 3 Phase 2 & 3 Port Robinson Estates, Port Robinson, ON July 20, 2020 Table I: MECP Road and Rail Traffic Noise Criteria (dBA) Daytime L Nighttime L Area EQ (16 hour) EQ(8 hour) Road / Rail Road / Rail Outdoor Living Area 55 dBA -- Inside Living/Dining Rooms 45 dBA / 40 dBA 45 dBA / 40 dBA Inside Bedrooms 45 dBA / 40 dBA 40 dBA / 35 dBA Daytime refers to the period between 07:00 and 23:00. Nighttime refers to the time period between 23:00 and 07:00. The term “Outdoor Living Area” (OLA) is used in reference to an outdoor patio, a backyard, a terrace, or other area where passive recreation is expected to occur. Small balconies are not considered OLAs for the purposes of assessment. Terraces greater than 4 m in depth (measured perpendicular to the building façade) are considered to be OLAs. The guidelines in the MECP publication allow the daytime sound levels in an Outdoor Living Area to be exceeded by up to 5 dBA, without mitigation, if warning clauses are placed in the purchase and rental agreements to the property. Where OLA sound levels exceed 60 dBA, physical mitigation is required to reduce the OLA sound level to below 60 dBA and as close to 55 dBA as technically, economically, and administratively practical. Indoor guidelines are 5 dBA more stringent for rail noise than for road noise, to account for the low frequency (rumbling) character of locomotive sounds, and its greater potential to transmit through exterior wall/window assemblies. A central air conditioning system as an alternative means of ventilation to open windows is required for dwellings where nighttime sound levels outside bedroom or living/dining room windows exceed 60 dBA or daytime sound levels outside bedroom or living/dining room windows exceed 65 dBA. Forced-air ventilation with ducts sized to accommodate the future installation of air conditioning is required when nighttime sound levels at bedroom or living/dining room windows are in the range of 51 to 60 dBA or when daytime sound levels at bedroom or living/dining room windows