EPA Document Collection

Subject Index

About the EPA document collection held by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse.

Subject Index: A B C E G H I L M O P R S T U W
Title Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W #

Single page lists: authors subjects titles
Most useful EPA documents

On this page:
Community Noise
Construction

Community Noise

1976 Reassessment of Noise Concerns of Other Nations - Volume I - Summary and Selected topics
Carl Modig; Ghalib Khouri; John Stepanchuk; George Cerny
August 1976
PDF

A review of the noise abatement programs of countries around the world (except the U.S.) including laws, regulations, guidelines, criteria, research, governmental organization, plans, etc., with bibliography and contact addresses to facilitate further inquiry. Also includes international organizations involved in noise control. Both environmental and occupational noise are covered. Topics: Community noise, airport, aircraft, surface transportation, construction noise, occupational noise, noise from factories, noise in buildings. A summary finds that compared to a similar 1971 review, the U.S. has "caught up", information has increased geometrically, many nations now compensate citizens for noise from airports or roads, and noise limits in industry are becoming stricter. Vol. II contains country-by-country reviews.

S. 1204 (Report No. 97-110) - To amend the Noise Control Act of 1972 as amended by the Quiet Communities Act of 1978
May 1981
PDF

Manual for Development of Formats for the Presentation of Community Noise Assessment Data
Marilyn Auerbach; Katharina R. Geissler
July 1981
PDF

This report was prepared by EPA, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, in support of its function to provide technical assistance to communities. It is one of nine which comprises the Community Noise Assessment Manual. The Manual provides a comprehensive and computerized system for assessing the noise problems of a community and then planning a noise control strategy for its abatement.This report was prepared by EPA, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, in support of its function to provide technical assistance to communities. It is one of nine which comprises the Community Noise Assessment Manual. The Manual provides a comprehensive and computerized system for assessing the noise problems of a community and then planning a noise control strategy for its abatement. The purpose of this manual is to provide a guide to various presentation techniques for all the data generated by the Community Noise Assessment Manual. In this way effective communication of noise data to elected officials, administrators and other community personnel will be facilitated.

Simplified Noise Strategy Manual
Mones E. Hawley
July 1981
PDF

This report was prepared by EPA, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, in support of its function to provide technical assistance to communities. It is one of nine which comprises the Community Noise Assessment Manual. The Manual provides a comprehensive and computerized system for assessing the noise problems of a community and then planning a noise control strategy for its abatement. This manual's objectives are the same as those described in the "Strategy Guidelines for Developing a Community Noise Control Program." It provides however a simplified and manual system for planning the noise control strategy for abating a community's noise problems. It assists comunitite in determining, in an objective manner, the efficient allocation of funds for reducing the adverse effects of noise in their community. By following a step-by-step written procedure, a noise planner can be assisted in selecting the most cost-effective noise abatement measures and the amount of money which should be spent on each. The primary criterion for optimization is based on economic and acoustical data gathered in the community.

Computer Programs for the Strategy Guidelines for Developing a Community Noise Control Program
Patrick K. Glenn
July 1981
PDF

Analysis of EPA's Responsibility and Implementation of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (NCA of 1972) and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (QCA of 1978)
PDF

Community Noise Assessment Manual - Startegy Guidelines for Developing a Community Noise Control Program
August 1979
PDF

In response to Congressional mandates, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, has funded the development of a series of manuals, prepared by Wyle Laboratories, to support a Quiet Cities Program. The first of these manuals, entitled "Community Noise Assessment Manual - Social Survey Workbook," provided detailed instructions for conducting an attitudinal survey on noise in a community. The second manual, entitled "Community Noise Assessment Manual - Acoustical Survey," provided detailed practical procedures for conducting a noise measurement survey in a community. This manual, the third in this series, is designed to assist local governments in making logical and cost-effective decisions on the allocation of funds to reduce the adverse effects of noise in their communities. To make maximum use of the material in this document, a community will have utilized the preceding manuals, or their equivalents, to obtain detailed data on the noise environment, and attitudes toward this environment, in their community. However, this manual also stands alone in that it contains many useful guidelines and procedures which a community can utilize to decide on the most efficient allocation of effort and funds directed toward preserving the natural resource - quiet - in their community.

Acoustical Survey/Computerized Data Reduction Procedures
Patrick K. Glenn
July 1981
PDF

Community Noise Fundamentals: A Training Manual
P.L. Michael; W.T. Achor; G.R. Bienvenue; D.M. Dejoy; R.L. Kerlin; A.H. Kohut; J.H. Prout
March 1979
PDF

This manual is designed as a reference to be used by persons involved in community noise programs. Basic information is provided on topics ranging from the basics of sound and hearing to noise measurement and control to rules and regulations. Guidelines are provided for the user to select sections related to particular community noise program tasks.

Community Noise Assessment Manual: Acoustical Survey of a Community
July 1981
PDF

This report was prepared by EPA, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, in support of its function to provide technical assisstance to communities. It is one of nine which comprises the Community Noise Assessment Manual. The Manual provides a comprehensive and computerized system for assessing the noise problems of a community and then planning a noise control strategy for its abatement. This Manual presents the technical instructions and guidelines needed by municipal authorities to carry out an initial noise survey. This survey will determine average noise levels ad major noise sources for the community as a whole. It can be used in planning noise reduction measures to benefit the entire community or a substantial portion thereof.

Model Community Noise Control Ordinance
National Institute of Municipal Law Officers; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
September 1975
PDF

This report contains a model ordinance for use by cities and counties in the development of noise control ordinances tailored to local conditions and goals. It is a comprehensive, performance-standard noise ordinance intended to overcome enforcement problems associated with the outmoded nuisance law approach to noise control. This report contains sections on the control of noise from both stationary and mobile sources and includes land use planning provisions. A preamble gives important explanatory information for certain ordinance sections.

Community Noise Assessment Manual - User's Manual for the Social Survey Computer System
July 1981
PDF

The Attitudinal Survay Data Analysis System (ASDAS) is a system of computer programs. It is designed to analyze the raw numbers generated by a sociological survey (the Community Noise Assessment Social Survey) and produce from them a series of concise, meaningful reports. The system is administered by the State and Local Programs Division of the EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC). In conjunction with the Acoustical Data Reduction and Noise Optimization (NOIZOP) computer programs, ASDAS makes up the data processing and of a larger system of data collection and data processing protocols. This larger system is called LISTEN, an acronym for Local Information System to Evaluate Noise. (Strictly speaking, LISTEN refers only to the data processing end of this system, but the term is often used to refer the system as a whole). LISTEN enables a community to determine the most effective combination of noise control measures to employ, given: the nature and distribution of noise sources within the community; the extent and manner in which noise affects the community's residents; and the budgetary limits imposed on the community's planners. Figure 1-1 shows ASDAS' relationship to the rest of LISTEN.

Quiet Communities Act
May 1981
PDF

Synthesis of Social Surveys on Noise Annoyance
Theodore J. Schultz
March 1978
PDF

Since noise was first recognized as a serious environmental pollutant, a number of social surveys have been conducted in order to assess the magnitude of the problem and to develop suitable noise ratings, such that, from a measurement of certain physical characteristics of community noise, one could reliably predict the community's subjective response to the noise. Recently, the author has reviewed the data from social surveys concerning the noise of aircraft, street traffic, expressway traffic, and railroads. Going back to the original published data, the various survey noise ratings were translated to day-night average sound level, and an independent judgment was made, where choices were possible, as in which respondents should be counted as "higly annoyed". The results of 11 of these surveys show a remarkable consistency. It is proposed that the average of these curves is the best currently available relationship for predicting community annoyance due to transportation noise of all kinds.

Report to Congress - Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State
October 1980
PDF

This report is submitted to Congress in response to Section 8 of the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-609) which resulted from Congressional concern that aircraft noise from some airports may impact communities located in another State. The question was whether the communities in the other State could effect change at the airport to provide relief for their citizens. The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency were directed to study jointly this issue and determined that Philadelphia International Airport satisfied the selection criteria in the Act. The Act further directed that the study be conducted in cooperation with the airport operator, appropriate Federal, State, and local officials, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization which, in this case, is the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). This led to formation of an Advisory Committee under the auspices of the DVRPC to assist the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration. This study illustrates that regional advisory bodies can work effectively on problems which cross political boundaries. The study included three semi-independent programs: (1) Noise Measurement, (2) Noise Modeling, and (3) Community Response. The objective of the measurement program was to obtain actual aircraft noise levels in selected residential areas around the Philadelphia International Airport. These data were used to verify the results of the Noise Modeling Program. The FAA's Integrated Noise Model (INM), a computerized noise simulation, was used to predict aircraft noise levels around the airport as a function of all of the pertinent parameters, i.e., types and numbers of aircraft operating at the airport (both current and forecast for 1990 and 2000), flight tracks, operating procedures, and time of day of aircraft operations. The Community Response Program made the public aware of the noise study through standard public information techniques, a toll-free telephone complaint service, conduct of a community opinion survey to determine how people feel about the airport and its environmental impact, and establishment of an Advisory Committee to assist in the selection of noise control options. The telephone complaint service registered 296 complaints during the 118 days in which it was operated. One thousand seven hundred and twenty-three interviews were conducted among residents within approximately 20 miles of Philadelphia International Airport, of whom 447, or 26.0 percent, lived in New Jersey and the remainder in Pennsylvania. Crime was identified most often as the most serious environmental problem, while noise (from all sources including aircraft) was fifth among the eight categories specified. The noise exposure conditions, and the relative effectiveness of alternative noise control actions, were investigated for the existing 1980 operations and for projected 1990 and 2000 operations. Alternative noise control actions were grouped into five categories: airport layout; airport and airspace use; aircraft operations; land use; and noise program management. Detailed results of these analyses are reported, in terms of the population impacted by several values of Average Day-Night Sound Level (Ldn), which includes a 10-decibel added penalty on nighttime aircraft operations. On this basis, the most effective noise control option for Philadelphia International Airport appears to be a reduction in nighttime operations, in combination with a preferential runway use program to keep the remaining nighttime flights away from populated areas. These actions would reduce aircraft noise impacts in the affected areas of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Before any such use restrictions should be considered by the operator of Philadelphia International Airport, however, a more detailed syudy should be made to account for all economic factors which could be affected by those restrictions. Any aviation-related options should be complemented by a continuing citizen involvement program and a broad land-use planning program.

