There are two ways to reduce the amount of noise entering your apartment:
- Reduce the noise at its source.
- Improve the ability of the building to reduce the noise before it reaches you.
Reducing Noise at its Source
Apartment noise results from three sources:
- Neighbours: telephones, music, voices, activities and appliance.
- Building services: refuse chutes, elevators, plumbing, mechanical and electrical.
- Exterior noises: traffic and construction activity.
a. Reducing Noise from Neighbours
The first step in reducing sound from human activity is to make residents aware how their activities affect others. An agreement between neighbours is likely to be the most amicable and cost-effective solution to occupant-caused noise problems. If discussions with your neighbours fail to correct the noise problem, consider consulting the building management. Many lease and condominium agreements restrict noisy activities or limit them to certain time periods during the day, or on weekends.
Make neighbours aware of the noise they make.
Managing sound involves cooperation. If neighbours’ activities are noisy, consider these steps:
- Get to know your neighbours. Contact may lead to cooperation on noise issues
- Speak reasonably and calmly with neighbours about noise. There is a good chance that reason will lead to a workable solution.
- Speak with other neighbours and consider a joint strategy. Ask others who are also bothered to discuss noise with the offending neighbour.
Discuss with your neighbours ways to reduce objectionable noise:
- Stereo and other audio equipment should be situated away from walls shared with other units.
- Footfall sound can be a problem in apartments, especially those with hard floor surfaces. Avoid walking in high heel and other hard-soled shoes.
- Dropped objects or scraping chairs in areas with hard floor surfaces will cause impact sound in adjoining units. Use carpets or mats in areas where objects are more likely to be dropped, and felt cushions under chair and table legs.
- Place objects, such as shoes, on a floor rather than dropping them.
- Keep music and T.V. volumes at a reasonable level and be receptive to comments from other neighbours, especially those with special needs.
- Although they may be accustomed to the noise their children make, neighbours should be aware that some occupants don't have children and may be irritated by the noise. However, all neighbours must understand that children have a right to live there and to behave like children.
- If hosting a party, neighbours should advise other occupants about when the party will take place, and consider inviting them if it will be an open party.
- Observe reasonable hours for noisy activities. Vacuuming, moving heavy furniture, repairs and alterations generate noise that can travel to other apartments. Restrict these activities to daylight hours or in accordance with the lease or condominium agreement.
- Further action such as complaints to law authorities are beyond the scope of this bulletin, but should be considered as a last resort after good-neighbour options have been exhausted.
b. Reducing Noise from Building Services and Equipment
Mechanical devices, such as elevators, refuse chutes, garage door openers and air conditioning units are sources of noise and vibrations, and should be maintained and operated in a proper manner. Your building management may consider the following strategies to reduce noise from the high-frequency whine of motors and fans, the lowfrequency hum of transformers, the rumble of moving equipment and the banging of objects dropping down chutes:
- Improve the methods used to isolate mechanical devices from the building structure. Ensure that motors, such as garage door systems, compressors and fans are mounted on springs or resilient pads to reduce the transfer of vibrations through the building.
- Locate annoying noise sources away from building occupants. Air conditioning compressors may be placed on flat roofs or on the ground, away from operable windows.
- If it is impractical to eliminate an annoying source of noise, it may be possible to install a timer that shuts off the machine during sensitive periods of the day.
- Restrict the hours during the day or week that garbage chutes, compactors, freight elevators and generators may be used.
- Upgrade bathroom and kitchen fans to quieter models.
- Consult an acoustic expert to prepare a comprehensive plan for noise management.
A common way for airborne sound to come into your living area is through openings and gaps, such as the holes around electrical outlets and pipes. Consider the following actions to reduce sound entry:
- Place gaskets behind electrical outlet cover plates. These are sold in hardware stores to protect against drafts on exterior walls.
- Electrical switches and outlets in common walls should be installed offset from those on the other side of the partition to reduce sound transmission. If this isn’t the case, your building management may agree to have some outlets and switches moved, or installed in sealed electrical boxes. Electrical work should be performed by a licensed electrician.
Noise may also move freely through rigid materials, such as plumbing, as well as wall and floor framing that extend between apartments. Your building management may undertake the following repairs:
- Install toilets on resilient gaskets to reduce the transmission of structure-borne noise.
- Ensure that piping is isolated from solid framing with flexible sleeves and cushions.
- Install pressure-relief piping to eliminate water hammer.
- Install garage door openers and tracks on rubber bushings to absorb vibrations.
c. Exterior Noise
If noise from outside the building happens on a regular basis, consider the following:
- Municipal bylaws limit the type of noise and restrict the times of day when certain activities can take place. Avoid confrontation and, if necessary, contact bylaw officers who can advise you on noise regulations.
- Traffic noise can be reduced if the municipality agrees to create a reduced speed zone or to install speed bumps on offending roads.
- Physical changes to the site can discourage loitering. For example, lighting and security patrolling can discourage after-hours activities that generate noise.