Standards New Zealand has just published a new Standard Acoustics – Road traffic noise – New and altered roads NZS 6806:2010. The Standard includes noise criteria to address the adverse effects of road traffic noise on people.
'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,' says Bryan. 'I have enjoyed working on this challenging project, and I have gained valuable insights into the complex noise and planning issues associated with road noise.'
Standards New Zealand acknowledges the NZS 6806 committee members for their effort and energy that went into drafting the Standard. The committee included representatives of the following nominating organisations: 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.
NZS 6806:2010 is intended to be used mainly by local authorities and road controlling authorities to manage road traffic noise, 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 NZS 6806:2010 into account when considering applications for major transport projects. In addition, the Standard will 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 relative changes in noise levels on people and communities, and the potential benefits of new and altered roads to people and communities.
Where to get more information
Related Standards
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