UNIT 4

Environmental Noise Control

Noise sources, air borne and structure borne sound, NC curve,
Propagation of noise of mechanical operation and impact noise,
sound transmission through wall and partition, Vibration isolation –
control of mechanical noise, floating floor, wall, ceiling treatment.

Design Principles-
reduction of noise at the source, Reduction of noise near the source.
Application of sound absorption material, Reduction of noise by
Town Planning and Regional Planning consideration.
Noise Pollution[Environmental Noise]
1. Definition of Noise
• It is any unwanted, disturbing or harmful sound that impairs or
interferes with hearing, causes stress, hinders concentration and work
efficiency, or causes accidents.

• It can also be defined as displeasing human or machine created sound

that disrupts the activity or happiness of human or animal life.

• The sensation of loudness is related to the intensity of the energy

carried by the sound waves and is measured in units of decibels (dB).
• Sound pressure becomes damaging at about 85 dB and painful at
around 120 dB At 180 dB it can kill.
• Human ears can take sound up to about 60dB without damage or
hearing loss.
2. Sources of noise pollution

The source of most noise worldwide is

1. Transportation systems, motor vehicle noise, but also including air
craft noise and rail noise.
2. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-
side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution
in the residential area.
3. Office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, appliances,
power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems.
4. The sound of an automobile is about 70 dB; the sound of a jet air
craft taking off, about 120dB; sound level in the interior of a home is
about 45 dB So, prolonged exposure to sound levels above 85dB can
cause permanent hearing damage.
5. Noise in the range of 50-60 dB is sufficient to interfere with sleep,
producing a feeling of fatigue upon awakening.
3. Environmental effects

1. Can have a detrimental effect on animals by causing stress,

increasing risk of mortality by changing the delicate balance in
predator/prey detection and avoidance.
2. Interfering with animals use of sounds in communication especially
in relation to reproduction and in navigation.

3. Can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing to animals.

4. Very loud noise may affect plant growth indirectly because it
produces vibrations that shake the plants.
4. Environmental effects of noise depends on

1. Total energy

2. Sounds pitch

3. Frequency

4. Time pattern and,

5. Length of exposure to the sound.

5. Noise levels of common sounds

Pain 130 dB
120 dB
Aircraft taking off 110 dB
Loud Rock Music 100 dB
Semi Truck (short term hazard) 90 dB
Jack Hammer 80 dB
Traffic (occupational limit) 70 dB
Conversation 60 dB
Background office noise 50 dB
Windmill 40 dB
30 dB
Quiet bedroom 20 dB
10 dB
Threshold of hearing 0 dB
6. Noise and Noise Control

1. Noise and People

Noise is unwanted sound. It can not be completely eliminated but its intensity
can be reduced by proper treatment, such as

1. Proper design, insulation and maintenance

2. Placing massive structure around the sound source to reflect sound before it
reaches the receiving-room.
3. Using interference and resonance attenuators
4. Anti-vibration mountings
5. Flexible belows
6. Anti-vibration hangers
7. Acoustic louvers
8. Layers of soft resilient materials on floors to isolate vibrating, noisy
equipments from conveying vibration to structures. Such prefabricated
mounts and bases are commercially available.
9. Make conduit and pipe-connections “flexible” and “floppy”. Isolate them
from main structure by resilient materials and make them air-tight.
6. Noise and Noise Control

2. Noise Pollution and People

Noise pollution creates obstruction for carrying out normal, desired activities in
three ways

1. Physically E.g. Sleep Interferences

2. Psychologically E.g. Annoyance

3. Physiologically E.g. Health Hazards

6. Noise and Noise Control

2.1 Physically E.g. Sleep Interferences

1. Delayed onslaught i.e. delay in falling asleep

2. Fatigue (a) Walking in sleep

(b) Loss in efficiency in normal working

(c) Disturbed sleep (Noise above 50 dB)

Rhythmic-noise can be tolerated but intermittent noise with „sharp peaks‟ has
pronounced effects.
6. Noise and Noise Control

2.2 Psychologically E.g.Annoyance

1. Sudden changes in noise level (above 60-70 dB) makes concentration on

the work at hand.