A Critical Review of Time-of-Day Weighting Factors for Cumulative Measures of Community Noise Exposure
S. Fidell; T.J. Schultz
April 1980
PDF

This report was prepared at the request of the Office of Noise Abatement and Control of the Environmental Protection Agency to review the rationale and evidence for time of day weighting factors applied to cumulative measures of community noise exposure such as the Day-Night Sound Level (Ldn). The nature of the controversy over "nighttime penalties" was examined, as was the evidence of differential human sensitivity to noise exposure at different times of day. It was determined that available information does not support rigorous arguments for or against time of day weighting factors, but that ample grounds exist for maintaining time of day weighting factors of some form.

A Primary Teaching Pack - Noise - Based on Darlington, England's Quiet Town Experiment
PDF

This Teaching Pack has been prepared for Primary Schools under the auspices of the Darlington Quiet Town Experiment, a joint venture between Darlington Borough Council and the Department of the Environment. The Management Committee established a School's Working Group which, with the help and advice of teachers, has produced this set of Work Cards, Teacher's Notes, Pamphlets and References which form the basis for Centres of Interest using the theme of 'Noise'. It is hoped that the materials will form a useful aid for Teachers wishing to spark off oral and written language, discovery of information through reading, investigation, observation, recording, surveying and collecting as well as creative, artistic, imaginative, dramatic, mathematic and scientific activities covering the breadth of the curriculum.

Quiet Communities: Minimizing the Effects of Noise through Land Use Controls
Alan Magan; Robert Weaver; Constance Mason
March 1979
PDF

Community Noise Counseling Program - Handbook for Community Noise Counselors
PDF

The following handbook has been written for you, the community noise counselor. It contains both information and ideas which will help you in your efforts to improve the quality of life in your neighborhood. This handbook is a resource document as well as a workbook. You will read about the reasons for a noise counseling program, the role of the noise counselor, and some of the techniques a noise counselor can use in reducing noise in a community. You will also find some forms in the appendix which have been designed to help you set your objectives and to assist you in locating the key people in your community who can help you reach your objectives. In addition to this handbook, special training is available. This training can play an important part in your role as a community noise counselor. However, you are not expected to become a technical expert in the properties of sound or in the intricate details of sound measurement. Your role is that of a catalyst, providing information, ideas, and direction to individuals, citizen groups, and perhaps public officials who can take action to reduce their own noise exposure as well as the exposure of others as a result of your efforts.

Elements of Successful Community Noise Control Programs
James Adams
PDF

A Practical Application of Community Noise Analyses; --Case Study of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
R.J. Goff; M.P. Valoski; R.E. D'Amato
February 1977
PDF

This report is designed to document the technical results of a 2-1/2 year Noise Control Program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. While the program consisted of many facets--public education, complaint analysis, community noise survey, publicity, legislation drafting, and public hearings--only the survey and legislation are detailed. First, metrics are selected for describing a community noise environment. Specific parameters influencing community noise are evaluated and used to develop a survey methodology. Survey data are presented and analyzed according to such parameters as time of day, noise source, land use, and municipality. Finally, the results are incorporated into community noise legislation.

Community Noise Around General Aviation Airports from the Year 1975 to 2000
William J. Galloway; Ricarda L. Bennett
September 1981
PDF

This study forecasts general aviation airport noise from 1975 to the year 2000. It focuses upon noise due to propeller-driven and business jet airplanes that operate at exclusively general aviation airports throughout the country. The results of the study, expressed in terms of geographical area and population within day-night average sound levels of 55 decibels and higher, are estimated at five-year intervals covering this study period. It is projected that the number of general aviation airplanes in the United States will more than double during these years; however; there will not be a comparable increase in the number of airports. The average sound level for the propeller-driven airplanes is not expected to decrease significantly, but the average sound level associated with the projected business jet fleet will decrease by approximately 16 decibels by the year 2000. As greater numbers of quieter airplanes are introduced into the general aviation fleet, the area (outside of the immediate airport boundaries) exposed to various noise levels is expected to decrease. This is accompanied by a reduction in the number of people exposed to a day-night average sound level of 65 decibels from 47,000 people in 1975 to zero population in the year 2000. In contrast, there were 1.2 million people exposed to day-night average sound levels of 55 decibels in 1975 with an expected increase to 1.5 million by the year 2000.

The Public Health Effects of Community Noise
Carol Scheibner Pennenga
May 1987
PDF

Noise is "any loud, discordant or disagreeable sound" according to Webster's Dictionary (15, p.1). Another definition would be "unwanted sound". Nearly everyone is exposed to noise at some time in their lives, yet the control of noise is not a top priority for most environmental control programs. Community noise is a very widespread problem that can cause serious public health problems. It is well-established that noise can cause hearing loss in the workplace, but what are the other effects of noise outside the workplace? The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental, and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This paper will examine the evidence for the effects of noise on the cardiovascular system, the performance of tasks, the unborn and children, social behavior and mental health, sleep, speech communication and hearing. The majority of the analysis will be spent on the cardiovascular effects because they are both the most controversial and the most potentially health threatening. It is hoped that this examination of the public health effects of community noise will serve as justification for increased priority and effort in noise control at the community, state and federal levels. In addition to noise control programs, this review should also be used to educate the public on the hazards of community noise exposure and how to protect themselves from it.

Updating a Dosage-Effect Relationship for the Prevalence of Annoyance Due to General Transportation Noise
Sanford Fidell; David S. Barber; Theodore J. Schultz
September 1990
PDF

More than a decade has passed since a relationship between community noise exposure and the prevalence of annoyance was synthesized by Schultz {T.J. Schultz, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 64. 377-405 (1978)} from the findings of a dozen social surveys. This quantitative dosage-effect relationship has been adopted as a standard means for predicting noise-induced annoyance in environmental assessment documents. The present effort updates the 1978 relationship with findings of social surveys conducted since its publication. Although the number of data points from which a new relationship was inferred more than tripled, the 1978 relationship still provides a reasonable fit to the data.

Noise From Industrial Plants
December 1971
PDF

The objectives of this study included the following: (1) To identify as many sources of noise as possible in five typical indutrial plants. The plants selected for the field survey included the following types: (a) Glass Manufacturing Plant (b) Oil Refinery (c) Power Plant (d) Automobile Assembly Plant (e) Can Manufacturing Plant. (2) To measure the in-plant source noise levels. (3) To measure environmental noise in the communities adjacent to the above industrial plants. (4) To determine the community noise exposure and impact due to industrial plant noise. (5) To identify the human-related problems associated with the noise sources. (6) To identify the contributory reasons for initiating noise abatement programs and current attitudes toward noise legislation. (7) To identify the groups or organizations responsible for initiation of the noise abatement programs. (8) To assess the state-of-the-art for application of noise abatement technology to the noise sources identified above.

Community Noise
December 1971
PDF

This report addresses the part of the overall noise pollution problem which is associated with outdoor noise in the community. It attempts to provide a quantitative framework for understanding the nature of the outdoor noise environment and the reaction of people and community to its various aspects. The detailed information in this report provides backup to the summary material in the EPA report, as well as additional material relevant to meaningful measures of the noise environment for both future community noise monitoring and research purposes.

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Case History of a Municipal Noise Control Program
February 1979
PDF

This technical case study of the noise control program in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was developed to enable noise control administrators and municipal officials from other local communities to benefit from the experience gained in Colorado Springs. This study was prepared under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Noise Abatement and Control. Colorado Springs was chosen for this study because the city has a vigorous noise control program that receives enthusiastic support from the city government and the populace. As with any local community program for noise control and abatement, it is a unique product of many community factors such as environment, demography, economic growth and business composition, structure and function of municipal government, and especially the interest and resourcefulness of the key individuals responsible for operating the program. Because of these and other variables, it is difficult if not impossible to attribute the program's overall success to any particular aspect of the effort. Rather, this report examines the Colorado Springs program in all of its phases with particular emphasis on those aspect which could be employed successfully byother local communities. Those who use this report should avoid the oversimplification of attempting to apply the methods used by Colorado Springs in an identical way to their own communities. A successful community noise control program will be a program that is responsive to the particular needs and problems of that community. The significant ingredients of the Colorado Springs noise control effort are the ideas and concepts that can be appropriated for that city and adapted to the needs and problems of other communities. How those ideas and concepts are specifically adapted, however, can be determined only by the noise control administrator or municipal official responsible for developing the program.

Noise and Vibration Characteristics of High Speed Transit Vehicles
June 1971
PDF

The rapidly epanding problems of urban transportation have resulted in intensified activity in the development and construction of new fixed route, high speed rapid transit systems and equipment. The community noise and ground vibration cause by such systems and vehicles is a very important factor influencing public acceptance of these systems. Noise and vibration measurements obtained within modern operational and experimental transit vehicles provide a basis for determining the expected wayside or community airborne noise and ground-borne vibration levels for different types of new transit systems. Through the use of modern design concepts and equipment intended to provide reduced noise and vibration, the wayside noise and vibration caused by rapid transit system vehicles can be made acceptable and the operations can be much quieter than traditionally expected despite the general increase in speed of the newer systems which tends to increase noise and vibration. The purpose of this report is to present a review of the available information on wayside noise and vibration generated by rapid transit vehicles, primarily rail transit vehicles, including projection of the expected noise and vibration levels for highway speed vehicles being considered for future applications.

