ᐅ Is it possible to have a quiet home despite an uncontrolled railroad crossing (train horns)?

Created on: 24 Feb 2021 21:22
J
JamaikaJoe
Hello,

as a backup option, we were able to reserve a plot of land in a new development area within the Nuremberg metropolitan region.

Everything fits well there except for one issue that concerns me: next to the development area (about 150m (490 feet) from our potential plot), a regional train passes over ungated level crossings and sounds its horn before each one. I am worried that the horn will be audible inside the house and disturb sleep.

The neighbors we spoke to, who have lived there for a long time, said they don’t notice the horn at all. They looked at us incredulously when we asked about it :-) The noise assessment assumes there is no significant noise emission from the railway line. However, I think this refers to the train noise itself, which is actually almost imperceptible, and not the horn.

During the day, I don’t find the horn disturbing. It fits the rural setting. But my wish is to have the house as a retreat, completely quiet from outside noises, including the horn.

Do you have experience whether such train horns can be “blocked out” by appropriate wall construction, a centralized mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, and soundproof windows? Or is the horn too loud for these measures to effectively reduce the noise?

Thank you very much for your opinions
Jo
Nida35a25 Feb 2021 23:24
Then choose the surcharge package for the flight path for your house and insist on noise protection, any company can do that, and make sure to inform yourself as well.
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shenja
26 Feb 2021 17:27
No, we don’t have any soundproofing or just standard insulation. Our house is a timber frame construction from 2006.
S
Snowy36
26 Feb 2021 19:11
Nida35a schrieb:

Then choose the surcharge package for the flight path for your house and insist on noise protection; any company can do that,
and make sure to inform yourself as well

Aha, where can this be ordered?
Nida35a26 Feb 2021 19:37
Snowy36 schrieb:

Aha where can you order that?
That belongs in the house sales discussion about the insulation values of the walls, burglary resistance classes, and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump, as well as the differences between standard, green, and blue drywall panels, panel thicknesses, and single versus double layering.
A
annab377
26 Feb 2021 20:38
Bookstar schrieb:

150m (490 feet) is really nothing; at that distance, the house should actually be shaking from the traffic noise. Our highway is 10km (6.2 miles) away, and depending on the wind, it can still be clearly heard, but only outside.

Yes, when it comes to sound/noise, wind (in addition to the actual distance) is a very important factor.
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icandoit
27 Feb 2021 09:05
Recommendation: Place the bedroom on the side away from noise sources.

I once lived on the 9th floor right in front of a church tower. Sleeping in was impossible there. My wife never heard anything.