2. The intensity, spectral complexity i.e. different frequencies of sound,

duration etc. contributes to annoyance.

3. The degree depends upon the individual and also upon the age group.
6. Noise and Noise Control

2.3 Physiologically E.g. Health Hazards

1. Prolonged exposure to noise of low level can lead to degeneration of “ ear cells”.
High level can lead to structural changes, called “Acoustical Trauma”.
2. Sensitivity of the ear decreases due to continuous exposure to noise from air-port,
Heavy traffic, Working with noisy machines etc.
3. The middle-ear is damaged by noise level above 120 dB, when the ear-drum can be
ruptured.

4. Abrupt changes in sound pressure is also dangerous (e.g. Explosions, Firing etc.)
5. The inner ear is sensitive to even low-levels if these are prolonged. Working for 8
hrs. per day in a factory with 80 dB lvl. may lead to „Deaf-ness‟.
6. Noise and Noise Control

2.3 Physiologically E.g. Health Hazards

6.An exposure to noise of 100 dB (frequency range of 50 to 5000 Hz) gives
i) Shrinking of visual field.
ii) Faulty judging of depth
iii) Less precision
iv) Decrease in speed of colour perception
7. Noise interacts with cardio-vascular-system, have harmful effects above 85 dB.
i) Worker with high B.P. indicates changes in heart beats
ii) Changes in performance
iii) Loss in vigilance
iv) Slow intellectual development in children
8.WHO recommends interior night-time-sound-level around 35 dB. However a low
level back-ground noise level is desirable, instead of complete silence, for comfort.
9. Slow noise level effects manifest, as
i) Circulatory defects
ii) Digestive, metabolic, neurological, cardiac and psychological defects.
6. Noise and Noise Control

Measures to control noise effects

1. Use of barriers of better STC (Sound transmission class)

2. Isolation by floating floors

3. Prevention of flanking and leaks

4. Sound proof doors and windows

5. Construction, keeping separation between sensitive and noisy area

7. How can we reduce noise pollution
1. Ear Protection
2. Modifying noisy activities and devices
3. Shielding noisy devices or processes
4. Shielding workers or other persons from the noise
5. Moving noisy operations or machinery away from people
6. Using anti-noise (a technology that cancels out one noise with another).
7. Use of noise barriers
8. Limitation of vehicle speeds,
9. Limitation of heavy duty vehicles.
10. Use of traffic controls that smooth vehicle flow to reduce braking and acceleration
11. Aircraft noise can be reduced to some extent by design of quieter jet engines,
12. Redesign of industrial equipment, shock mounting assemblies and physical barriers
in the workplace.
13. Research now shows that plants can also help to reduce background noise levels
inside buildings by up to 5 decibels
14. Interior plants can absorb, diffract or reflect background noise in buildings, thereby
making the environment more comfortable for the occupants [especially plants with
lots of small leaves]
15. Law enforcements.
8. Learning to protect yourself from Noise Pollution