Analysis of the Health and Welfare and Economic Impacts of Revision of the Interstate Motor Carrier Noise Standard Coincident with a 2-Year Delay in the 80dB Medium and Heavy Truck Noise Standard
March 1985
PDF

Under the authority of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-574) (amended by the Quiet Communities Act of 1978) the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated two key noise regulations for trucks: The Noise Emission Standards for Motor Carriers Engaged in Interstate Commerce (40 CFR Part 202) effective October 15, 1975; and the Noise Emission Standards for Medium and Heavy Trucks (40 CFR Part 205, Subparts A and B) effective January 1, 1978. For brevity, these regulations are referred to in this document as respectively, the IMC (for Interstate Motor Carrier) and the MHT (for Medium and Heavy Trucks) regulations. The IMC regulation set two noise standards for trucks used in interstate commerce: a low-speed limit of 86 decibels and a high-speed limit of 90 decibels. The MHT regulation set a not-to-exceed noise standard of 83 decibels (measured in a low-speed acceleration test) effective January 1, 1978, and a reduced limit of 80 decibels, effective January 1, 1982. As a result of various economic developments and associated industry comments submitted in response to President Carter's initiatives to minimize the burden of regulations, in 1980, the EPA Administrator made a decision to defer the effective date of the MHT 80 dB standard to January 1, 1983. Subsequent contentions by the industry that economic efficiences would be achieved by making the 80 dB MHT standard coincident in time with updated exhaust emission standards for trucks led to further deferral of the 80 dB standard to June 1, 1986. Recently it hes abeen apparent that the revised exhaust emission standards originally scheduled for 1986 would not be promulgated in time for 1986 effectively. Instead, current projections are for a January 1, 1988 effective date for the updated exhaust emission standards. Accordingly, the industry has petitioned for further deferral of the 80 dB MHT standard to retain coincidence with the exhaust emission standards. Recognizing the logical consistency of this petition, the Agency is proposing to defer the 80 dB standards further, to January 1, 1988. In reviewing the Health and Welfare impact of this further deferral of the MHT standard, the Agency finds that there is a modest, but significant loss of benefits. At the same time, the Agency has experienced a renewed awareness of its obligation under the Noise Control Act to update the IMC noise standard to reflect "best available (noise control) technology." Available data on the noise levels of in-use trucks suggests that lowering the IMC noise limits to achieve consistency with the MHT 83 dB standard would provide some improvement in the noisiest portion of the truck fleet. Such improvement in turn is expected to provide health and welfare benefit gains that would compensate at least in part for the benefit losses expected from the MHT deferral. This analysis examines both the economic and the health and welfare impacts of the proposed regulatory actions. It presents the economic effects of these changes in reducing industry costs and the changes in health and welfare benefits resulting from the revised regulations.

Noise Standards for Aircraft Type Certification (Modifications to Far Part 36)
William C. Sperry; Damon C. Gray
August 1976
PDF

This document presents and discusses the background data used by the Agency in the development of proposed noise control regulations for promulgation by the FAA in conformance with the Noise Control Act of 1972. The proposed regulations pertain to control of airplane noise at the source and would amend the existing Federal Aviation Regulations PART 36 (FAR 36). FAR 36 was the first type certification regulation for aircraft noise prescribed by any nation. It is a comprehensive rule containing highly technical appendices whose purposes are to require the maximum feasible use of noise control technology, to set standards for the acquisition of noise levels, and to obtain data useful for predicting the noise impact in airport neighborhood communities. Since the promulgation of FAR 36 in 1969, noise control technology has advanced substantially, the significance of community noise impact is much better understood, and the techniques and equipment for data acquisition and reduction have improved considerably. It is appropriate, therefore, to consider amendments to FAR 36 with the objective of strengthening and extending the original purposes, and , in particular, to eliminate any ambiguities that may exist.

Model Noise Control Ordinance
PDF

The Model Community Noise Control Ordinance (model ordinance) is intended to be a basic tool which communities, both large and small, can use to construct noise control ordinances suited to local needs and conditions. The complete model ordinance, including optional provisions, is perhaps more suitable for larger communities, with populations of about 100,000 or more. Smaller communities and large communities with limited resources may wish to adopt only those provisions which address their most pressing noise problems. It is important that the community ensure that all provisions adopted are realistic in relation to local needs and conditions; that all provisions are consistent with one another, with other local law, and with State and Federal Law; and, finally, that all provisions are clear and otherwise well drafted so that enforcement problems will be minimized.

Noise Training Manual
P.L. Michael; D.M. DeJoy; R.L. Kerlin; A.H. Kohut; J.H. Prout
December 1977
PDF

This manual is a compendium of information considered to be essential to the development of successful community noise control programs. It is intended to satisfy the needs of a broad lay audience who will be involved in the legislative, administrative, and technical aspects of this program. Because unique problems may be encountered in individual community noise abatement programs, references have been included at the ned of each chapter to direct the reader to additional resource material. Also, Appendix B to this manual provides a list of some source reference that are likely to be useful to persons involved in community noise abatement programs.

Noise in America: Extent of the Noise Problem
Miles Simpson; Robert Bruce
September 1981
PDF

The number of Americans exposed to various levels of occupational and environmental noise is estimated. Estimates are made for 11 categories of noise producers (e.g., traffic, aircraft, construction) using the Ldn or Leq(24) metrics. The assumptions in the models used, including , including demographic projections, are made explicit for all estimates. Estimates for combined exposures to traffic and other community noise sources are also made, as well as indoor noise exposures from home equipment like fans and clothes washers. According to the estimates, 1.5 million people are exposed to outdoor noise levels (from a11 sources) of over 75 Ldn, and over 90 million, to levels over 58 Ldn. Over 9 million people are exposed to occupational noise in excess of 80 dB (Leq(24)).

The Noise Control Act of 1972 as amended by The Quiet Communities Act of 1978
PDF

Community Noise
December 1971
PDF

Analysis of Alternative Noise Metrics for Airport Noise Assessment
Vijay R. Desai; John E. Wesler; Kevin A. Bradley
February 1991
PDF

The purpose of this report is to provide a quantitative analysis to determine if a single-event noise metric will provide additional insight and sensitivity in the assessment of airport community noise impacts, in comparison with the accepted DNL, and whether such a metric would lead to a different decision regarding the adoption of alternative noise abatement actions. By comparing noise impacts around representative airports, determined through the use of a single-event noise metric based on Sound Exposure Level (SEL), with those determined through the use of DNL, and in turn comparing both with an intuitive judgment of those noise impacts, it was intended to determine if the SEL-based metric provided advantages over DNL, primarily on those communities with DNLs less than 65 dB.

A Primary Teaching Pack - Noise - Based on the Darlington, England Quiet Town Experiment
PDF

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, has purchased this teaching package and its reproduction rights for your use. The package is one output of a Quiet Town Experiment conducted in Darlington, England. Throughout the book you will find words and phrases which are typically British in use and which may sound strange to American schoolchildren. Among the best examples of these are: lorry (truck), mecano set (erector set), wendy house (doll house), aerodome (airport). In addition, you will notice references to British organizations and activities, as well as the expected spelling differences between British and American English. The editors elected not to make substantial semantic changes, partly to insure that the integrity of the original package is preserved and partly because exposure to these cultural differences is instructional in itself. Please be alert to these differences and be prepared to explain unfamiliar words, phrases, and references to your students. On the whole, this package is an excellent resource for teachers of elementary grades. It can be used in whole or in part and adapted in any way you deem appropriate. Projects are outlined for students of every age and grade level.

Community Noise Assessment Manual - Social Survey Workbook
PDF

The U.S. Environemtnal Protection Agency has developed a "Community Noise Assessment Manual" to provide local governments detailed guidelines in developing a comprehensive noise control program. This manual includes the following documents: Acoustical Survey, Social Survey Workbook, and Community Noise Strategy Guidelines. This specific document - the second referenced above - is a workbook which provides specific instruction for the design and administration of a social survey of community attitudes towards noise. The reader is referred to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Noise Abatement and Control for assistance in analysis and interpretation of this survey data and for infromation concerning the other referenced publications.

Boise Community Noise Survey
May 1979
PDF

In conjunction with the Ads Planning Association, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Office of Noise Abatement and Control and its Region X office inventoried the noise climate in Boise, Idaho to test the accuracy of a physical measurement protocol. EPA hopes it will become part of a broad technical assistance package available to communities who may wish to develop or improve a noise control program. Based on the Boise results, the spatial sampling method will be revised slightly so that the sample will better represent the real noise climate.

Wyle Research Report WCR 75-2 - Community Noise Countermeasures Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Robert Rackl; Louis Sutherland; Jack Swing
July 1975
PDF

The objective of this study is to provide supporting informations for use in formulating motor vehicle and higway noise policies within an overall national policy of community noise abatement. In the course of the research work, a comprehensive community noise exposure model capable of evaluating and optimizing noise reduction countermeasures, especially as related to ground transportation noise sources, has been developed. The model has been evaluated for a defined future time period (1978), and refined on an actual experimental city (Spokane, Washington) which has been selected as a typical U.S. city from a noise exposure standpoint. Hence, results obtained in the analysis conducted for Spokane are applicable to a broad category of U.S. cities, with certain specific cautions, which are further defined later.

