Internal and environmental noise limits

Words by BSBG Media Team, Tuesday 10 November 2015

Dubai Municipality requirements for internal noise levels

Section 403.01 - Dubai Green Building Regulations Practice Guide produced by DM and DEWA, states that internal noise levels (i.e. noise generated within the building, not from outside) must not exceed the noise levels in the table below for residential developments.

It should be noted that the Dubai Green Building Regulations internal noise criteria are based on BS 8233:1999 sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings – Code of Practice.

Location	LAeq, 16hr dB	LAeq, 16hr dB	LAmax (Fast) dB
	(0700-2300)	(2300-0700)	(2300-0700)
Habitable Rooms (External sources)	35	30	45
Habitable Rooms (MEP services)	NR 30	NR 25	N/A
Non Habitable Rooms (External sources)	45	40	N/A
Non Habitable Rooms (MEP services)	NR 40	NR 35	N/A
Plant Rooms (External sources)	80	75	N/A
Plant Rooms (MEP services)	NR 75	NR 70	N/A
Retail and Leisure*	NR 50	NR 50	N/A

*The Dubai Green Building Regulations does not set any criteria for retail and leisure spaces and recommends specialist acoustic advice. These noise levels are based on BS8233:1999

“Habitable” rooms include all rooms intended for residential purposes such as bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms. Non Habitable rooms refer to toilets, corridors, kitchen spaces, public and private circulation spaces.

Dubai Municipality requirements for environmental noise limits

Dubai Municipality Environmental Planning and Studies Section (EPSS) Technical Guidance Note 10 (April 2011) uses the Federal Environment Agency noise limits as the benchmark for Dubai. These limits refer to the total noise emissions from the development incident on the nearest noise sensitive building.

It should be noted that the above levels are the total noise caused by the existing background noise and the noise source being assessed.

The limits are as follows:

UAE Federal Environment Agency Noise Level Limit

Receptor Areas	Allowable Limits For Noise, dBA
	Daytime (7AM - 8PM)	Night-time (8PM – 7AM)
Residential Areas With Light Traffic	40-50	30-40
Residential Areas in Downtown	45-55	35-45
Residential Areas With Some Workshops & Commercial or Near Highways	50-60	40-50
Commercial Areas & Downtown	55-65	45-55
Industrial Areas (Heavy Industry)	60-70	50-60

No guidance is given regarding a situation where the existing noise level is higher than those found in the table above, and it is expected that in that situation, no increase in background noise level should be the target.

It should also be noted that achieving the noise criteria set out above does not necessarily mean that complaints from noise will not still occur!

BSBG Media Team

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