Department of Mechanical Engineering

Environmental Effects and Control of Noise

Course 06-95-455 and 06-92-590-55
Assignment #3 July 4, 2014
Due: July 11, 2014

1. A local restaurant is installing a new industrial exhaust fan on the rear façade of its building. In
the direction perpendicular to the façade is a residential development. If the closest noise
sensitive receptor is 10.5 m away, what is the resulting A-weighted sound pressure level at this
distance? Assume the exhaust fan is located 3m above the ground, the same height as the noise
receptor. The sound power spectrum for the exhaust fan is indicated in Table 1 below.
Table 1 – Octave Band Sound Power Levels in dB (re 1pW) of an Exhaust Fan.
Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)
Source Type
63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
Radial Exhaust Fan 90 90 88 84 79 73 69 64

2. During a given shift at an assembly plant, a crimping line worker has a typical day as follows:
08:00 AM - 08:30 AM – Arrive at plant and attend morning meeting
08:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Assembling parts at crimping machine
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Break
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM – Assembling parts at crimping machine
11:30 AM - 12:30 AM – Lunch Break
12:30 AM – 02:00 PM – Assembling parts at crimping machine
02:00 PM – 02:15 PM – Break
02:15 PM – 04:00 PM – Assembling parts at crimping machine

From past measurements, the health and safety planner knows that the hourly Leq’s of each
activity are as follows:
o Staff meeting and planning room – Leq = 45 dB(A)
o Crimping Machine – Leq = 90 dB(A)
o Lunch/Break Room – Leq = 60 dB(A)

Given these conditions,

(a) What is the anticipated Dose percentage for this employee using: (i) the old North
American dose standards, and (ii) the European dose standard?
(b) What is the 8-hr Leq for the employee?
(c) Does this environment pass or fail the requirements for the old North American
standard, Europe or the new Ontario standard?
3. A noise meter was set up outside of a residence for 24-hours. Given the following one-hour Leq’s,
calculate the Lday, Lnight, and Ldaynight (Ldn) values for this location. How do these values compare to
the 24-hour Leq? What is the value of the Ldn for the case when the sound levels meet the 55
dBA day and 50 dBA night criteria of Ontario’s NPC documents?

Time Period SPL Time Period SPL

00:00 - 01:00 40 12:00 - 13:00 53
01:00 - 02:00 35 13:00 - 14:00 53
02:00 - 03:00 30 14:00 - 15:00 57
03:00 - 04:00 35 15:00 - 16:00 62
04:00 - 05:00 43 16:00 - 17:00 70
05:00 - 06:00 46 17:00 - 18:00 65
06:00 - 07:00 50 18:00 - 19:00 50
07:00 - 08:00 55 19:00 - 20:00 50
08:00 - 09:00 60 20:00 - 21:00 48
09:00 - 10:00 57 21:00 - 22:00 45
10:00 - 11:00 55 22:00 - 23:00 45
11:00 - 12:00 50 23:00 - 00:00 41

4. During noise measurements of a residential outdoor living area during the daytime, the peak
sound pressure level was found to be 120 dBA and the L90 was 60 dBA. What do these levels
indicate about the ambient conditions near this receptor?

5. A technician is required to check and maintain the oil levels of equipment located in a
compressor room on a daily schedule. If the noise levels inside the room average 100 dBA, what
is the amount of time permitted for this worker to work in the compressor room? We can
assume that the worker is not exposed to any noise levels over 40 dBA outside of the room and
that a North American 5dB trading relationship applies.

6. In order to maintain a constant indoor air temperature of 15˚C, an air conditioning unit has been
programmed to turn on for a period of 5 minutes every 15 minutes during the hottest periods of
the day. The air conditioning unit is installed next to a vertical wall. Given below are the
measured sound pressure levels taken at a distance of 10 metres during operation of the air
conditioner. What is the A-weighted 1-hour Leq at this distance assuming a negligible noise
level when it is not operating?
Table 2 – Octave Band Sound Pressure Levels in dB (re 1pW) at a distance of 10m.
Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)
Source Type
63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
Sound Levels for Air
49 53 55 59 58 54 50 46
Conditioner (dB)

7. For the criteria of NPC 205, describe the difference between each of the Class 1, Class 2, and
Class 3 areas as given by the criteria specified in the Ministry of the Environment NPC-205
document. Include one example of a noise sensitive receptor for each.