SOUND

MEASUREMENT’S & NOISE..

Environmental Systems II
Contents:

¨  Purposes & Methodology for sound Measurement

¨  Sound Measurement Devices
¨  The current human daily life and noise
¨  Criteria Curves
¨  Building Noise Control
¨  Masking of Sound
PURPOSES OF SOUND MEASUREMENTS

In sound Perception;

it's important to distinguish between words which describe objective measurements

and those that describe subjective experience.

•  Objective measurement ( Intensity & pressure of sound )

•  Subjective experience ( Loudness of sound )
 General Methodology for Sound Measurement

•  Identify and locate dominant sources

•  Optimize selection of noise control devices, methods, materials
•  Evaluate and compare sound control measures
•  Determine compliance with noise criteria and regulations
•  Quantify the strength (power) of a sound source
•  Determine the acoustic qualities of a room and its suitability for various uses.
 "The Theory of Sound"

Triode Amplifier

Historical Implications..
First condenser microphone

Patented device

No commercial device
Was produced
Till this time.

Digital signal processing's

Microphone design,
reliable measurement
two closely spaced
microphones.
 Sound Measurement Devices

Many types of measuring systems can be used for the measurement of sound depending on:

•  The purpose of the study

•  The characteristics of sound
•  The extent of information that is desired about the sound.

The various elements in a measuring system are:

a. the transducer; that is, the microphone

b. the electronic amplifier for gain control
c. the frequency weighting or analyzing possibilities
d. the data storage facilities
e. the display.
 i) MICROPHONES

The microphone is the interface between the acoustic field and the measuring system.

It responds to sound pressure and Transforms it into an electric signal which can be interpreted by the measuring
instrument (e.g. the sound level meter)

Following characteristics must be known before selection:

•  Technical performance
(e.g. frequency response, dynamic range, directivity, stability)

•  conditions of use
(e.g. ambient temperature, humidity, wind, pollution).

* Measurement of low sound levels requires high sensitivity microphones and for high levels, low sensitivity ones are needed.
 ii) SOUND LEVEL or SPL METERS

§  A hand – held instrument used for acoustics with micro phone.
§  The diaphragm of micro phone responds to changes in air pressure caused by sound waves.

The sound pressure deviation (Pa) is converted into a electrical signals ( V)

A sound level meter can be used for measuring sound or noise

•  for Community Noise Analysis,
•  Building Acoustics,
•  Industrial Noise Control,
•  Machinery Noise Analysis, and many more...

* The word "acoustic" means "sound that travels through air".

iii) NOISE DOSIMETERS

•  The objective of the instrument is specialized sound level

meter to measure the noise exposure of a person integrated
over a period of time.

Uses;

Usually use to determine health and safety regulation i.e

OSHA (occupational safety and health America) etc.
-  To determine the noise exposure of workers during their
normal working day in industries.
-  Dosimeters are crucial in noise monitoring in today's
modern working environments.

*manufacturers recommend periodic comprehensive calibration and certification of the

instrument by an accredited laboratory using traceable reference sources.
SOUND LEVEL METERS
The current human daily life and noise

“…most of the information relating to noise exposures is

concerned with specific sources, rather than typical cumulative
exposures to which urban and suburban dwellers are commonly
exposed.”
 •  Sound, artificial or natural, is around us all day, every day.

•  The physiological, psychological and behavioral effects of sounds on

people can be positive, such as the calming effects of music in
stressful situations.

•  Effects can also be negative i.e. bad acoustic conditions hamper

communicative and creative processes such as might be the case in
open-plan offices.

•  Everyday sounds can be perceived as pleasant and informative, but

just as easily sounds are experienced as annoying and unwanted
(Noise).

Too often, the sounds that make up the soundscapes of our daily life are out-of-control and left to chance.
 Noise Effects…

•  Psychological health effects from noise

include depression and anxiety.
•  Noise induced hearing loss
•  Decrease productivity/ attention
•  Security and ability to communicate
•  Cardiovascular effects.

•  The science of sound and advanced sound technology can change

this situation, not only by reducing unwanted and harmful noises, but
by opening up new opportunities for the design of future healthy
soundscapes.

These soundscapes can inform, surprise, amaze, soothe, persuade, challenge or excite. And can be sounds of unheard beauty!
 Noise Curves

•  Noise curves are a common way to measure and

specify audio noise in buildings and occupied spaces.

Their purpose is to produce a single value representation of

a complete sound spectrum.
Process to calculate Noise Curve…
•  To determine the single value for a particular room is first
to measure the sound frequency spectrum created by the
background noise.
•  This spectrum is then superimposed onto a standard
template graph containing the noise curves.
•  The result is determined by the lowest curve which is not
touched by the measured spectrum at any position in the
audio frequency range.

Noise curves are uniform measuring standards .

