elculations of

NoiseLevels
CalculationOf NoiseLevels

Sound Pressure Levels

The soundpressurelevel(SPL)at a receiverpositionis govemedby the sound
powerlevel (SWL)of the soundsource,the distance(r) betweenthe sourceand
receiver,the roomabsorption(i.e.,the roomconstantR), and the positionthe
soundsourceis locatedin the roomor soace.
A sourcein free spacewill radiatespherically but in practicethis
in all directions,
situationis rarelyfound.Moreofienthe sourceof soundis situatedon the ground
and consequently twiceas muchsoundintensityis radiatedin a given direction
(i.e. that reflectedoff the groundis addedto that alreadyradiatingoutwards).
Likewise,if a sourceis locatedat the junctionof a floor and wall,.fqqrtimesas
much intensityis radiated.This phenomenon is takeninto accountby meansof
the directivityfactor:Thefigurenextpageshowsan illustration of possiblesource
locationand the consequence of soundincreasedueto thisdirectivityfactor.
Soundpressurelevelsare computedfromthe followingequation:
(
SpL = SWL+ .10togI g * o d B
4 n r z -- R

usingmetricunits.

Q= 4 )
sPL=SWL*rOrogl * l+t0 dB
\ 4nrz R )

usingimperial
units.

where SPL = SoundPressurelevel,dB

SWL = SoundPowerLevel, dB
Factor(1,2,4,8)
Directivity
r Distance
betweensourceandreceiver
(metres
in metricunits,ft ih'imperial
units)
Roomconstant(Sabinsm2,or ftzfor respective
units)

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CalculationOf NoiseLevels

Tnere will be a point (called the room radius) where both the direct and
reverberantcomponents will be equal.Thisis when

o 4
4rr2 R
,
and thereforeit can be deducedthatthe roomradiusis equalto

This distanceis importantas it gives information as to whetner.ihesound

pressurelevel(noise)at a receiveris mainlydue to a directsoundpropagation
(nearfield) or due to the reverberantsound(farfield).Noisereductionmeasures
by room absorptiontreatment(see a later chapter)for examplewill only be
effectivein the reverberant soundfield.and not in the nearfield.

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CalculationOf NoiseLevels

DirectivityFactors
oB to be

At the Eilge
in lhe fvlidole
Belween Two
Idges.

, Ar i h e C o r ne r
of the Room
(ie ot Corner
^ i : : d ^ r c l
J J , v t u J '

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 CalculationOf Noise Levels

Use Of A Calculation Chart For

Sound PressureLevel Estimation
To avoidthe necessityfor calculation
the expressionshavebeencombinedinto a
chart wherebythe relativesound pressurelevel can be determinedfrom a
knowledgeof the room volume,its reverberation time or room constant,the
distancefrom and directivity.
of the source.The chart is appendedin the next
page.

ProceduresFor UsingTheSPL Calculation

Chart
a. Lookup the equipment(soundsource)manufacturer's datasheetto obtainthe
soundpowerlevels(SWL)(seealsosupplementary notesbelow).Alternatively
requestthis data(SwL) fromthe vendor,or makean estimatebasedon
equipment parameters.
operational
b. Confirmthe position wherethissoundsourceis located,and hencethe
directivityfactor(seeearliernotes).
c. Confirmthe distance(in metres)betweenthe sourceand receiverpositionof
interest.
d. Lookup fromthe factoryor roomdrawings,or alternativeryby physical
measurementS, the dimensions of theroom,buitdingor spaceof interest.
Calculatethe totalroomvolume(in m3)withtheabovedimensions.
RoomVolume= RoomLengthx RoomWidthx RoomHeight
e. Calculatethe RoomConstant (R),
As seenin the earliernotesthe RoomConstant is calculated
fromthe room
surfaceareasmultiplied by the averageroomabsorption coefficient,i.e.,
Sa
-\=
1-d
whereS = the totalsurfaceareaof the exposedsurfaceof the room,m2
ct-- the averagesoundabsorption-coefficient
( see previousexamplesfor moredetails)