Community Noise Ordinances: Their Evolution, Purpose and Impact
Clifford R. Bragdon
March 1973
PDF

In the United States most municipal noise ordinances initially regulated street related activities, however, these early provisions were generally non-quantitative and consequently unenforceable. The first ordinances containing specific permissible noise levels regulated either activities fixed to the land (industrial activity being the primary source) or automobile and trucks operating on roadways. Today more comprehensive ordinances are evolveing and these regulations are the basis for expanded municipal noise control programs. Their impact has varied due to the quality, content and administration of these ordinances. Recently approved Federal noise legislation (Noise Control Act of 1972) will have a profound influence on the quality and quantity of municipal ordinances.

Report on: The Contribution of Medium and Heavy Trucks to Community Noise on a National Scale
J.D. Allen; M.D. Kurre
March 1981
PDF

Some of the community noise modelling techniques developed by Battelle for the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers' Association over the past three years have been applied to the problem of calculating the benefits, in terms of community noise reduction, of various promulgated, proposed, and hypothetical medium and heavy truck noise emission regulations. The study involved modelling the national traffic noise exposure, initially for a baseline case, and then for a sequence of different cases in which the model inputs corresponding to the medium and heavy truck noise emission levels were varied to simulate the effect of the regulations on community noise levels. It was found that the contribution of medium and heavy truck powertrains in a pre-regulatory national scenario accounted for nearly one-third of the total community noise exposure resulting from road traffic of all kinds. The 1978 (83 dBA) regulation potentially removes nearly half of the noise exposure of medium and heavy trucks. The 1983 (80 dBA) regulation brings about a less pronounced additional benefit, potentially removing somewhat more than one-fourth of the noise exposure. Still more stringent regulations bring about smaller and smaller additional benefits. The medium and heavy truck noise emission data base was compiled from recent literature. The remainder of the comprehensive data base employed was taken from a single source (EPA, Reference 12) and included: (1) noise emission characteristics of automobiles, light trucks, buses and motorcycles, (2) physical description of road types, including lane number and spacing, (3) attenuation rates for noise propagation through the community, (4) driving characteristics for all vehicle types on all road types, (5) traffic densities, (6) total miles for each road type, and (7) population densities. No attempt was made to verify the data given in Reference 12. It was expedient to perform the calculations with conditions similar to those assumed in EPA's modelling efforts. Not only in the case of input data was it desired to maximize the overlap with EPA calculations, but also in the reporting of the results. Therefore, the number of people exposed to average day-night weighted outdoor community noise levels (ldn) in excess of 55 decibels (A-weighted) was the number used to quantify traffic noise exposure on a national scale. However, because we believe that this method of quantification is insufficient when used alone, our national traffic noise exposures were further defined i terms of exceedance levels and other criterion values for Ldn. The EPA is currently modifying its community noise modelling methodology to make it more sensitive to community noise characteristics not well represented by Ldn.

Directory of Federal Laboratories and Research Facilities with Noise Capabilities
July 1979
PDF

This directory provides government officials and others a basic reference guide to various Federal laboratories and research facilities having noise research and/or noise testing capabilities. The Environmental Protection Agency is publishing it pursuant to its responsibilities under the Noise Control Act of 1972 (PL 92-574) and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (PL 95-609).

Community Noise Counseling Program - Final Report
PDF

The Community Noise Counseling Program sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was initiated September 22, 1978, with funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control. The program administration was the responsibility of the Association's Senior Community Service Employment Program, SCSEP, Special Programs Office; and form the start, the program was carried out in conjunction with the older worker employment program as a cooperative effort. The Senior Community Service Employment Program is funded by Title V of the Older Americans Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, and sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons as grantee. SCSEP eligible enrollees were recruited and assigned to the Community Noise Program by Project Directors in local project offices where needs were identified and site selection was made and approved by EPA Noise Program Officials. Also, in some instances where sites were selected and no local SCSEP project existed, Noise Counselors were recruited as Special Program enrollees, and were paid on a part-time basis from EPA grant funds. Several volunteers were also recruited to act as Noise Counselors. These volunteers, located in four states, were given formal trainging and individual instruction in Community Noise Abatement projects. A Volunteer Noise COunselors handbook, "Sound Advice", was developed, and a volunteer organizers handbook prepared for volunteer leaders, and an 8 minute slide/tape presentation was developed to recruit volunteers. To perpetuate the all volunteer program for Community Noise COunselors, the AARP Program Department has prepared a proposal for funding to support training and volunteer leaders travel necessary to establish the program on a national basis. Supportive noise materials have been developed for use and may be reproduced in quantity for the volunteers use, given funding. Attached as a part of this report are "A Volunteer Noise Counselor's Guide" and "A Volunteer Organizer's Guide", developed by the AARP Program Department for A Volunteer Noise Abatement Program entitled "Sound Advice".

Noise Technology Research Needs and the Relative Roles of the Federal Government and the Private Sector
May 1979
PDF

Hazardous as well as intrusive environmental noises that degrade the quality of life are continuing and ubiquitous problems of contemporary society. Recognizing the magnitude of noise problems and seeking to alleviate them, Congress, through the Quiet Communities Act of 1978, gave new directives to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support research in noise abatement technology. This Symposium on Noise Technology Research was the first response of the EPA to the new COngressional directives.

NRTA-AARP - Noise Counseling Program
PDF

The Community Noise Counseling Program sponsored by The National Retired Teachers Association-American Association of Retired Persons, was initiated September 22, 1978 with contractual agreement with EPA-ONAC. The Administration of the program was the responsibility of the Association's Senior Community Service Employment Program, Special Programs, and from the start was carried on in conjunction with the Older Worker Employment Program. SCSEP eligible enrollees were recruited and assigned to the Noise Counseling Program by Project Directors in local projects where needs were identified and the site selection was made and approved by EPA program officials. Linda Scott was hired as Program Coordinator for the Program, and was given the responsibility of training and supervising the selected enrollee Noise Counselors. Eight selected enrollees were given formal training in October, 1978. In addition to the SCSEP program enrollees assigned, several volunteers were recruited and given both formal and individualized training in Community Noise Abatement projects. In evaluating the Program, nothing stands out as much as the excellent performance of these Older Worker Program enrollees, when given: a meaningful job and assigned to a specific task; training and guidance to prepare them; and support and motivation from the SCSEP Projects and the community. In the words of the EPA Project Officer; "The program is very valuable to EPA because it works". When given the challenge, the Noise Counselors responded. The increased awareness in their communities is well documented by publicity, letters of commendation, and on going public service announcements, and, in general, increased efforts to pass meaningful local noise legislation by local officials, and increased enforcement for existing noise ordinances in their communities have been as a result of their efforts.

Sound Advice: A Volunteer Noise Counselor's Guide
PDF

In neighborhoods across the country, people are realizing that noise is a serious matter, and that practical steps are available to reduce noise. Mnay communities have been successful in reducing or eliminating noise problems. The success is usually the result of many individuals and groups working together. As a volunteer noise counselor, you can work with other volunteers to control or reduce noise. "Sound Advice" is a noise abatement program which can help to make your community a healthier and better place to live. This handbook will help volunteers interested in acting as noise counselors in a community noise abatement program. It explains the reasons for a noise abatement program, the role of the noise counselor, and some of the techniques a noise counselor can use to reduce neighborhood noise. Also included is an appendix to help locate resource materials and key people in the community.

EPA's Quiet Communities Five-Year Plan - FY 1981 - FY 1985
February 1980
PDF

This Report to the Congress sets forth a Five-Year Plan for the implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Noise Control Program. In response to a Congressional request, this Plan has been developed during the first year following the passage of the Quiet Communities Act in November of 1978. It covers Fiscal Years 1981 through 1985.

Construction

See also Occupational Exposure.

1976 Reassessment of Noise Concerns of Other Nations - Volume I - Summary and Selected topics
Carl Modig; Ghalib Khouri; John Stepanchuk; George Cerny
August 1976
PDF

A Model for the Prediction of Highway Construction Noise
Kenneth J. Platkin
December 1980
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. This report (Part B) presents a complete description of the highway noise prediction model. The report contains a description of the model's formulation and construction, a description of the program, and a user's manual.

Analysis and Abatement of Highway Construction Noise
William R. Fuller; Ron Brown
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. This report (Part A) contains all of the information from the engineering study phase of the project. It gives information on highway construction procedures, highway construction site noise characteristics, available abatement measures, and results from field demonstrations or noise abatement.

A Study to Minimize Noise Associated with Construction Activity
January 1982
PDF

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the noise associated with the construction of Broadway Plaza and identify selected methods to mitigate noise related impacts. The work program selected to achieve these aims consistes od several elements: - Determination of existing noise levels within the project area. - Calculation of construction noise levels. - Identification and evaluation if mitigation techniques to reduce construction noise.

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder Jr.
April 1973
PDF

This report presents a method for estimating benefits accruing from implementing acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The method can be applied to a wide range of environmental noise conditions and noise isolation requirements for building envelopes. Benefits are estimated based upon the distribution of population with outdoor noise level and the noise isolation provided by the building envelope. A method is described for estimating noise isolation performance of existing construction based upon local conditions.

Construction Site Noise Impact
F.M. Kessler; M. Alexander, N. Moiseev
February 1978
PDF

This manual presents a procedure for assessing the noise impact of construction activity. The manual presentd methods for measureing and estimating baseline sound levels, for estimating coustruction site sound levels, and for assessing noise impact and compliance with state and local noise regulations. Also included is a section describing construction equipment and construction process noise methods. A construction site noise model is presented which uses equipment sound levels and usage factors. Worksheets and graphs are provided to assist in the computations. Acoustical computational procedures, as well as equipment sound levels and usage factors, state and local regulations, and illustrative examples, are presented in Appendices.

