Yongin Establishes "Outdoor Unit Noise Reduction Guidelines for Noise-Free Apartment Housing"

Yongin Special City announced on April 29 that it has established the "Outdoor Unit Noise Reduction Guidelines for Noise-Free Apartment Housing."

View of Yongin Special City Hall. Provided by Yongin Special City

원본보기 아이콘

The city plans to apply these guidelines to new apartment construction project approvals submitted after their establishment, and recommends that ongoing construction sites also reflect the guidelines. In May, Yongin Special City intends to revise the apartment housing planning standards to officially incorporate the guidelines into residential complex planning.

The "Outdoor Unit Noise Reduction Guidelines for Noise-Free Apartment Housing" were formulated to address residents' discomfort caused by noise and vibration from air conditioning system exhaust units (outdoor units) located in auxiliary and welfare facilities within apartment complexes.

While current laws regulate air conditioning outdoor units within individual apartments, there are no installation or shielding standards for shared outdoor units in common auxiliary facilities. As a result, residents of apartment complexes in the region have faced difficulties in addressing post-construction issues such as noise and aesthetic concerns.

Additionally, there has been ongoing feedback that institutional measures are needed, as outdoor units are increasingly being installed in clusters around communal facilities and outdoor spaces within apartment complexes, causing noise and vibration problems, particularly for residents on lower floors.

To address these issues, Yongin Special City has developed guidelines that can be applied from the housing construction project planning and design stages, proactively blocking noise and vibration damage caused by outdoor units.

According to the guidelines, installation of outdoor units near residential buildings is strictly prohibited, and the direction of the exhaust from the outdoor units must not face the front of residential dwellings.

Furthermore, facilities designed to reduce noise and vibration-such as soundproof panels, noise reducers, sound-absorbing materials, and vibration isolation pads-must be installed without exception.

During the approval process for housing construction project plans and architectural committee reviews, the city will require designation of outdoor unit installation locations and confirmation that noise reduction measures are included as approval conditions. At the construction commencement stage, the city will review outdoor unit noise reduction plans and the design of shielding facilities, and at the occupancy inspection stage, will verify whether noise standards are met. Apartment complexes that do not meet the standards will be required to establish additional countermeasures.

A Yongin city official stated, "With the establishment of these guidelines, we expect to resolve the noise and aesthetic issues associated with outdoor units, which have often been regarded as undesirable facilities, and to reduce social costs arising from post-construction measures. We will strive to create a pleasant residential environment that satisfies our citizens."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.