Waka Kotahi does not have preferred barrier suppliers and we do not recommend any particular barrier products. The following list is provided as a guide to the range of barrier types that are available. The acoustics ratings are explained below, and items with an asterisk are estimates only.
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Material/product |
Image |
Built locations |
Acoustics rating (Depending on spec) |
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A |
B |
D |
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Timber |
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Modular engineered plywood system using sustainable plantation pine. Thickness 27, 31, and 33 mm. Patterned finish. |
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SH20, Maioro Street Interchange, Auckland (2011) SH18, Greenhithe, Auckland (2007) |
A0 |
B2* |
D31 |
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Panels composed of woodwool impregnated with rapid hardening cement under pressure. Manufacturer's test data shows the panels provide sound absorption in the order of 0.6 NRC. |
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A2* |
B2* |
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Timber Faced Guardrail(external link) Timber wall system with reflective and absorptive panel options. Absorptive panel. Reflective panel. |
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A3 A0 |
B3 B3 |
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Concrete |
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Litecrete concrete panels(external link) Pre-cast concrete. Modular system, usually with steel support posts. Pumice aggregate and induced air entrainment reduces the weight of panels. Panels are 150mm thick up to a maximum size of 7m x 3.5m. |
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Mt Hobson Road, Newmarket, Auckland (2010) |
A0 |
B3* |
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Pre-cast concrete. Modular system, usually with steel support posts. Panels can span up to 8m. Precast concrete panels with 25% recycled concrete. Acoustics test data available from the manufacturer. |
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SH1, Otahuhu, Auckland (2010) |
A0 |
B3* |
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Hebel AAC Panels(external link) Pre-cast concrete. Modular system, usually with steel support posts. Panels made from Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC). 600mm high by 100mm thick panels are stacked horizontally and attached by clip and bolt to support posts. Panels available up to 6m long and to heights exceeding 4m. |
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Noise barrier at Martha Mine, Waihi |
A0 |
B3* |
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Lifestyle Masonry LM575(external link) Pre-cast concrete. An interlocking barrier system made with Hebel AAC panels that slide down into reinforced concrete or steel posts. Panels are 600mm wide & up to 2.2m long. |
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Greenlane railway, Auckland |
A0 |
B3* |
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Eco noise barrier(external link) Pre-cast concrete. A combination of recycled rubber and concrete precast panels 150mm thick. The recycled tyres provide sound absorption. It is a modular system with steel support posts at 3-5 metre centres. |
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A2 |
B3 |
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Enviro Noise Barrier(external link) Pre-cast concrete. A combination of recycled timber and concrete precast panels 150mm thick. The recycled timber provides sound absorption. It is a modular system with steel support posts at 3-5 metre centres. |
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A3 |
B3 |
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Polymer |
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Plexiglas Soundstop(external link) Acrylic panel. Bird guard product includes 2 mm wide black stripes at 30 mm spacings within panel. |
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SH1, Victoria Park Tunnel project, Auckland (2011) |
A0 |
B3 |
D41 |
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DONCHAMP® NoiseGuard(external link) A range of cast acrylic panels. available in clear, transparent or coloured; gloss or satin finish; 12mm to 30mm thick. Visible lines reduce bird strike. Shard retention. |
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Several Projects in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia | A0 | B3 | D4 |
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Acrylic panel. Can be provided with clear, coloured or matt finishes, along with an anti-graffiti coating. |
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A0 |
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Interlocking PVC rail system allows for heights up to 6m. Clear or opaque panels available in several colours, smooth or textured finish. Options for mounting to road safety or bridge barriers. |
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Installed in North America and Europe. No New Zealand sites. | A0 | B3 | |
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Composite |
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Armoulding Noisewall(external link) Lightweight modular rotomoulded panels between steel posts Standard panel 4m long 800mm high and 200mm wide (panels can be shortened for high wind zones) Std MDPE panel weights 40kg |
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Foundry Road , Silverdale, Auckland Test wall setup 2020 |
B3 | D3 | |
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Panels formed from zinc coated steel shell filled with aerated concrete. Modular interlocking panels which can be installed horizontally or vertically. |