Acoustical and Thermal Performance of Exterior Residential Walls, Doors and Windows
Hale J. Sabine; Myron B. Lacher; Daniel R. Flynn; Thomas L. Quindry
November 1975
PDF

Laboratory tests of sound transmission loss, thermal transmittance, and rate of air leakage were conducted on full scale (9 feet high x 14 feet wide; 2.7 x 4.3 meters) specimens of typical residential exterior wall constructions, either unbroken or penetrated by a door or window. The walls were of wood frame construction with gypsum board drywall interior finish and exterior finish finishes of wood siding, stucco, or brick veneer. Additional acoustical tests were run on a number of individual doors and windows. A total of 109 acoustical tests and 48 thermal tests are reported. The resultant data are compared with literature data on similar constructions. Correlations developed among the several quantities measured will assist more rational design where both energy conservation and noise isolation must be considered.

Foreign Noise Research in Surface Transportation
December 1977
PDF

This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Federal Noise Research - EPA Summary and Assessment
June 1978
PDF

The United States Government is involved in research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities related to aviation, surface transportation, machinery and construction equipment noise abatement and control through a number of its Agencies and Departments. In addition, considerable effort is expended in noise effects research to help identify and categorize the adverse health effects of noise. These programs vary in size and complexity, and objectives vary according to overall Agency charters, statutory authorities and other priorities. One of the purposes of the Noise Control Act of 1972 was to establish a means of effective coordination of Federal research and development activities in noise research and noise control. The Act directs the Administrator of the EPA to compile and publish, from time to time, a report on the status and progress of Federal noise research and noise control programs. In early 1974, the Federal noise research coordination activity was initiated in accordance with Section 4 of the Act. Four interagency noise research panels were established in the areas of: -Aviation, -Surface vehicles, -Machinery, -Effects. Reports were issued by the panels in the March-May 1975 time period (Ref. 1-4). The reports summarized the FY 1973-75 ongoing and planned noise research, development and demonstration programs within the various Agencies of the Federal Government. During 1976, the four panels were reconvened to update the data base and also: -Assess the contribution of past, current and planned Federal Noise RD&D Programs, and -Identify technology and noise effects needs to support a long range National Noise Abatement Strategy. The Chairman selected for each panel was a senior representative of the Agency having maximum program content in the specific panel...EPA provided secretariat support to each of the panels. The panels developed specialized reports covering the Research and Technology Development and Demonstration programs related to their area of concern (Refs. 5-8). The individual report formats were generally consistent with minor variations between them based upon the perceived needs of the Panel Chairman and Panel participants. This summary report presents an EPA overview and assessment of the results of the panels' deliberations. Each of the Panel Chairman, as well as the panels' members, were provided an opportunity to comment on, (1) a preliminary draft and, (2) a final draft copy of this report. ALl of the coments were carefully considered and reviewed with the commenters. The final report includes those points deemed appropriate for inclusion herein. However, the findings, conclusions, & recommendations in this assessment are EPA's and not necessarily those of any other agency.

Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
PDF

This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. THe purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations fffor additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder, Jr.
July 1982
PDF

This report presents a method for estimating benefits accruing from implementation of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The method can be applied to a wide range of environmental noise conditions and noise isolation requirements for building envelopes. Benefits are estimated based upon the distribution of population with outdoor noise level and the noise isolation provided by the building envelope. A method is described for estimating noise isolation provided performance of existing construction based upon local conditions.

Sound Procedures for Measuring Highway Noise: Final Report
William Bowlby
August 1981
PDF

This revised manual presents noise measurement procedures for use by Federal, State, or local transportation departments. Methods are included for the measurement of traffic/existing sound levels, vehicle sound levels, barrier field insertion loss, non-traffic noise source sound levels, construction equipment noise, building noise reduction, and worker noise exposure. The required instrumentation, test site restrictions, step by step measurement procedures, and computational methods are included. This revision incorporates two measurement procedures issued after the interim report was published: "Determination of Reference Energy Mean Emission Levels," Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Report No. FHWA-OEP/HEV-78-1, which replaces chapter 4, and "Determination of Noise Barrier Effectiveness," FHWA Report No. FHWA-OEP/HEV-80-1, which replaces chapter 5.

Lawn Mowers: Noise and Cost of Abatement
M.J. Rudd; E.K. Bender
June 1974
PDF

This document contains information useful for the development of noise emission standards for lawn mowers. Topics covered include information on lawn mower construction, noise characteristics of models currently on the market, and noise reduction techniques and costs necessary to achieve specified noise levels.

Draft Final Report - Development of Construction Site Noise Parameters and Levels Data Base
Larry A. Ronk
February 1980
PDF

The principal objectives of this study are to: 1) identify additional pieces of equipment (generic types) not included in the EPA's construction site health and welfare noise impact model; 2) estimate the population density variations resulting from population transfer between the five construction site model geographical regions during the normal daytime work period; 3) evaluate construction activity duration time periods (and the influence of geographical location with U.S. and of population density on the average construction activity duration); and 4) collect and evaluate available data concerning "typical", or average, noise-reduction values for various building-structure types. Relative to each of these study objectives, this report will attempt to fill existing data gaps, to provide additions to the existing data bases, and to revise obsolete or poorly documented assumptions currently used in the EPA's construction site noise impact model.

The Design of a Low Cost Sound Level Meter
John D. Griffiths
April 1974
PDF

Conventional sound level meters generally use precision ceramic microphones and discrete solid state circuitry. This report describes a design using an electret microphone and integrated circuit operational amplifiers. The advantages of this design are low cost, ease of manufacture, stable gain, and low power consumption. Construction details are included to permit local manufacture. The complete instrument is capable of meeting the ???2, General Purpose Sound Level Meter, requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971, American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters.

Noise Emission Standards for Construction Equipment - Background Document for Portable Air Compressors
December 1975
PDF

This document contains the technical, economic, health and welfare analyses and other pertinent data and information utilized by the Environmental Protection Agency in the development of the final Portable Air Compressors Regulation.

A Building Code for Exterior Noise Isolation With Respect to Aircraft Noise
December 1974
PDF

The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide for the health and welfare of the general public by establishing standards for land use and for building construction with respect to exterior noise produced by the legal and normal operations of the XXXXX airport. The Ordinance establishes noise zones and differing intensities on land adjacent to the XXXXX airport, establishes permitted land uses in the noise zones and establishes building construction requirements with respect to exterior noise isolation.

Propagation of Urban Construction Site Noise Along Street Corridors
Paul R. Donavan; J. Craig Wyvill
May 1978
PDF

An existing urban sound propagation model has been applied to the specific problem of estimating the propagation of noise from urban construction sites along street corridors. Discussion summarizes the development of the propagation model and computer programs used to estimate sound propagation. The propagation model has been applied to five different construction site orientations resulting from two city block configurations. For each of the site orientations, the estimated values of attenuation versus distance in the streets surrounding individual sites are presented. Assuming the sound level at the construction site is known, the procedure to be used to determine sound levels in the surrounding streets is also provided.

IBM 360/System Batch Version of Highway Construction Noise Model
Kenneth J. Platkin
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. This report provides additional information to the Part B report on the highway construction noise model installed at DOT's Transportation Computer Center on an IBM 360 computer. It delineates the difference between the version of the model as installed on the IBM 360 and the two models (HINPUT and HICNOM) operating on the Wyle Computer (PDP-11). The report has additional user's manual information for use on the IBM 360, a programmer's manual describing changes in going from the PDP-11 to the IBM 360, and a maintenance manual.

Appendix C, Highway Construction Noise Field Measurements, Site 3: I-95/I-395 (Maryland)
William R. Fuller; Ron Brown
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. Reports (Part D through Part G) contain field data gathered at the field demonstrations at highway construction sites in: Route I-201, California; I-205, Oregon; I-95/I-395, Maryland; and I-75, Florida. They contain noise data on single and multiple pieces of equipment, provide general description of highway site activities, and activity analyses of equipment.

Appendix B, Highway Construction Noise Field Measurements, Site 2: I-205 (Oregon)
William R. Fuller; Ron Brown
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. Reports (Part D through Part G) contain field data gathered at the field demonstrations at highway construction sites in: Route I-201, California; I-205, Oregon; I-95/I-395, Maryland; and I-75, Florida. They contain noise data on single and multiple pieces of equipment, provide general description of highway site activities, and activity analyses of equipment.

Noise and Vibration Characteristics of High Speed Transit Vehicles
June 1971
PDF

Effects of Noise on Wildlife and Other Animals
December 1971
PDF

In recent years the possible effects of noise on wildlife have become a matter of serious concern, for several excellent reasons. Our rapidly growing population and advancing technology result in ever increasing noise levels. Noise is an unwanted and at times a potentially dangerous by-product of virtually every aspect of modern-day life - construction, transportation, power generation, manufacturing, recreation, etc. Today we find that areas previously considered remote, and therefore relatively non-polluted by noise, are now being exposed or are in danger of exposure to various kinds of noise pollution. The effects that increased noise levels will have on wildlife in these areas are virtually unknown. Obviously animals that rely on their auditory systems for courtship and mating behavior, prey location, predator detection, homing, etc., will be more threatened by increased noise than will species that utilize other sensory modalities. However, due to the complex interrelationships that exist among all the organisms in an ecosystem, interference with one species might well affect all the other species.

Substrategy for Construction Noise Abatement
Paul U. Pawlik
August 1981
PDF

This study outlines a national strategy to address construction site noise. After explaining the peculiar nature of construction-site noise and estimating the population exposed to high noise levels, the author presents viable methods to control such noise. It was found that in non-regulatory solutions are the best solution, after analyzing controls using criteria like: the effectiveness in reducing noise exposure, the speed with which effectiveness is obtained, the relative overall cost to contractors, and the proper place of primary responsibility.