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GalculationOf NoiseLevels

Alternativelyif at all possible,obtainthe reverberation timeof the roomby

measurements; or asktheArchitect or Consulting Engineer who designedthe
roomor factorythis information (whichunfortunately is not forthcomingin most
cases).
f. You can now proceedto the calculation chart.
g. Lookup the verticalaxis(ordinate) showing"Directivity Facto/',and withthe
factordetermined in item(b)above,drawa horizontal lineuntilit meetsthe
inclinedline representing the distancefromsource.
At the pointof intersection.of the "directivity
Facto/'lineand the "distance"line
drawa verticallineupwardsthe chartuntilit meetsthe line (yetto be
determined)originating fromthe righthandsideof the chart.
(seeitemh below).
h. Drawa verticallinefromthe axisrepresenting the volumeof the roomuntil it
intersectswiththe linerepresenting the roomconstant(horizontal lineon the
righthandverticalaxis)or the reverberation time(inclinedline).
andfollowthe slopewherenecessary,
i. Traceout horizontally of the line
obtainedin (h) aboveuntilit intersects
withtheverticallineobtainedin item
(g).
Readoff the lefthandverticalaxisthe valueon theaxis(i.e.,valueto be
deductedfromthe soundpowerlevelof the sourceto obtainthe sound
pressurelevel).
k. Deductthe valueobtainedin (j) abovefromthe soundpowerlevelto obtainthe
soundpressurelevels.The procedure is validfor dB(A)computations as well
as octavebandcomputations usingthe necessary octavebandvalues.

Note:
i. Somemanufacture/s datasheetsdo notgivethe soundpowerlevels,and
insteadquotea soundpressurelevel.ln thiscasecheckif the datasheet
containsinformation on the measurement fromwhichthe given
conditions
sound pressure levelswereobtained (typicallymeasuring
distancefrom
source,and Roomconstant, or whetherthe measurementswerein
"Free-Field").
lf sufficient is given,youcanworkbackwards
information to
obtainthe soundoowerlevels.

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GalculationOf NoiseLevels

ii. Be alerton the soundpoweror soundpressurelevelreferencevalues,as

somemanufacturers or countrieshadso chosento use a non-standard
referencevalue.
iii. For outdoornoisesources,the sameprocedureis usedexceptthatthe room
'charaoteristics
is givenby the RoomConstantR = coline.
timesnotgivenin the Chart,the
iv. For roomvolumesor reverberation
reverberant soundpressure
levelbelowthe soundpowerlevelmay be
calculatedfrom:

SP L = S WL - 1 0 l o g ,o V+ 10 logr oR,
+'14 dB

(dimensionsin metres)

S P L = S W L - 1 0 l o g l o V+ 1 0 l o g , o R+, 2 9 dB

(dimensionsin ft)

where

V = Roomvolume

R, = Reverberationtime

lnstituteOf NoiseAnd Vibration.UniversitiTeknoloqiMalavsia

o

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o
D i f f e r e n cb
e e t w e e nS P La n d S W L o f S o u r c ed B

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$ . ql
r-l o
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q,
o d N
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o

i s o
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(n

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(EI
cn

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6

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nr
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-|_ l-r
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CalculationOf NoiseLevels

1:
Example

c
3
o
)
= 20
!

30 5000
3 l0 Q00
20 000

0irectivity Factor Q

)0 1 00 0 0
lRoom Volumeml

2 3 4 5 7 10 20 30 40 50 70 100
Distancefrom Soutce in Metres

Considera machineof soundpowerlevel90 dB situatedon the floorand against

the wall of a smallfactoryspaceof 3000m3volume,wrtha reverberation
time of 2
seconds. Whatwill be the soundpressurelevel5m fromthe source?

