vicroads

1999/006

Bridge Technical Note

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR NOISE BARRIERS

1.

INTRODUCTION

This document sets out VicRoads requirements for the structural design of noise barriers.
The type (reflective or absorptive), material (timber, concrete, steel, polycarbonate, or other composite
materials) and location (including height) of noise barriers are usually determined by others prior to the
requirement for structural design.
Version 2.1 includes updated reference in Clause 3 (b) (ii) to the current wind code, AS/NZS 1170.2 2002.
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
The following summarises general requirements for the physical properties, location and structural design
requirements for noise barriers.
2.1 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
(a) General
General requirements for the physical properties of noise barrier materials are :

Barriers should have a density of at least 15 kg/m2 of face area;

Sound transmission loss through the barrier should be at least 30 dB(A) - to be verified by a
certificate of compliance from an approved laboratory, using AS1191 (Reference 1);

Barriers should be constructed from durable materials having a minimum design life of 50
years, and be guaranteed for this period without deterioration of appearance or the
requirement for regular cleaning or painting;

Barriers should have no holes or gaps , and should not be subject to the likelihood of this
occurring by natural causes such as rot, or attack by insects or vermin;

All components should have physical durability with respect to exposure to sun (UV), water,
wind, air pollutants and temperature changes;

All components should have low flame, fuel and smoke ratings;

Barriers should be designed and built so that noise will not pass underneath them due to soil
erosion or settlement or digging animals;

Barrier materials should be resistant to vandalism such as impact damage, and components
should be readily replaceable;

VERSION:

2.1

DATE:

June 2006

Page 1

BTN 1999/006
Design Criteria for Noise Barriers

Barriers should be designed so that they will not reverberate or deflect excessively;

Surface finishes on noise barriers should facilitate removal of graffiti in accordance with
VicRoads specification Section 685.

(b) Absorptive Barriers

In addition to the above general requirements, absorptive noise barriers should comply with the following

Absorptive barriers should have a coefficient of absorption equal to or exceeding that shown
in the table below. In determining the coefficient of absorption, a representative sample of
the barrier having a surface area of not less than 12 square metres shall be used. A
certificate of compliance from an approved testing laboratory is required.
Frequency - Hz

125

250

500

1000

2000

Coefficient of absorption

0.70

0.80

0.90

0.90

0.80

Sound absorptive materials should have acoustical durability consistent with the design life
of the barrier.

(c) Transparent Barriers

When considering use of transparent barriers, the following general requirements should be included :

Potential reflection of sunlight or vehicle headlights;

Resistance of the proposed material to scratching or discolouration with age;

Possible maintenance requirements for dust removal;

May be subject to bird strike;

Panels should be mounted in rubber gaskets due to high coefficient of expansion;

Nylon fibres may be incorporated in the material to increase strength.

2.2 LOCATION
General requirements for location of noise barriers are :

Noise barriers may be freestanding, or located on top of earth mounds or traffic barriers;

Where noise barriers are located on the edge of bridges over another road or pedestrian path,
the barrier and its supporting structure shall be designed to prevent panels or fragments of
panels from falling on to traffic or pedestrians as a result of vehicle impact (eg. a continuous
galvanised cable could be used to connect or support the panels);

Where noise barriers are located on traffic barriers, they should have sufficient clearance to

VERSION:

2.1

DATE:

June 2006

Page 2

BTN 1999/006
Design Criteria for Noise Barriers

avoid impact by high/wide vehicles, and noise barriers should not have components which
could spear impacting vehicles);

Barriers should be easily accessible for construction, repair and maintenance;

Barriers on earth mounds or on batters should have a 1 metre minimum berm (in accordance
with the foundation design requirements discussed below) between the barrier and the top of
batter to provide for foundation stability (sliding and overturning), foundation protection,
prevention of gaps below the barrier, and access for construction and maintenance; spread
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 designer should specify the required
material properties of the fill and the level of compaction to provide the design assumptions
for settlement and strength. Typical VicRoads requirements are Type B fill, or better, placed
and compacted to a minimum dry density ratio of 98% Standard compaction.

3.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

(a)

General

Structural design standards shall be in accordance with AS 5100 and additional criteria for wind loading as
specified in Clause 3(b) below.
Designs based on use of materials not covered by AS 5100 shall be in accordance with relevant Australian
Standards.
(b)

Wind Loading

Wind loads on barriers shall be calculated as specified in AS 5100.2 Clause 24 including reference to
AS/NZS 1170.2, using the net design wind pressure (pn) for both serviceability and ultimate limit states.
In AS1170.2 multipliers are used to adjust the design wind speed to match local terrain and topographic
conditions. Suitable multipliers should be selected in accordance with :
(i)

Site conditions during the life of the structure. Site conditions leading to the highest
design wind pressure shall be assumed; for example, buildings and trees in the vicinity may
not always be present.

(ii)

Appendix D2 of AS/NZS 1170.2 Design should allow for increased wind load near the
ends of noise barriers in accordance with this Appendix. For this reason, consideration
should be given to reducing the height of noise barriers at the ends to reduce wind loads and
improve appearance

(c) Foundation Design

Noise barriers may be supported on foundations comprising either spread footings, driven precast concrete
piles or steel piles, or bored cast-in-place piles.
Noise barrier foundations should be checked for both serviceability and ultimate limit states, and designed to
limit deflections to specified tolerances based on the limits recommended below.
Where the barrier foundation is located on disturbed material, such as earth mounds, both initial and long
term soil parameters should be used in the design of the foundations.

VERSION:

2.1

DATE:

June 2006

Page 3

BTN 1999/006
Design Criteria for Noise Barriers
For serviceability limit state, long term settlement and lateral movement of the barrier due to causes such as
embankment consolidation, should be considered together with serviceability loads such as wind. For
barriers at the edge of an embankment, foundation design should take into account the likely foundation
movement. The following tolerances on total barrier deflection are recommended where appearance is
considered important :
Straightness in plan
Straightness in elevation
Rotation from the vertical

1 in 200 over a barrier length of 10 metres

1 in 300 over a barrier length of 10 metres
1 in 200 over the full barrier height

These tolerances are advisory, and may be exceeded in particular circumstances; for example, alignment may
have a greater tolerance for a curved noise barrier.
The designer should specify the following on the drawings or in the specification:

4.

The required material properties and level of compaction of fill for earth mounds (when
noise barriers are mounted on earth mounds);

The required construction tolerances.

REFERENCES
(1)
(2)
(3)

Approved

AS 1191 Acoustics Method for laboratory measurement of airborne sound transmission

loss of building partitions
AS 5100 Bridge Design 2004
AS/NZS 1170.2 Loading Code - Part 2, Wind Loads

June 2006

MIKE VEREY
PRINCIPAL BRIDGE ENGINEER
Contact Officers
Author: David Payne
For further information please contact:
Principal Bridge Engineer
3 Prospect Hill Road Camberwell Vic 3124
Telephone: (03) 9811 8307
Facsimile: (03) 9811 8329
Email: mike.verey@roads.vic.gov.au
Bridge Tech Notes are subject to periodic review and may be superseded.

VERSION:

2.1

DATE:

June 2006

Page 4