TagSound Insulation(58)

Chapter 15.12 of the Burien Municipal Code establishes minimum building construction standards to reduce aircraft noise for properties near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Buildings are divided into three noise reduction zones (35 dB, 30 dB, and 25 dB), each requiring progressively higher sound transmission ratings for walls, windows, doors, roofs, and ventilation systems. The code applies to all new construction and most additions intended for human occupancy, with limited exceptions for small remodels and non-inhabited structures like warehouses and garages.

House Bill 1328 authorized the Port of Seattle to establish jet aircraft noise abatement programs for surrounding communities, allowing the port to purchase affected properties, fund soundproofing, and provide mortgage insurance for residents unable to obtain it due to noise impacts. The bill was amended by the Committee on Local Government to expand the defined impact area, remove eminent domain powers, and extend time limits for property payments. Funding for the program could come from general obligation bonds, capped at 1/8 of one percent of the total taxable property value within the port district.

The Port of Seattle's SEA Sound Insulation Programs presentation, led by Sr. Manager Stan Shepherd, outlines efforts to reduce aircraft noise impacts on nearby residents. Following Commission Motion 2020-4, the Port committed to accelerating its Sound Insulation Program with a completion target of 2026, supported by newly hired staff, over 70 additional Port employees, and two consulting firms for construction services. The update also covers program status and funding considerations.

Senate Bill 1167, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray in April 2023, would allow airports to receive additional federal funding to repair or replace sound insulation previously installed in nearby homes under the Airport Improvement Program. The bill provides a one-time waiver allowing airports to seek new federal assistance for sound insulation projects without prior government costs counting against them, provided the homes fall within the DNL 65 noise threshold or the original insulation caused physical damage. This legislation is particularly relevant to communities around Sea-Tac Airport, where aging soundproofing materials and ongoing aircraft noise concerns have prompted calls for updated noise mitigation support.

The Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), would allow the FAA to waive a rule that currently prevents airports from using Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to repair or replace sound insulation in the same home more than once. The bill addresses problems caused by faulty materials and poor installation during noise mitigation programs in the 1980s and 1990s, which have led to structural damage and mold in some homes near airports like Sea-Tac. Eligible homeowners must have their issues verified by an FAA-compliant noise auditor, and repairs are generally limited to residences still within the airport's current 65 DNL noise contour.

H.R. 2533, the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act, was introduced in April 2023 to allow airports to receive additional federal funding to repair or replace previously installed sound insulation in homes affected by aircraft noise. The bill allows the Secretary of Transportation to grant a one-time waiver so that prior government spending on a home's soundproofing does not count against the allowable project cost for new work. Homes are eligible if they fall within the FAA's DNL 65 noise standard or if an FAA-certified auditor determines that the original soundproofing caused physical damage to the residence.