CASE-HISTORY - RESIDENTIAL SOUND INSULATION - A QUEST FOR QUIET

While aircraft noise does not usually have a negative impact on public health, it does affect public welfare, Airports around the country ar e constantly looking for innovative ways to reduce the impact of airpo rt operations on their neighbors, The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport's Residential Sound Insulation Pilot Project is one of severa l ways the airport has played an active role in the community to help improve their neighbors' quality of life, The pilot project was an ini tial demonstration which introduced the concept of sound insulation to residents of homes located between the 65- and 75-dB day-night averag e sound level contours, Implemented as part of the airport's Noise Com patibility Program, the project was designed to provide design guideli nes, to develop a construction methodology, and to validate cost effec tiveness for a possible continuing program in which all eligible homes could be sound insulated, The overall results of the program were ext remely successful, providing four homes with a substantial reduction o f interior noise levels due to aircraft overflights. The pilot project was not only successful technically, but also served as a positive pu blic relations program showing the community the airport's commitment to reduce noise for persons who live in close proximity to the air car rier flight corridors. (C) 1996 Irish Institute of Noise Control Engin eering.