Noise abatement
Frequently asked questions
Responses to doubts and questions about the CSR Policy of Aena.
Frequently asked questions about the CSR of Aena
What is the acoustic footprint?
The acoustic footprint is the sphere of action of the Noise Insulation Schemes.
The Environment Ministry has incorporated in its resolutions acoustic footprint definitions by Leqdía (7-19 h) 60 dB(A), Leqtarde (19-23 h) 60 dB(A) and/or Leqnoche (23-7 h) 50 dB(A), so that in the future this sphere will be applicable for all airports in the Aena Aeropuertos network.
What actions are underway for the Noise Insulation Schemes?
This objective involves the following stages:
- Definition of the sphere of action (acoustic footprint of airport).
- Drawing up a survey and type of housing affected.
- Measuring noise “in situ” in housing.
- Proposing sound-proofing and creating insulation projects for housing.
- Planning and executing the remodelling needed inside housing for insulation.
- Checking the effectiveness of the action measuring noise reduction and customer satisfaction.
For all these actions Aena Aeropuertos reports to the Committee created for monitoring the corresponding Noise Insulation Scheme.
What are the requirements for sound-proofing?
The requirements for including a building in the Noise Insulation Scheme and sound-proofing it are:
- It must be located in the acoustic footprint of the airport.
- It must have a building licence before the Environmental Impact Statement applicable to it.
- Buildings must be housing of sensitive use (teaching, healthcare or cultural requiring special protection from noise).
- After “in situ” noise measurements (inside the buildings), the need has been found for sound-proofing, meeting the noise quality aims set out in the table B of Annex II of R.D. 1367/2007, 19 October RD/1367.
What is Aena Aeropuertos' Noise Insulation Scheme procedure?
The following actions are to be carried out:
| Action | Actor |
|---|---|
| Creating the acoustic footprint and the Noise Insulation Scheme | Environment Ministry / Aena Aeropuertos |
| Request by the resident for inclusion in the Noise Insulation Scheme | Resident |
| Verification of the information and noise measuring “in situ” | PAA management office/ Polytechnic University of Madrid |
| Approval / denial of the need for sound-proofing | Environmental monitoring committee / Aena Aeropuertos |
| Presentation of the sound-proofing project | Resident |
| Approval of the action amount | Environmental monitoring committee / Aena Aeropuertos |
| Sound-proofing | Companies chosen by residents |
| Verification of work carried out | PAA management office |
| Declaration of satisfaction by residents with work carried out | Resident |
| Approval of payment for actions (end of procedure) | Environmental monitoring committee / Aena Aeropuertos |
What are the main insulation actions?
These include acoustic insulation of gaps in housing by better quality work involving the original material of the housing; PVC, aluminium, wood, etc., maintaining the aesthetic conditions of the buildings and their integration in the landscape.
However, the actions depend on the noise level of each house, generally defined by the isophone curve at night, which is least favourable.
In exceptional cases there may be the need to perform work on roofs and façades.
After buildings in the Noise Insulation Scheme are sound-proofed, what acoustic levels must they meet?
The soundproofing is intended to reach the noise quality levels of table B in Annex II of R.D. 1367/2007, 19 October. These are:
| Use of building | Type of site | Noise rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ld | Le | Ln | ||
| Housing or residential use | Rooms | 45 | 45 | 35 |
| Bedrooms | 40 | 40 | 30 | |
| Hospital | Rooms | 45 | 45 | 35 |
| Bedrooms | 40 | 40 | 30 | |
| Education or cultural | Classrooms | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Reading rooms | 35 | 35 | 35 | |
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