bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Peta Tomlinson

City living has many conveniences, but what it often lacks is peace and  quiet. Hearing every step  the upstairs neighbour takes, the piano practice of the child next door  or relentless traffic outside are not conducive to the  serenity we aspire to in a home.
Noise is bad for our health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),  noise can  lead to a range of conditions including pain, hearing impairment, sleep disturbance, heart conditions and stress-related hormonal responses. Traffic noise alone, says the WHO, is  harming the health of almost every third European.
Noise reduction services are big business. In closed-door laboratories, inventors work away hoping to produce the answer to millions of city-dwellers' prayers.
At universities and other institutions, acoustic engineering students are learning the art of noise  abatement - skills that are in great  demand as living environments become ever more crowded.
A cursory glance on the internet would indicate a range of ready-made solutions.  But which ones  work? The first thing to do, says  acoustics specialist   Neil Gross,  is identify which sounds are annoying,  because noises are of different kinds, and so are the solutions.
Gross is a director at acoustical consultants Wilkinson Murray,  which has offices in Hong Kong and Sydney. In effect, people like him are  'noise-busters' who  go to people's homes armed with  equipment to track down the nasties. They will look, listen, poke and probe,  and at the end of the exercise  provide recommendations and referrals.  Gross says such consultancies are   not aimed at selling  products.
'We provide advice for people to follow up on as they choose.'
First, the consultants check the perimeter: windows and doors are the most likely suspects for letting in noise from outside. The presence of an older-style, window-mounted air conditioner is akin to hitting the jackpot. These often have gaps around the fixture, and if  daylight or  a breeze comes  through  then noise is penetrating too.
Air vents or ventilation fixtures have the same acoustic drawbacks.
'The weakest point is always  the holes,' says Gross.
The windows themselves are next on the hit list.
'Old or poorly sealed windows can give only a 15 to 20 decibel reduction,' says Gross:  they will  only reduce the outside noise level by less than one-quarter.
The firm would recommend improving the sealing, increasing the glass thickness,  using laminated glass or  secondary glazing  as solutions. Secondary glazing  should not be confused with double (or triple) glazing. The latter  used mainly for thermal effect,  and because the additional  panes of glass are packed tightly together, they can  have little or  no extra sound-deadening effect in some situations.
'For low-frequency noise such as traffic or aircraft, double or triple glazing could actually make it worse,' says Gross.  Other experts  agree that a better solution is to allow as wide a gap as possible between the layers of glass, which secondary glazing achieves.
However, Gross  says double glazing is not always wrong.  Near a railway line, the squeak of wheels on tracks is high frequency, and for this 'double glazing will work well,' he says.  It's a case of different solutions for different problems.
Inside the home, there might be other culprits  letting in unwanted noise. While it shouldn't happen in a well-finished building,  the cornices could hide a gap between the wall and the ceiling slab,  which would need to be sealed. Or the kitchen or bathroom exhaust systems might be linked to those in the flat next door.
Gross  says what is  put inside  the home can make a difference as well. Stone, marble or ceramic finishes, for instance, might have visual appeal but they also make sound reverberate. Sound-absorbing soft furnishings such as carpet and rugs can help. Every bit counts,  even concealing  absorptive material behind  artworks  on  the wall.
In Hong Kong buildings the biggest nuisance  can  be the flat above, below or  down the corridor. It can be a  problem even if the connecting walls are built of solid concrete. In this situation, internal wall problems need to be addressed.
Barrierboard,  a product developed in Australia  and available in Hong Kong,  addresses this specific issue. Inventor Nereo Castelli,  an acoustics engineer, wanted  to create an effective, inexpensive, and easy to install product.   It comes in the form of  plasterboard panels on either side of an isolation layer made of vertically lapped polyester fibres. The panels are applied to walls using dabs of construction adhesive, or may be installed on battens on the roof. The joints are then trowelled off, leaving a plaster finish that may be painted or papered as normal. Castelli says that, once installed, it's impossible to  tell  Barrierboard is there.  He claims that with total coverage it can reduce noise from neighbouring flats by 30 to 50 per cent.
Another abatement product is by NoiseStop Systems Singapore,  which offers an Asia-wide consultancy.  It sells its  multi-layer system of sound-absorbing sheets,  which are made of compound inorganic material and attached using adhesive and screws. Acoustics consultant Ned Nelson  co-invented the system.  Noisy neighbours are the most common concern for people using the firm's services.
'We get called out to many  flats each week for these types of problems,'  says Nelson. 'Almost everyone who lives in a flat can  hear their neighbour upstairs at some point.'
The firm has soundproofed 500 homes in Singapore this year alone, and claims  its NoiseBlock System Option 1    reduces 80 per cent or more of the noise.
'We give a guarantee on our products that if this is not the  case we will come back and add more soundproofing free of charge.  We have never had to do this once,' Nelson  says.
Some solutions may be even cheaper. The Hong Kong division of global engineering firm Scott Wilson Ltd   deals with noise pollution in residential buildings and says that in some cases the Hong Kong government will pay for  retrofitting double glazing in private  premises where a new road project results in higher than acceptable noise levels.
'In another similar project, the government subsidised the installation of air conditioners so occupiers could close their windows to reduce noise, where previously they had used fans and open windows for ventilation,' says a company spokesman.  That may be worth investigating.
However,  Gross of Wilkinson Murray  says there is no magic bullet.
'When we choose to live in an apartment, we should expect to hear the neighbours sometimes. For anyone who is that sensitive to noise, probably the best solution  is to move.'



A quiet crusade