1. Always wear hearing protection when working around loud noises

2. Take breaks when working in noisy areas

3. Limit exposure to loud music

4. Have regular hearing tests for any loss of hearing

5. keep indoor plants

9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
1. Perfect silence can not be tolerated.
2. It proves to be highly disturbing.Some back-ground sound in the
form of „Acoustical perfume‟ is not only acceptable but also
desirable.
3. It is privacy rather than silence that we usually want.
4. External speech-sound do not particularly disturb us until they
become distinct enough to carry information.
5. On the basis of extensive research in human responses and
performances a set of contours, similar to that of equal to loudness
contours, have been developed.
6. These contours are termed as „Noise Criteria Curves‟.
7. These specify the maximum level, in the frequency band, which will
be acceptable.
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
8. The acoustical environment for activity spaces can be broadly
specified as
• Quiet area : testing audiometry, recording studio, Bedroom, Study-
room etc. having NC range 15-20 dB.
• Hearing : Drama Cinema, Lecture-room, Assembly Hall, Court-room,
Conference- room, Residences, Hospitals etc. hving NC range 20-30
dB.
• Normal Activity Area: offices, class room, Library etc. having NC
range 30-35 dB.
• Moderate Activity Area: Laboratory, corridor, shops, etc NC range 35-
45dB.
• Noisy area: Hotels, Kitchen, Bank, garrage etc. NC range 45-50 dB.
• Very Noisy Area: Air Port, Railway, Factory, Parking, Market etc. NC
range 55-75dB.
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
9. Human ear can tolerate high intensity sounds of low frequencies and
low intensity sound of high frequencies. This tolerance is expressed
by background NC curves. This tolerance is depends upon both
sound pressure and frequencies and is derived from experience with
spaces intended for different functions.
10. NC curves specify acceptable sound levels at different frequencies
and are based upon the sensitivity of the human ear. Analysis of the
noise is plotted on the top of the standard curves.
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)
9. Noise Criteria (N-C Curves)

1. Noise level in the source room

2. Background noise level in the source room
3. Background noise level in the receiving room
4. Transmitted noise level from the source room to the receiving room
10. Floor ceiling construction for impact isolation and other
flanking cases.
1. Unwanted sound can pass on through air routes and seriously through
inter connecting solid structures.
2. Floor should be treated with resilient materials or properly carpeted
and in stead of flat ceiling to get sound dispersion and diffusion.
3. If possible provide false ceiling so that the air column between false
ceiling and the real, rigid ceiling will provide cushion for sound
absorption.

Enclosure with resilient mount resilient mount with double

enclosure and lining
11. Impact and Structure Born Sound
1. Impact sound includes foot steps, slammed doors and windows,
noisy pipes, vibrating machines etc. This sound results into structure
born sound also.
2. It is necessary to distinguish between air born and impact sound. A
single noisy source will generate both types. Foot steps on a floor
would be heard mainly as impact sound in the room below but it will
be heard as air born in the room above.
3. Impact sound also results into flanking Transmission. These indirect
sound paths can be numerous and complex.
4. For “Impact noise” Use carpeting and resilient tiles to cushion the
impact.
5. These are effective at the middle and high frequencies but low
frequencies can still pass through.
6. Impact noise rating (INR) for flat concrete slab is -17. for concrete
slab with floating floor it is +1 and for concrete slab on steel bar
joists, carpet on foam pad etc, it is +26.
11. Impact and Structure Born Sound

11.1 Choice of Materials

1. For ceiling the materials should not only be absorbent but that which
cuts down sound transmission.
2. For walls and ceiling, perforated mufflers which, allow air movement
but reduce sound transmission.
3. For partitions, use heavy weight materials but of low stiffness. Avoid
materials being both; stiff and light.

11.2 Defence against noise

1. Proper orientation and planning

2. More critical functional rooms be away from noise source.
3. Noise reduction at source.
4. Acoustic plaster are cheaper for noise control in school and offices.
12. Floating floors