Noise in America: Extent of the Noise Problem
Miles Simpson; Robert Bruce
September 1981
PDF

Foreign Noise Research in Machinery/Construction Equipment
December 1977
PDF

Laws and Regulatory Schemes for Noise Abatement
December 1971
PDF

I - Among the more significant findings and conclusions of this Report are the following: - The existing Environmental Noise Regulatory Structure is fragmented in organization and ad hoc in operation. Abatement functions are distributed among Federal, State, and local governmental levels but are largely uncoordinated. - The environmental noise problem context is composed of a wide variety of discrete noise sources and noise environments. Numerous partial efforts have been made to regulate "excessive" or "unnecessary" noise through regulatory schemes directed to abatement at the source, reduction of the effects of noise, and to remedies (by private action) to abate the source or to reduce the effects. - Regulation by the Federal government has been slight. Even with respect to aircraft noise the pace of abatement at the source has been gradual with no short term prospects for substantial relief. - Regulation by the states has for the most part been limited to selected noise sources although some states are now in process of enacting comprehensive noise abatement statutes. - Most noise abatement regulation has taken place at the local level by means of general noise ordinances or ordinances directed to specific noise sources or by the creation of "quiet zones". - Both State and local governmental levels are handicapped in police power regulation of some of the more critical noise sources as a result of preemptive Federal legislation (aircraft noise) or by the threat of impinging upon a strong national interest in maintaining the free flow of interstate commerce. - Very little attention has been given to construction equipment or site noise, or to domestic noise sources. - Enforcement of noise abatement State statutes and municipal noise ordinances has been notoriously spasmodic and uniformly weak; in general, noise control enforcement has been placed on already overburdened State highway patrols or local police officers. - While both the Federal government and State governments have been slow to intervene in the noise regulatory area, certain trends point to a substantially increased level of effort: Federal level: Noise abatement (occupational) of all businesses operating in interstate commerce, Construction site noise abatement under the Construction Safety Act, Highway design to reduce noise effects. State level: Enactment of comprehensive environmental quality statutes, including environmental noise abatement codes, Enactment of specific legislation designed to control the total noise emissions of vehicles and to regulate the noise level operations of vehicles. Local level: Initial efforts by a few cities to enact comprehensive Environmental Noise Codes covering all or most of the serious noise sources and noise environments subject to municipal regulation, Growing sophistication at all governmental levels in noise abatement and control techniques, including the establishment of decibel levels to replace or supplement verbal-subjective standards, Increasing disposition to broaden coverage of noise sources and noise environments by regulatory schemes and to disseminate through labelling or by other means useful information on noise dangers and abatement techniques to the general public. II - Among the more significant continuing problems in the regulation of environmental noise identified by the Report are the following: - Lack of officials and organized public interest in aggressive noise abatement programs. - Conflict of the social interest in noise abatement with other social values such as safety or free expression which are accorded higher priority in the scheme of social interests. - Intensification of the stress between Federal efforts and State/local noise abatement efforts, especially in those regulatory contexts where Federal preemptive legislation is involved. - Continuing difficulty by State or local authorities to regulate noise to the satisfaction of local conditions and needs where such regulation requires control over the noise source or effects of vehicles, equipment, and appliances regularly moving in or operating in interstate commerce. - Continuing difficulty, due to the multiplicity of noise sources and noise environments, of determining what noise sources or effects are to be controlled by what level of government with respect to the setting of standards or to operating procedures, having appropriate regard for the need of uniformity of regulation in some areas and the need for diversity of regulation to suit unique local conditions in others.

The Wall Street Journal - Makers of Construction Gear Altering Strategy to Survive
October 1981
PDF

Noise Source Regulation in State and Local Noise Ordinances
ONAC
February 1975
PDF

This document has been prepared as a planning and reference guide for public administrators of environmental noise control programs. It presents a summary of noise source regulations encompassed in current state laws and local ordinances. Data have been extracted from only those laws and ordinances stipulating specific decibel levels. For the states, the laws summarized are grouped under the headings: motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, land use, and general. For localities, the headings are: motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, intrusive noise sources, stationary noise sources, construction noise, and miscellaneous noise regulations. Because of the many variations among local jurisdictional regulations, no attempt was made to list the specific noise level requirements for recreational vehicles, construction equipment, or land use.

Substrategy for Construction Site Noise Abatement
August 1980
PDF

Draft Final Report - Development of Construction Site Noise Parameters and Levels Data Base
February 1980
PDF

This report presents the results of an investigation to: 1) identify additional pieces of equipment (generic types) not included in the EPA's construction site health and welfare noise impact model; 2) estimate the population density variations resulting from population transfer between the five construction site model geographical regions during the normal daytime work period; 3) evaluate construction activity duration time periods (and the influence of geographical location within the U.S. and of population density on the average construction activity duration); and 4) collect and evaluate available data concerning "typical", or average, noise-reduction values for various building-structure types.

Method for Assessing Costs of Noise Control Requirements in Multifamily Residential and Educational Buildings
Stephen F. Weber; Fred F. Rudder Jr.; Michael J. Boehm
December 1981
PDF

This report presents a methodology developed to measure the costs impacts of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The methdology can be applied to a wide range of noie control requirements. The cost items addressed by this methodology are expected changes in construction costs, the cost of acoustical testing to certify levels of performance, code administration costs, and energy savings due to modifications of the building envelope. The building components considered, which are those most commonly affected by noise control requirements, are dorrs, windows, interior walls, exterior walls, and floor/ceiling assemblies. The basic cost assessment method consists of linear cost estimation equations for most component designs commonly use in educational and multifamily residential buildings. Each equation relates the acoustical performance of the design to its construction cost so that construction costs associated with alternate levels of acoustical performance can be compared. The methodology also includes a cost minimization model useful for selecting the least-cost design for aparticular level of acoustical performance.

Appendix A, Highway Construction Noise Field Measurements, Site 4: I-75 (Florida)
William R. Fuller; Ron Brown
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. Reports (Part D through Part G) contain field data gathered at the field demonstrations at highway construction sites in: Route I-201, California; I-205, Oregon; I-95/I-395, Maryland; and I-75, Florida. They contain noise data on single and multiple pieces of equipment, provide general description of highway site activities, and activity analyses of equipment.

Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Noise Reduction Methods for Construction of Family Housing
P.D. Schomer; F.M. Kessler; R.C. Channud; B.L. Homans; J.C. McBryan
July 1976
PDF

The objective of this work was to obtain the cost/benefit relationships associated with new, quieter construction equipment and/or construction process modification. A workable cost/benefit model was developed for this purpose, but a significantly larger data base must be acquired to apply this model. The initial work effort concentrated on one type of construction - multifamily housing construction. Significant findings included: (1) Construction sitr boundary noise can be significantly reduced by a number of currently available techniques; (2) the use of two quiter machines of a lower capacity in lieu of one standard machine not only costs more but is of questionable noise control value; since the total noise exposure is sometimes greater from two machines than than from one large machine; (3) cost/benefit relationships for estimating purposes can be provided only after a significantly larger data base is obtained.

Noise Source Regulation in State and Local Noise Ordinances
March 1973
PDF

As more noise control regulations are enacted at the state and local levels, it has become more difficult to get an accurate overview of those regulations. What is needed is a planning and reference guide fro public administrators and other officials engaged in developing and implementing noise control programs. To aid in satisfying the need, the Office of Noise Abatement and COntrol of the US Environmental Protection Agency has prepared this document. Presented herein is a summary of noise source regulations encompassed in current state laws and local ordinances. Data has been extracted from only those laws and ordinances stipulating specefic decibel levels. For information on the measurement procedures used, refer to the specific law or ordinance. The state ordinances summarized in this report deal primarily with ground transportation systems. The local ordinances, on the other hand, deal with several different aspects of the noise problem, such as restricting noise from transportation systems and from construction equipment and limiting the noise transmitted across property lines. Because of the many variations among local regulations, no attempt has been made to list the specific noise level requirements contained in local zoning laws and building codes. Because new ordinances will continually be enacted, this publication will be updated at appropriate intervals.

Model Noise Control Provisions for Building Codes and an Imlementation Manual
A.S. Harris; D.S. Keast; N.P. Miller; T.J. Schultz
August 1981
PDF

A model municipal noise control code for buildings has been developed. Also included is an implementation manual for this code. The provisions of the code were developed with three objectives in mind. First, they attempt to minimize the adverse health and welfare effects of intruding noise without requiring the construction of economically unreasonable buildings. Proposed standards for the outdoor reduction of noise levels are achievable with existing materials and construction techniques. Secondly, enforcement for the review of plans and for the acceptance of completed buildings are described. Thirdly, this material should help jurisdictions develop a process of administrationand enforcement that is compatible with existing building code procedures. The model provisions of the proposed building code contain performance standards. These standards are administered and enforced by review of plans and inspections during and after construction of buildings.

Potential Effectiveness of Barriers Toward Reducing Highway Noise Exposure on a National Scale
Kenneth J. Plotkin; Vijay K. Kohii
July 1978
PDF

Calculations have been performed to assess the potential effectiveness of barriers toward reducing noise exposure from the federal-aid highway system. Noise exposure, in terms of the numbers of people exposed to Ldn greater than 60, 65, 70, and 75 dB, from the primary federal-aid system was computed to present traffic flow and projected traffic through the year 2000. Reductions in noise exposure were computed for several scenarios of constructing barriers along urban interstate highways. It was found that significant reduction of noise exposure would require barriers along most of the urban interstate system. The benefit (in terms of reduction of exposed population) per mile of barrier construction was found to be greatest at high noise levels (Ldn greater than or equal to 75 dB). It was concluded that barriers would not provide relief in extremely noisy local applications.