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No specific noise barrier examples, but to date have been used for building sound insulation purposes within New Zealand, eg cinemas, apartments |
A0 |
B3* |
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Fabricated plastic noise walls with support columns. Interlocking panels and mounting posts. |
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No specific noise barrier examples to date, but have been used commercially as an alternative to steel within New Zealand |
A0 |
B3* |
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Sandwich panel consisting of a foam core and two reinforced resin laminated outer skins with steel or concrete support posts. |
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No specific noise barrier examples to date, but has been used as a fencing product within New Zealand |
A0 |
B2* |
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Panels formed from fibre cement skins with polystyrene core. A modular system with panels fitting in slotted steel posts (280mm wide by 140mm deep). Composite panels are 70mm thick, in heights of 900mm or 1200mm and lengths of 2400mm, 2700mm or 3000 mm. Manufacturer's test data: AS 1191-2002. |
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Residential and commercial sites in the main centres in New Zealand. Noise barriers for the New South Wales Roads & Traffic Authority |
A0 |
B2 |
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Lightweight aluminium panels provide either single or double side sound absorption. Perforation patterns and panel infill material can be varied to suit requirements. |
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A3 |
B3 |
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Silent Protector®(external link) Absorptive barrier using mineral wool. Interlocking PVC rail system allows for heights up to 6m. Opaque panels available in several colours. Options for mounting to road safety or bridge barriers. |
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Installed in North America and Europe. No New Zealand sites. | A3 | B3 | |
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Other |
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Rawe Stoneboxes(external link) Steel mesh cage filled with rocks, with an acoustic blanket lining. Factory filled and vibrated, double galvanised gabion with an integrated lifting system. 80mm thick acoustic blanket embedded in the cage. |
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No specific noise barrier examples to date, but has been used within retaining walls New Zealand |
A0 |
B3* |
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Sheets made from recycled paper impregnanted with bitumen, corrugated on one side. A separate timber frame is required. Manufacturer recommends cladding both sides of the frame for acoustics performance. |
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No specific noise barrier examples to date, but has been used as roofing, wall cladding, fencing within New Zealand |
A0 |
B2* |
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1 Data derived from 'Measurements of the Acoustic Performance of Traffic Noise Barriers on Auckland Motorways Using prEN1793-6:2011 [PDF, 4.5 MB]', University of Canterbury, 2012.
The 'A' rating is defined in BS EN 1793-1 and relates to the sound absorbed by a barrier that would be otherwise reflected. In effect, A0/A1 means most sound is reflected, through to A4 which means most sound is absorbed. This can be significant when there are tall parallel barriers facing each other, and sound reflected from the far barrier can pass over the near barrier. The BS EN 1793 absorption categories are defined in the following table.
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Category |
DLα |
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A0 |
N/A |
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A1 |
< 4 dB |
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A2 |
4 to 7 dB |
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A3 |
8 to 10 dB |
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A4 |
> 11 dB |
The 'B' rating is defined in BS EN 1793-2 and related to the reduction of sound passing through a barrier. B0/B1 means that the barrier is not effectively reducing sound through the barrier, through to B3 which provides the most sound reduction. (The overall performance will also be highly dependent on the barrier height.) These ratings are currently tested in a laboratory under reverberant sound conditions. The BS EN 1793-2 sound transmission categories are defined in the following table.
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Category |
DLR |
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B0 |
Not determined |
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B1 |
< 15 dB |
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B2 |
15 to 24 dB |
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B3 |
> 24 dB |
Where the DLR performance has not been stated by the manufacturer/supplier, the following process has been use to estimate its value.
The 'D' rating is defined in EN 1793-6 and is a field rating which represents the reduction of sound passing through the barrier actually achieved. The field sound transmission categories are defined in the following table.
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Category |
DLSI,G |
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D0 |
Not determined |
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D1 |
< 16 dB |
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D2 |
16 to 27 dB |
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D3 |
28 to 36 dB |
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D4 |
> 36 dB |
When using anti-graffiti coatings on barriers, refer to S10 Specification for anti-graffiti coatings.
