3.1.2.1  DIN 18005-1 and its application

This norm indicates how noise protection is to be considered in city planning. It is addressed to municipalities, city planners, architects and building control authorities. It is not to be applied in licensing and plan approval procedures.

The identification of sound immissions from the different types of sound sources is represented in a very simplified way. Relevant regulations and ordinances are listed for an exact calculation. An annex with diagrams is indicated for an estimation of the sound immissions expected from road, railway and ship traffic.

Supplement 1 of DIN 18005-1 gives acoustic reference values as objectives for city planning. DIN 18005-2 applies to the mapping of sound immissions and DIN 45682 to noise immission plans.

DIN 18005-1 gives general information on the propagation of sound and on principally possible measures to reduce sound immissions. It also indicates the necessity to draw up noise abatement plans pursuant to § 47a of the Federal Immission Control Act.

The norm refers to RLS-90 for the calculation of rating levels in the sphere of influence of roads. An estimation procedure is included in the annex. Diagrams give an approximate value of the rating level from traffic on certain roads as a function of the average daily traffic volume (durchschnittliche tägliche Verkehrsstärke, DTV) and the distance between the place of immission and the centre of the nearest lane. What can be considered are corrections for special cases like various speed limits, different road surfaces, nearby traffic lights as well as urban canyons.

Roads built of cobbled pavement with speed limits of 30 km/h (19 mph) or 50 km/h (31 mph) and more get an addition of 3 dB or 6 dB. Open-pored asphalt on roads out of town with speed limits of more than 60 km/h (37 mph) get a deduction of 3 dB. The proximity to traffic lights (less than 100 m) as well as urban canyons with multi-storey, closed development on both sides lead to an addition of 2 dB each.

The norm gives examples of the approximate distance required for not exceeding certain rating levels during the night in the case of undisturbed sound propagation for some types of transport routes (table 3/0).

Table 3/0: Approximate distance from the centre line of a transport route required for not exceeding the indicated rating level during the night without sound-proofing measures and in the case of undisturbed sound propagation (line-of-sight)


In the case of public car parks and those assigned to sports facilities not subject to licensing, RLS-90 must also be applied. The relevant method of calculation for other car parks can be found within the study on parking area noise (Parkplatzlärmstudie). The emissions of a car park are essentially determined by the amount of parking spaces, the frequency of movements and the type of vehicles and the car park itself.

The rating levels in the sphere of influence of railway tracks are calculated according to Schall 03, that of marshalling yards and freight handling stations according to Akustik 04. The rating level for railways can also be estimated on the basis of diagrams in the annex. These diagrams help to determine the rating level of railway traffic depending on the amount of trains, the distance to the tracks and the type of train. The fact that noise from railway traffic is perceived as less disturbing is considered with a deduction of 5 dB(A).

The norm also contains indications for air and ship traffic. A diagram for the estimation of the rating level of ship traffic can be found in the annex as well.