Federal Noise Research - EPA Summary and Assessment
June 1978
PDF

Federal Research, Development and Demonstration Programs in Machinery and Construction Noise
February 1978
PDF

This report is a compilation of the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities of Federal agencies and departments from FY 75 through FY 78 in the area of machinery and construction equipment noise. This report also contains assessments of these activities as well as recommendations for future areas of work.

Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
PDF

This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Information Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose fo the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Fedrally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Construction Noise Control Technology Initiatives
C.W. Patton; W. Benson; J. Kirkland; L. Ronk; B. Rudman; R. Samis; M. Staiano
September 1980
PDF

The objective of this report is to develop construction noise technology initiatives which could be implemented by the Technology and Federal Programs Division, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, U.S. EPA during the period FY1981-FY1985. The report includes background information on the impact of construction noise, actions that have been carried out by Federal, State and local governments to control construction equipment and construction site noise, and a forecast of construction activity for the period 1980-1985. Construction noise technology needs are developed by: (1) analyzing the noise problems and needs of State and local governments reported in several EPA sponsored surveys; (2) interviews with knowledgable persons in the Federal government, and (3) a telephone survey of equipment manufacturers, construction contractors and trade organizations. Technology initiatives are identified based on the analysis of needs. Project descriptions for each initiative are included in the Appendix. The relative priority for implementing each project is determined using a priority ranking scheme. Finding and conclusions based on the expressed needs, the techology initiatives, and the priority for implementing the technology projects are presented.

O'Hare Extension Project - Noise & Vibration Study - Final Report
Steven L. Wolfe
August 1979
PDF

This final report "Noise and Vibration Study for the O'Hare Extension" is composed of three separate reports, I. Noise and Vibration Survey Report, II. Design Recommendations and Evaluations Report, and III. Noise and Vibration Control Design Criteria Report. Section I, Noise and Vibration Survey, includes the results of the environmental noise and vibration survey, noise and vibration levels from existing CTA operations, identification of noise impact, and recommended noise and vibration control measures for wayside noise, station platform noise and ground-borne noise at the O'Hare Airport. Section II, Design Recommendations and Evaluations, includes recommendations on track systems, station acoustics, ancillary transit facilities, noise and air pressure control associated with fan shafts, vent shafts and portals, acoustical barriers and construction noise. Section III, Noise and Vibration Control Design Criteria, presents an outline of noise and vibration control requirements and procedures for use in facility design.

Noise from Construction Equipment and Operations, Building Equipment, and Home Appliances
December 1971
PDF

Federal Agency Noise Control Technology - Research, Development, and Demonstration Projects on Industrial Manufacturing, Mining and Construction Equipment During the Fiscal Year 1980
July 1980
PDF

The scope of this report is limited to research, development, and demonstration of technology of industrial manufacturing, mining, and construction equipment to control occupational and environmental noise, and the report consists of descriptions of projects of Federal agencies that fall within this scope. Only projects that were active, recently completed, or impending as of January 1980 and reported by the Federal agencies are described, and only publications that appeared in 1978, 1979, or 1980 are listed in the bibliography.

University of Southampton - Institute of Sound and Vibration Research - On The Prediction of Oil Layer Damping on Plates
L.C. Chow; R.J. Pinnington
May 1986
PDF

High damping of machinery panels can be achieved using a sandwich construction consisting of an attached plate sandwiching a layer of fluid filled porous material. The vibration of the plate pumps the fluid laterally at high velocities, resulting in energy loss due to the fluid viscosity. Loss factors greater than 0.1 can be achieved with this layered configuration. However, if the gap is filled with the high viscosity fluid alone, the losses are very low. The ratio of the fluid dynamic viscosity and its density is the controlling parameter on the level of the losses. High loss factors are possible only if the fluid viscosity cna be increased by many orders of magnitude for liquids. The damping over the whole frequency range above and below the excited plate critical frequency is measured and compared with prediction. The agreement in results is good. The layered configurations are so strongly coupled that the loss factor measured onot te excited and the attached plates are the same.

Highway Construction Noise: Measurement, Prediction and Mitigation
Jerry A. Reagan; Charles A. Grant
PDF

In early 1976, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiated a two-part program designed to study, evaluate and provide guidance in the area of construction noise. Part one was a short-range effort to prepare a manual for use by highway oriented groups and individuals in coping with construction noise during the various stages of project development. The manual would be a state-of-the-art review dealing with measurement, prediction and mitigation. Part two was the sponsorship of a workshop on the mitigation of construction noise. The purpose of the workshop was to develop long-range strategies for controlling construction noise. This manual represents the completion of part one of the program. This manual does not represent FHWA policy. It is an attempt to summarize the rapidly evolving technology in controlling and mitigating construction noise. This manual represents a logical starting point into the evaluation and control of highway construction noise. Users of this manual are encouraged to update this material as better information becomes available.

Noise Source Regulations in State and Local Noise Ordinances
Vijay K. Kohli
August 1979
PDF

The Noise Control Act of 1972 authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide technical assistance to States and local communities to facilitate development and implementation of their environmental noise control programs. To insure that the EPA technical assistance program is responsive to needs of States and local communities, EPA periodically updates a summary of State and local noise regulations. This document updates EPA 550/9-75-020, entitled "Noise Source Regulations in State and local Ordinances", February 1975. It is prepared as a planning and reference guide for State and local officials engaged in the development and implementation of environmental noise control programs. The information included in this report is taken largely from noise ordinances submitted to EPA as part of the response to the 1977-78 Environmental Noise COntrol Program Survey, but is supplemented by other source material available at the time of writing. No attempt has been made to solicit copies of ordinances from states or communities not included in the survey. Therefore, the information contained in this report is not all-inclusive. For further information, the reader should refer to specific laws or ordinances. The State laws summarized in this report are arranged under the following headings: -Motor Vehicles (or Self-Propelled Vehicles), -Recreational Vehicles, -Land Use. The local ordinances are presented under the following headings: -Motor Vehicles (or Self-Propelled Vehicles), -Recreational Vehicles, -Land Use, -Construction, -Intrusive Sources.

Final Report - Construction Site Activity
Larry A. Ronk; Jeffery Broe; Mary Henschel
September 1978
PDF

This report presents results of the current project to characterize construction site activity. The purpose is to develop an updated data base for computing the health and welfare impacts of construction equipment noise on the total U.S. population. Key data elements compiled include: 1) construction equipment A-weighted noise levels at 50 feet and 2) typical construction site sizes according to site type, surrounding average population density and geographic location within the U.S. Other data compiled relate to: 1) construction equipment usage and noise emission characteristics, 2) construction site demographic data and boundary noise level measurements and 3) construction equipment operator populations and operator's daily noise exposure times...

Method for Assessing Benefits of Airborne Noise Isolation Requirements in Residential and Educational Buildings
Fred F. Rudder Jr.
April 1983
PDF

Interim Report by Federal City Council Task Force on National Airport
June 1980
PDF

In January, 1980, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Goldschmidt proposed operating rules for National Airport which would sharply limit its growth, reduce noise, alter the mix of aircraft, eliminate late night operations, and possibly increase the number of cities served. The purpose of these rules and the accompanying environmental impact assessment was to define operating limits which will allow master planning for physical improvement of the Airport's facilities. The Federal City Council offered to play a facilitating role in bringing about some consensus on the Airport's future. Since early this year, a Task Force of forty Council members has been involved in an intensive examination of the issues and options. More than two dozen meetings have been held with governmental officials and representatives of citizen groups, private aircraft owners and operators, and airline organizations. Orientation visits have been made to the three major regional airports and 900 pages of background material have been reviewed. The Task Force has focused on the proposed rules, preliminary plans for physical redevelopment and financeing alternatives. As a result of this review, the Task Force believes the FAA's proposed rules for National Airport's operation reasonably accommodate the competing interests at stake - significantly reducing noise while setting the stage for more convenient passenger service. A passenger ceiling should be set somewhere between 16 and 18 million passengers annually. National should primarily serve short haul traffic from relatively nearby cities. When two flights are competing for the same slot, the shorter flight should have priority. To maintain the new annual limit in the face of increasing demand, the frequency of major airline flights should be reduced through cutbacks in slot allocations and admittance of wide-bodied aircraft, after demonstration of their ability to operate safely at National under adverse weather conditions. Commuter aircraft, generally serving close-in communities, should be awarded up to seven additional slots on an as-needed basis. Construction of additional general aviation facilities at Dulles should be expedited and shared use of existing facilities at Andrews AFB, Davison Airfield, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center should be explored. The proposed 10:30 p.m. closing time for all aircraft operations should be implemented, although scheduled aircraft that depart in time to land at National before 10:30 but are delayed enroute should be allowed to land. The Task Force believes the perimeter rule is probably no longer necessary because airplane limitations, the annual passenger limit, fewer airline slots, and a short haul preference rule - if adopted - will serve to limit traffic in to the Airport. If one is to be kept, however, the existing 650 mile perimeter with seven grand-fathered exemptions is a reasonable one, as demand sometimes already exceeds the number of available slots. Improvements in the physical condition of Airport facilities to better accommodate both aircraft and passengers should be made as quickly as possible, with costs recovered over time through user charges.

Code of Current Practices for Enforcement of Noise Ordinances
F.M. Kessler; M. Alexander
July 1981
PDF

This report provides communities interested in adopting a noise control ordinance with measurement procedures for effective enforcement. The first segment discusses the theory of sound, terminology, and computation methods. Vibration measurement and criteria are also presented. The second segment of this report presents the current measurement procedures. Noise and vibration measurement procedures are presented for stationary noise sources. These include statistical sampling and steady sound techniques, both weighted and octave band. Both roadway (passby) and stationary sound level measurement methods are provided for automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. Sound measurement procedures are also included for buses, construction equipment, model vehicles, recreation vehicles, and refuse collection vehicles. Sketches of the measurement sites and forms for reporting measured data are provided for each measurement procedure.