1. The insulation of a floor must be maintained at all junctions with the

surrounding walls in order to prevent flanking transmission and
impacts.
2. The separation of the two parts of a floating floor must continue
around all the edges by the use of resilient materials and air tight
plugging, if STC rating needed is above 65 dB, floating floor is must.
1. Floated concrete floor
2. Glass fiber board around perimeter to prevent
flanking at perimeter.
3. 12.5 mm. exterior plywood panels
4. Resilient layer of pre-compressed glass fiber to
have initial deflection of about 15% to allow
floated slab to move while structural slab
remains stationary.
5. Layer of polyethylene on top of ply wood
panels and over inside face of perimeter
insulation board to protect it from moisture.
6. Concrete structural slab
7. Mastic caulking around perimeter.
13. Problems in Multi-storeyed and Multifunctional Buildings
1. Urbanization has forced us to construct such buildings. Such buildings have
serious acoustical problems; such as impact noise, transmitted sounds, lift
transport in addition to external noise.
2. We have to note that we can only try to minimize the noise level to
acceptable limits, In residential flats, we should try to keep less critical
functional spaces; such as kitchen, drawing room, passages etc. along the
lift/ stair-case.
3. Then toilet- bathrooms and at the end our study-room and bedroom. Thus
some isolation of critical area from the noisy area and adjoining flat can be
achieved. Sound flaking, sound transmission by pipe-line connections etc.
can be reduced by proper caulking, using mufflers and absorbents. Main
entry-door to the flat should be heavy and sound leak proof.
4. The partition wall materials for inner room should be of proper STC value.
In the study/ bed room, the best method would be have back ground noise
as suggested by noise criteria. This, called “Acoustic Perfumes”, will help
to give privacy even in noisy area.
5. For a highly confidential and delicate working condition, the space must
have a floating floor, in addition to other noise-reduction-methods.
14. Outdoor barrier for sound control
1. Less critical spaces should face the road side as these spaces act as barrier
for outdoor noise.
2. If possible, dense planting should surround the structure. A single row of
trees does not provide sound insulation because of inter reflections between
the trees. Hence multiple layer closely spaced rows, 50m wide can provide
noise reduction up to 6 dB.
3. Compound wall can also act as a barrier for external noise. When the sound
source is near the barrier wall, height of the wall should begreater.
4. If the distance between the wall and sound is 1m and height of the barrier
wall will be 1.2m. i.e. H > L
Here
H = Height of compound wall
L = Length of the source to compound wall
Sound transmission through wall and partition

Sound Insulation/ Reduction/ Insulation

1. Mass Law
• Greater the mass of partition wall, lesser will be the sound
transmission from the source room to the receiving room.
• Hence denser materials for partition wall is more effective.
• However care has to be taken about cracks, openings, ducts, electrical
cables etc. as these are likely to transmit sound energy.
• The surface area of the partition wall is subjected to alternating
variation in sound pressure. Thus force acts on it,
F= Mass x Acceleration
Hence Acceleration is inversely proportional to Mass. It is also inversely
proportional to Frequency.
1. Mass Law

• The Sound Reduction Index (SRI) increase by 6 dB with each

doubling of Mass or Frequency.

SRI in dB = LP1 – LP2 – 10log A/S

Here
LP1 = Sound pressure level in source room
LP2 = Sound pressure level in Receiving room
A = Absorption in the receiving room
S = Surface area of the partition wall

T = Et / Ei
Here
T = Sound Transmission coefficient
Et = Transmitted Energy
Ei = Incident Energy
• Hence
• T=0 means sound leak surface and
• T=1 means sound transparent surface
1. Mass Law
1/T = Ei/Et = (Et/E0) x(E0/Et)
10Log(1/T) =10log(Et/E0) - log(Et/E0)
Thus,
10Log(1/T) = Incident power level - Transmitted Power Level
= SRI in dB.
NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient)
It is the average of a Material‟s sound absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz i.e.
NRC= (α250 + α500 + α1000 + α2000) / 4
It is the single number index of sound absorbing efficiency of a material.
NR (Noise reduction)
From source room to receiving room
I.e. NR = Difference in intensity level = I1 –I2 in dB.
Also NR = TL + 10log(a2/S) Here
TL= Transmission loss in partition-wall,
A2= Absorption in receiving room.
S = Area of partition wall (It acts sound source in receiving room)
1. Mass Law

PARTITIONS WALL
TL due to thickness = 20log10(f.M) + K in dB.
Where
f = frequency of sound in Hz
M = Mass per unit surface area of the partition wall in Kg/m2 : K = A constant. It is 47 when M is
in Kg/m2

DOUBLE WALL PARTITION WALL

(With a cavity of width “d”)
TL = 20log10 (d.M) + K
Here d in meter
M in Kg/m2 and K = 34
This is valid in the range 100-3200 Hz.