PLANNING INDICATIONS
7.4 Noise from sports and leisure facilities

The main task when planning noise abatement measures for sports and leisure facilities is a sensible arrangement of these facilities towards residential development or other uses requiring protection.

This includes the planning of access and departure roads as well as the structuring of car parks. If these aspects are taken into account, many potential noise disturbances can be prevented beforehand, which might have been difficult to remove afterwards or only with considerable effort. We must not forget that the proximity of residential areas to sports and leisure facilities is often desired (see clearance tables in chapter 5). An important aspect here is a separate traffic development for the residential development and the sports facility.

Especially leisure facilities for teenagers (like soccer grounds or skate parks) should be located in the proximity and within walking distance of residential uses. Noise abatement requirements must be particularly followed in this case.

Like with all other noise problems, priority must be given to the reduction of emissions at the source (e.g. sound level limiters for loudspeakers, noise-reduced ball fences, time limits for sports activities or technical measures at engines of model aircrafts).

If source-related measures do not suffice, active noise abatement measures must be taken, like:

• the damming of exterior building components at indoor sports and leisure facilities or
• the installation of noise barriers and walls at outdoor facilities.

As most outdoor facilities are vast, the last-mentioned measure is usually not very efficient. Calculations for typical sports facilities (tennis courts, soccer grounds) have shown that sound level reductions of more than 5 dB at dwellings on the first floor occur only as from a barrier height of about 4.5 m.

What is not permitted as noise abatement measure towards sports and leisure facilities (according to pollution control rights) is soundproof windows and other structural provisions at residential buildings or other facilities requiring protection (passive noise control), just like with commercial installations.