Enterthe graphon the distanceaxisat 5m andnse obliquelyuntilthe intersection

of the directivity factorordinateequalto 4. The verticallinefromthis pointrises
untilit intersects the horizontal linefromthe right,whichitselfhas originatedfrom
the intersection of the verticalordinatefrom3000m3and the obliqueordinatefor
2sec. At the point whichthe vertical(fromdistanceand directivity) and horizontal
(fromroomcharacteristics) linesconverge, -l
read sdB on the relativesound
pressurelevelscale.The resulting soundpressurelevelat 5m is therefore90dB-
1 s d B= 7 5 d B .

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 Of NoiseLevels
Galculation

Example2: A TypicalSituation
A factoryof dimensions40 m lengthx 20 m widthx 8 m height(as seen in an
earlierexample)was constructed with sheetmetaldeckingroof and walls, and
with a concretefloor.A new exhaustfan is proposedto be locatedat the end
cornerof the factory.The nearestworkplace(receiverposition)is 4m away.The
existingbackgroundnoise levelsin the factoryat this workplaceis 88 dB(A).
What is the estimatedroise level at this positionwhen the fan becomes
ooerational?
The fan soundpowerlevelis givenin the manufacture/s
datasheetas 99 dB(A).

Procedures:
a. Determine R, for usein the soundpressurelevelca'icutations.
RoomConstant,
Roomfinishappearedto be fairlyhard.
U s ea = 0 . 1 0

Totalsurfaceareaof room,S
= Totalareaof floor,roofandwall

= ( 4 0 x 2 0 ) + ( 4 0x 2 0 ) + 2 ( 4 0 x 8 ) + 2 ( 2 O x B )

= 2560m2

Sd
R o o m C o n s t a nRt ,=
1 -cr

2 5 6 0x 0 . 1 0
( 1 - 0 . 10 )
= 284 m2

b. RoomVolumeV = RoomLengthx Roomwidthx Roomheight

=40x20x8=6.400m3

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CalculationOf NoiseLevels

c. Establishthe directivityFactorQ

Noisesource(fan)is to be locatedat the cornerof room,

Q = 8 (fromFiguregivenin the notes)

distanceof noisesourceto receiver

d. Establish

Distanceof noisesourceto the nearestreceiver. r = 4m

e. Lookup the SPL Calculation

Chart.

Locateand trackout the intersection

linesas shownbelowto obtainthe value
of -13 dB (LossFactor)to be addedto the soundpowerlevel

5
l0
20
a n !
o

100 3

)
B 2
E
'^^^:
) zooo3.
5000
I
t0 000
20 000

0 r r r c t r v r t v F a c t o rO

5 .7 I 2 3 4 5 7 r0 ?0 30405070r00
from Soure in Metres
Distance

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CalculationOf NoiseLevels

f. Computethe soundpressurelevel(SPL)usinginformation
obtainedfrom(e)
dataon soundpowerlevel(SWL)
above,and the manufacture/s
SPL = SWL + LossFactor
SWL = 99 dB (A) frommanufacturer's
data
SPL= 99 + (-13)= 86 dB(A)

The noisereachingtheworke/spositionroomthe proposed

fan (alonewill be
86 dB(A)

g.Determine
and assessthefinalnoiselevelat theworkplace
contribut"O
Oytn"
newnoisesourceandthe existingbackground noise.

Existingnoiselevels = 88 dB(A)as measured

Newsourcecontribution= 86,dB(A)

Do a decibelarithmetic
to b-stablish
the newtotaloverallnoiselevel

Differencebetweenfwo noiselevels = 88 - 86
= 2 dB(A)

Amountto be addedto thehighernoiselevelis 3 dB(A)

(fromchartor tablein earliernotes)

.'. Totalnoiselevel = 88 + 3
= 21 dB(A)

It doesappearthat someformof noisecontrolwill be necessary for the proposed

fan (withnoisereduction of at least6 dB)suchthatthe noiselevelat the worker's
positionshailnot be increased withtheoperation
of thisfan.

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