A Guide to Airborne, Impact, and Structureborne Noise Control in Multifamily Dwellings
PDF

Under the sponsorship of the Federal Housing Administration Technical Studies Program, the National Bureau of Standards has developed and prepared this Guide for the benefit of architects, designers, contractors, builders, and housing officials to assist them in meeting the growing public demand for control of the building noise problem, particularly in multifamily dwellings. Surveys have established that the most common complaint among apartment dwellers where noise is involved is its transmission from one apartment to another within the building. Typical noise sources are television, radio, stereo, occupant activity, plumbing fixtures, electro-mechanical equipment, and household appliances. To minimize the annoying disturbance caused by these sources, architects must have a general knowledge of the principles of noise transmission and be able to apply proper design techniques in order to provide effective controls. With these objectives in mind, this Guide incorporates a broad range of criteria appropriate for isolating airborne, impact, and structure-borne noise associated with residential construction. Sound classifications represented in the most common types of building construction are identified. Also included are summaries of a number of foreign codes now in existence. This Guide incorporates previous impact noise research preferred by Bolt Beranek and Newman and sponsored by FHA. The FHA Minimum Property Standards will reference this NBS Guide.

Control of Snowmobile Noise Volume 1 Technology and Cost Information
Bruce A. Davy; Ben H. Sharp
June 1974
PDF

This document contains information useful for the development of noise emission standards for snowmobiles. Topics covered include information on snowmobile construction, noise characteristics of models currently on the market, and noise reduction techniques and costs necessary to achieve specified noise levels,

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - New Wheel and Crawler Tractors - Noise Emission Standards for Construction Equipment
July 1977
PDF

Foreign Noise Research in Machinery and Construction Equipment
December 1977
PDF

True-Integrating Environmental Noise Monitor and Sound Exposure Level Meter - Volume II: Wiring and Parts Lists, Parts Layouts, and Schematics
A.J. Averbuch; P.D. Schomer; M.W. Weisberg
June 1979
PDF

This report provides the complete hardware construction of the CERL environmental noise monitor. Included are: (1) a task block diagram of the unit, (2) a parts list and diagram of the front panel, (3) a parts list and diagram of the power supply circuit, (4) a list of the back plane wiring, (5) parts list, layout, and scematics of the PC boards, and (6) wiring list for cables and connectors.

Sound Insulation of Wall, Floor, and Door Constructions
Raymond D. Berendt; George E. Winzer
November 1964
PDF

Method for Assessing Costs of Noise Control Requirements in Multifamily Residential and Educational Buildings
Stephen F. Weber; Fred F. Rudder Jr.; Michael J. Boehm
December 1981
PDF

This report presents a methodology developed to measure the cost impacts of acoustical performance requirements for new buildings. The methodology can be applied to a wide range of noise control requirements. The cost items addressed by this methodology are expected changes in construction costs, the cost of acoustical testing to certify levels of performance, code administration costs, and energy savings due to modifications of the building envelope. The building components considered, which are those most commonly affected by noise control requirements, are doors, windows, interior walls, exterior walls, and floor/ceiling assemblies. The basic cost assessment method consists of linear cost estimation equations for most component designs commonly used in educational and multifamily residential buildings. Each equation relates the acoustical performance of the design to its construction cost so that construction costs associated with alternate levels of acoustical performance can be compared. The methodology also includes a cost minimization model useful for selecting the least-cost design for a particular level of acoustical performance.

A Study of Soundproofing Requirements for Residences Adjacent to Commercial Airports
Ben H. Sharp; Vijay K. Kahii; Eric Stusnick
August 1981
PDF

As part of an overall systems program being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to examine options for the reduction of aircraft noise impact, this study was conducted to estimate the costs of soundproofing dwellings within the Ldn 65 noise contours at major U.S. commercial airports. The goal of the study is to achieve an interior sound level of Ldn 45 dB. The nation was divided into eleven regions, each one incorporating areas of similar dwelling construction. In this way, it was possible to specify the noise reduction of dwellings on a regional basis, taking local features into account. To determine the distribution of dwelling types in each region, and to obtain detailed information on local dwelling characteristics that affect noise reduction, field surveys were conducted at one airport in each region. The airports surveyed were selected on the basis that the local dwelling characteristics were representative of the respective region. The information obtained was used to identify the types of modifications most suitable for soundproofing dwellings in each region. The selection of soundproofing modifications required for construction elements in each dwelling category in each region was madeusng a computerized cost optimization procedure to achieve the interior noise criteria at the least cost. The costs for adding a ventilation system, required to replace the natural ventilation that occurs through leaks in the dwelling structure, were then added to the costs for structural modifications to provide an overall cost for soundproofing.

Traffic Noise Analysis - An Intensive Seminar on State-of-the-Art Methods for Analyzing Traffic Noise and Preparing a Noise Study Report
Louis F. Cohn
PDF

The seminar will utilize the latest computer tools available anywhere for traffic noise studies, including several developed at Vanderbilt University. The Vanderbilt computer facilities will be used by the attendees in an interactive fashion, to provide hands on experience. Also, the controversial I-440 urban freeway, currently under construction in Nashville, will be the focus of several workshop and field sessions.

Appendix D, Highway Construction Noise Field Measurements, Site 4: I-75 (Florida)
William R. Fuller; Ron Brown
June 1981
PDF

This study investigated the noise associated with highway construction activities. It involved the identification and examination of: highway construction activities, noise characteristics associated with highway construction activities, availability of highway construction noise abatement measures, demonstration of construction site noise abatement measures, and development of a computer-based model for use as a tool to predict the noise impact of construction activities and to plan mitigation measures. The model was developed for use on the FHWA computer (IBM 360). A total of seven reports were prepared in this study and have been released fro public distribution. Reports (Part D through Part G) contain field data gathered at the field demonstrations at highway construction sites in: Route I-201, California; I-205, Oregon; I-95/I-395, Maryland; and I-75, Florida. They contain noise data on single and multiple pieces of equipment, provide general description of highway site activities, and activity analyses of equipment.

The Balance Sheet Technique: Volume II: Preconstruction Review of Airports: Review of State Regulations, Projects Affected and Resource Requirements
Sarah J. LaBelle; Dorathea A. Seymour; Albert E. Smith; Michael Harbour
February 1977
PDF

This volume of the report contains the results of several surveys and analyses to ascerrtain the effect of airport indirect source review (ISR) requirements. This material is all dated, in the sense that the survey of state activities and the forecast of proposed construction are accurate as of the date the survey was completed. The material does shec light on the magnitude of the problems posed by indirect source review of airports. In conjunction with the test case results presented in Volume I of this report, a fairly clear picture of the effect of such regulation emerges. The regulation would in fact cause review of 30-50 major airport projects that may not be reviewed under any other program. The airports are significant regional sources of hydrocarbon emissions, and become more so over the ten year planning horizon.

Engineers Core Curriculum - Highway Traffic Noise
PDF

Numerous studies indicate that the most pervasive sources of noise in our environment today are those associated with transportation. Traffic noise tends to be the dominant noise source in our urban as well as rural environment. In response to the problem associated with traffic noise, FHPM 7-7-3, "Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise," establishes a requirement for a noise study for any proposed Federal or Federal-aid project. This regulation specifies procedures that State transportation agencies must follow in preparing assessments for highway noise for proposed projects. The purpose of this document is to provide a simple and concise discussion on how to implement these procedures. Two individual 1-week long training courses are available for instructing FHWA field staffs and State highway agencies (SHA) in the detailed technical methodologies for analyzing and abating traffic noise impacts. This document is intended to provide information necessary for FHWA Regional and Division office staffs' reviews of SHA noise analyses.

Highway Traffic Noise
September 1980
PDF

In recent years, highway traffic noise-the unpleasant, unwanted siunds generated on our Nation's streets and highways-has been of increasing concern both to the public and to local, State, and Federal officials. At the same time, modern acoustical technology has been providing better ways to lessen the adverse impacts of highway traffic noise. The purpose of this pamphlet is to explain some of these acoustical techniques which are now being employed by government agencies, highway planners and designers, construction engineers, and private developers.

National Roadway Traffic Noise Exposure Model - Part IV: Programming User's Manual; Level 1
March 1979
PDF

The User's Manual for the National Roadway Traffic Noise Exposure Model consists of two volumes: Level I, which describes the system and provides basic information for regular users of the system; and Level II, which describes in detail how the system works. As described in Section 4 of the Level I Manual, a regular user may change the Regulation Scenario, time stream net and other control strings. In addition to running the Model, the system also provides for easy data file construction and a comprehensive job record system, including an interrogator. The Level I Manual is the "how-to" manual; the aim is to allow one to use the model with minimum pick-up time. The Level II Manual contains a detailed description of the system, and consists of nine sections: Section 1 is this Scope of the Manuals, Sections 2 through 7 are the documentation ofthe Min Code, and Sections 8 and 9 are the documentation of the Support Procedure System (SPS). Section 8 contains a detailed description of the inner workings of the SPS, including full I/O specifications for the procedures and default values. Many error messages are also explained.

Control of Motorcycle Noise Volume 1 Technology and Cost Information
Steven R. Skale; Jon H. Sharp
June 1974
PDF

This document contains information useful for the development of noise emission standards for motorcycles. Topics covered include information on motorcycle construction, noise characteristics of models currently on the market, and noise reduction techniques and costs necessary to achieve specified noise levels

Sound Insulation of Wall and Floor Constructions
February 1955
PDF