BTN 1999 / 006 – JUNE 2006

BRIDGE TECHNICAL NOTE

Design Criteria for Noise Barriers 1999/006

Version 2.2

• Surface finishes on noise barriers should

facilitate removal of graffiti in accordance with
1. Introduction VicRoads specification Section 685.
This document sets out VicRoads requirements for
the structural design of noise barriers.
2.1.2. Absorptive Barriers
The type (reflective or absorptive), material (timber, In addition to the above general requirements,
concrete, steel, polycarbonate, or other composite absorptive noise barriers should comply with the
following:
materials) and location (including height) of noise
barriers are usually determined by others prior to
the requirement for structural design. • Absorptive barriers should have a coefficient of
absorption equal to or exceeding that shown in
the table below. In determining the coefficient
2. General Requirements of absorption, a representative sample of the
The following summarises general requirements for barrier having a surface area of not less than 12
the physical properties, location and structural square metres shall be used. A certificate of
design requirements for noise barriers. compliance from an approved testing laboratory
is required.

2.1. Physical Requirements

Table 1 Coefficient of Absorption
2.1.1. General
Frequency
General requirements for the physical properties of - Hz 125 250 500 1000 2000
noise barrier materials are:
Coefficient
• Barriers should have a density of at least 18
of
kg/m2 of face area; 0.70 0.80 0.90 0.90 0.80
absorption
• Sound transmission loss through the barrier
should be at least 30 dB(A) - to be verified by a
certificate of compliance from an approved • Sound absorptive materials should have
laboratory, using AS1191; acoustical durability consistent with the design
• Barriers should be constructed from durable life of the barrier.
materials having a minimum design life of 50
years, and be guaranteed for this period without 2.1.3. Transparent Barriers
deterioration of appearance or the requirement
When considering use of transparent barriers, the
for regular cleaning or painting;
following general requirements should be included :
• Barriers should have no holes or gaps , and
• Potential reflection of sunlight or vehicle
should not be subject to the likelihood of this headlights;
occurring by natural causes such as rot, or
attack by insects or vermin; • Resistance of the proposed material to
scratching or discolouration with age;
• All components should have physical durability
with respect to exposure to sun (UV), water, • Possible maintenance requirements for dust
wind, air pollutants and temperature changes; removal;
• May be subject to bird strike;
• All components should have low flame, fuel and
smoke ratings; • Panels should be mounted in rubber gaskets due
to high coefficient of expansion;
• Barriers should be designed and built so that
noise will not pass underneath them due to soil • Nylon fibres may be incorporated in the material
erosion or settlement or digging animals; to increase strength.
• Barrier materials should be resistant to
vandalism such as impact damage, and 2.2. Location
components should be readily replaceable;
General requirements for location of noise barriers
• Barriers should be designed so that they will not are:
reverberate or deflect excessively;
• Noise barriers may be freestanding, or located
on top of earth mounds or traffic barriers;
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• Where noise barriers are located on the edge of 3.2.2. Appendix D2 of AS/NZS 1170.2
bridges over another road or pedestrian path, Design should allow for increased wind load near the
the barrier and its supporting structure shall be ends of noise barriers in accordance with this
designed to prevent panels or fragments of Appendix. For this reason, consideration should be
panels from falling on to traffic or pedestrians as given to reducing the height of noise barriers at the
a result of vehicle impact (e.g. a continuous ends to reduce wind loads and improve appearance.
galvanised cable could be used to connect or
support the panels);
• Where noise barriers are located on traffic 3.3. Foundation Design
barriers, they should have sufficient clearance to Noise barriers may be supported on foundations
avoid impact by high/wide vehicles, and noise comprising either spread footings, driven precast
barriers should not have components which concrete piles or steel piles, or bored cast-in-place
could spear impacting vehicles); piles.
• Barriers should be easily accessible for
construction, repair and maintenance; Noise barrier foundations should be checked for both
• Barriers on earth mounds or on batters should serviceability and ultimate limit states, and designed
have a 1 metre minimum berm (in accordance to limit deflections to specified tolerances based on
with the foundation design requirements the limits recommended below.
discussed below) between the barrier and the
top of batter to provide for foundation stability
Where the barrier foundation is located on disturbed
(sliding and overturning), foundation protection,
material, such as earth mounds, both initial and long
prevention of gaps below the barrier, and access
term soil parameters should be used in the design of
for construction and maintenance; spread
the foundations.
footings should be located no closer than 1.5
metres from the edge of a fill batter;
• Where barriers are located on earth mounds, the For serviceability limit state, long term settlement
designer should specify the required material and lateral movement of the barrier due to causes
properties of the fill and the level of compaction such as embankment consolidation, should be
to provide the design assumptions for considered together with serviceability loads such as
settlement and strength. Typical VicRoads wind. For barriers at the edge of an embankment,
requirements are Type B fill, or better, placed foundation design should take into account the likely
and compacted to a minimum dry density ratio foundation movement. The following tolerances on
of 98% Standard compaction. total barrier deflection are recommended where
appearance is considered important:

3. Structural Design Table 2 Tolerances on Total Barrier Deflection

Requirements Straightness in plan
1 in 200 over a barrier
length of 10 metres
3.1. General
1 in 300 over a barrier
Structural design standards shall be in accordance Straightness in elevation
length of 10 metres
with AS 5100 and additional criteria for wind loading
as specified in Clause 3(b) below. Rotation from the 1 in 200 over the full
vertical barrier height
Designs based on use of materials not covered by
AS 5100 shall be in accordance with relevant These tolerances are advisory, and may be
Australian Standards. exceeded in particular circumstances; for example,
alignment may have a greater tolerance for a curved
noise barrier.
3.2. Wind Loading
Wind loads on barriers shall be calculated as The designer should specify the following on the
specified in AS 5100.2 Clause 24 including reference drawings or in the specification:
to AS/NZS 1170.2, using the net design wind
pressure (pn) for both serviceability and ultimate
limit states. • The required material properties and level of
compaction of fill for earth mounds (when noise
barriers are mounted on earth mounds);
In AS1170.2 multipliers are used to adjust the
• The required construction tolerances.
design wind speed to match local terrain and
topographic conditions. Suitable multipliers should
be selected in accordance with: References
AS 1191 Acoustics – Method for laboratory
measurement of airborne sound transmission
3.2.1. Site conditions during the life of the loss of building partitions, Standards Australia,
Sydney, Australia
structure.
AS/NZS 1170.2 Loading Code - Part 2: Wind Loads,
Site conditions leading to the highest design wind
Standards Australia, Sydney, Australia
pressure shall be assumed; for example, buildings
and trees in the vicinity may not always be present. AS 5100 (2004) Bridge Design, Standards Australia,
Sydney, Australia
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MARY DARCY
PRINCIPAL BRIDGE ENGINEER
VicRoads

Contact
For further information please contact:

Principal Bridge Engineer

Level 3, 60 Denmark Street
Kew Victoria 3101
Telephone: (03) 8391 7137
Facsimile: (03) 8391 7199
Email: [email protected]

Bridge Technical Notes are subject to periodic review

and may be superseded