Referred by many noise regulations to quantify a variety of from concert halls, rock concerts, lecture rooms and
offices to shooting ranges etc.
 Major methods and standards of noise curves
Room Criteria curves (RC)
Noise Criterion curves (NC)
•  RC curves measure background noise in a
building over the frequency range 16 Hz to •  First such curves developed in the world,
4000 Hz. and are classified with ASA and ANSI
•  This rating system was independently specifications.
developed by structural and mechanical •  They are particularly used in various
systems engineering organizations for use in acoustic spaces for quantitatively rating
evaluating both structure-borne and residual noise and interference from all
airborne noise. sources, including HVAC.
 Major methods and standards of noise curves
Noise Rating Curves (NR) Preferred Noise Criterion Curves (PNC)

•  Noise Rating curves (NR) are commonly •  Proposed by Leo Beranek in 1971.
used for regulatory purposes. •  They are particularly used for measuring
•  They were developed as an ISO standard continuous or ambient noise in indoor used
to determine the acceptable indoor to check the quality of ventilation and other
background noise sources.
environment for hearing preservation,
speech communication.
Building Noise Control

NOISE control or Noise mitigation is a set

of strategies to reduce /minimize impact
of noise pollution in a building i.e. indoor
or outdoor environments .

•  An effective model for noise control is the source,

path, and receiver model .
•  Hazardous noise can be controlled by reducing
the noise output at its source
•  minimizing the noise as it travels along a path to
the listener, and
•  providing equipment to the listener or receiver to
attenuate the noise.
Source
Variety of measures aim to reduce
hazardous noise at its source.

•  By introducing quiet equipment's of

advanced technologies
•  By physical materials such as foam to
absorb sound and walls to provide a
sound barrier.
 Path

The principle of noise reduction through pathway

modifications applies to the alteration of direct
and indirect pathways for noise.

•  Noise that travels across reflective surfaces

such as smooth floors can be hazardous.

•  Pathway alterations include sound dampening

enclosures for loud equipment and isolation
chambers from which workers can remotely
control equipment while removed from noise.
 Receiver

In the industrial or commercial setting, workers must

comply with the appropriate hearing conservation
Programs.

•  Administrative control to prevent unnecessary

Noise exposures.
•  Personal protective equipment's i.e. foam ear
plug etc.
Noise reduction techniques can be broadly classified as passive
and active methods.
Passive control involves reducing the radiated
noise by energy absorption.

While

active method involves

reducing source strength or modifying acoustic field in the duct
to obtain noise reduction.
Construction Techniques in Acoustic Planning of a Building

•  Construction of Walls for Noise Control in Buildings

•  Construction of Windows for Acoustic Control in Buildings
•  Construction of Doors for Acoustic Control in Buildings
•  Construction of Floors for Acoustic Control in Buildings
•  Noise Control in Buildings by use of Masking
 Space layout considerations

When designing a plan based on a programmed number and type of

spaces, consider the relationship between noise-producing spaces and
sound-critical spaces sensitive to intruding sound.

Example :
Two spaces—one noisy and one quiet—located immediately adjacent to each other
will require;
•  thick, massive, and costly intervening partitions, upgraded
sound absorbing treatments, and special noise control measures with
the HVAC system.

These requirements can be reduced by separating

the two spaces with acoustical buffer spaces. These include:

- buffer spaces
- corridors
- lobbies
- storage rooms
- stairwells
- electrical/janitorial closets etc.
Sound masking

Sound Masking is a specially tuned ambient background sound that

target the same frequency as human speech to reduce distraction.

•  Sound masking does not cancel sound, but it makes conversations

heard at a distance more difficult to understand.

•  Enhance working environment i.e. open floor offices , productivity,

greater speech privacy.

Radius of distraction is reduced with Sound Masking

There are two main approaches to deploying sound
masking.

DIRECT FIELD SOUND MASKING

Radius of distraction is reduced with Sound Masking
•  Installed in a direct field position
•  Speaker points downwards from ceiling
•  Help to distribute ambient and uniform distribution of
sound
 INDIRECT FIELD SOUND MASKING

•  Installed in a indirect field position, hidden above

ceiling
•  Sound masking is pointed upward
•  Thus sound reflected off the ceiling deck and back into
the environment.
 How is Sound Masking Different Than White Noise

•  White noise, includes all frequencies

at equal energy and can be
distracting and annoying.

•  Sound masking is more comfortable

acoustically, as only the frequency
spectrum needed to increase privacy
and minimize distraction.

•  White noise is irritating when it is

amplified. founding similar to a loud
AM radio static.
 The new headquarters features a three-story lobby with large
windows, a two-story wooden artistic divider and exposed
Sound Masking
ventilation and beams.

The space, as designed, features numerous reflective surfaces such as

glass, concrete, metal and wood.

Solution
•  Each floor of the headquarters is equipped with SM control module.
•  The SM gave Autodesk the ability to separate each floor into six
distinct zones, allowing for appropriate audio levels in each space.
CASE STUDY •  In the open office areas as well as the three story lobby, the SM
Autodesk headquarter emitters were installed onto the exposed beams.
Thank You