Communities Urged to Adopt Code of Silence
The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) is launching a campaign to encourage communities around O’Hare International Airport to adopt newly developed building codes designed to make homes and commercial locations quieter. The ONCC is concerned that the tear-down trend in older communities and new construction projects are resulting in an increasing number of homes located in areas impacted by various sources of noise.
According to Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, new homes and home additions are not eligible for the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program overseen by the ONCC.
Members of the ONCC’s Model Sound Insulation Ad Hoc Committee drafted much of the language in the model ordinance. Arlington Heights Building Department Director Nicholas Gadzekpo developed the Arlington Heights sound insulation code in consultation with Mayor Mulder and its Village Board. Both documents are available on the ONCC Web site, www.oharenoise.org.
The ONCC is especially interested in making sure that communities around O’Hare are addressing noise issues in advance of the changing aircraft departure and landing patterns that will result from the O’Hare Modernization Program. There is concern that communities could be permitting new construction without proper sound insulation in areas that currently have little impact from aircraft noise, but could see increased noise in the future.
While the ONCC has begun oversight of a new phase of the nationally recognized O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program operated by the City of Chicago, the homes eligible for insulation have been designated by the FAA. New construction, remodeling and home additions cannot be part of the program.
The ONCC and the Chicago Department of Aviation offer a 36-page homeowner’s handbook (PDF) for anyone who would like to better sound insulate their homes. The handbook explains in detail ways to effectively sound insulate a home.
For additional information please follow
these links:
ONCC Model Sound Insulation Ordinance
Arlington Heights Energy, Sound Control Ordinance
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