MODULE IV—NOISE REDUCTION AND CONTROL

7) Introduction to environmental noise control—its sources

and classification – out door and indoor, air borne and
structure borne, impact noise, noise from ventilation
system, community and industrial noise. Noise
transmission, Mass law, Transmission loss. Maximum
acceptable noise levels. Design principles- reduction at
source, reduction near source etc.

8) Construction measures of noise control and sound insulation

--- Enclosures, Barriers, Sound insulation ( A.C.ducts and
plants). Vibration isolation---control of mechanical noise,
floor, wall, ceiling treatment. Sound isolation. Construction
details of composite walls, double walls, floating floors,
wood joist floors, plenum barriers and sound locks. STC
ratings,(sound transmission class)
 DEFINITION

Until recently noise was defined as unpleasant and loud, but the International committee
on Standardization of Acoustical terms has defined it as

SOUND NOT DESIRED BY THE RECEPIENT.

i.e. Unwanted sound.

They could be outdoor or of indoor origin.

ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IN INDIA

 OUTDOOR NOISE
• Traffic noises and the roar of jet aircraft outside the house have made life within more
uncomfortable.

• Although acoustical materials can do a great deal to reduce the intensity of sounds that
originate inside room, they are unable to do much with sounds that originate outside a
room and are transmitted into it.

• It will suffice here to note that outside airborne sounds enter a house by inducing a
vibratory motion in the windows, doors, and walls. These Structures then transmit these
sounds into the house. Acoustical materials cannot do anything at all to prevent this mode
of sound transmission. They simply lack the mass and solidity to dampen sound
vibrations.
INDOOR NOISE
• Acoustics has become more important since we are living in an increasingly noisy world.

• Inside the house there is radio, television, and hi-fi equipment, innumerable electrical
gadgets that whine(crying sound), grind and the constant, enervating,(weakening) low-
frequency noise of heating equipment in winter and air conditioners in summer.

• Development of new lightweight materials that, whatever structural and economic

advantages they may confer, vibrate easily in response to impinging inside sounds and thus
both amplify and pass all these sounds along.
 AIR BORNE and STRUCTURE BORNE NOISE

• In residential environments it will either be air borne or structure borne noise. Air borne
sound is pretty simple - this is what we hear within the room. A combination of air borne
and structure borne noises need to be considered for sound isolation. One may ask, "But
if the room is sealed, isn't all the air borne sound contained?" To a point the answer is yes,
but it could become both an air borne wave and a structure borne vibration in the next
room.

• Let's look at structure borne sound. Have you ever been in a room on a concrete slab
where someone is bouncing a tennis ball 2 or 3 rooms away? If you are standing on the
same concrete slab with no breaks in it, you will hear that tennis ball almost as if you were
in the same room. You are not getting any air borne sound transmission, this is all
structure borne. Many people think that having a high mass will stop all sound, but
actually sound travels faster in dense material than in air. The tennis ball experiment
shows that mass does not stop the sound at all, rather it transmits it to other parts of the
house—quite efficiently too.
 AIR BORNE NOISE(REF.FIG.IN NEXT SLIDE)

• Along a continuous air path , through openings i.e. through open doors and windows ,
elevator shafts, telephone outlets , ventilating ducts etc.
• By means diaphragmatic action of partitions, by which sound can be communicated
from a source on one side to the other side of the partition. 
• SOURCE ORIGINATING IN AIR HAVE LESS POWER PERSISTING FOR A LONGER
DURATION

• ON THE OTHER HAND SOURCE ORIGINATING FROM IMPACT GENERATE IMPULSES OF

SHORT DURATION BUT LARGE POWER IS PROPAGATED TO LONGER DISTANCE.
 
AIR-BORNE NOISE FROM AIR-COOLED CHILLERS

Noise generated from air-cooled chillers may cause noise disturbance to nearby residents
(see Fig. 2). It mainly comes from the air flow noise resulting from air turbulence at
condenser fans and compressor noise during running and on/off cycle of refrigerant.
STRUCTURE BORNE NOISE
 
STRUCTURE BORNE
Dropping of object on floor , scuffing of feet, footfalls or slamming the door, machinery
vibrations --- are all transmitted through rigid structures with almost no attenuation.
IMPACT NOISE
Sounds originating from direct impact -- as a result of a DIRECT IMPACT in one room large
surfaces else where in the building are set to vibrations radiating acoustical energy, also
known as IMPACT NOISE.
• SOURCE ORIGINATING FROM IMPACT GENERATE IMPULSES OF SHORT DURATION BUT
LARGE POWER IS PROPAGATED TO LONGER DISTANCE.

NOISE FROM VENTILATING SYSTEM

Principle source of noise are

1. motor and fan

2. turbulence caused by flow of air in the
transmitting system
3. outside sound transmitted to ducts
inside.
 1. MOTOR AND FAN : These are main source of noise which are transmitted through air and
solid borne vibrations. It increases with the increase in no. of blades of fan and speed and
obstructions. Air floating through ventilating system like bends, branches, change of duct
size, grills etc. produce eddy currents or turbulent flow. suitable choice of motor, fans
and grills. Proper mounting of motors and fans (isolating them from walls and floors by
using resilient mounts) to suppress the noise at its source and to prevent vibration that
might be transmitted to ducts, walls or floor.
2. TURBULENCE CAUSED BY FLOW OF AIR IN THE TRANSMITTING SYSTEM:
The blower and the exhaust fans should be isolated from the ducts by a flexible sleeve
fabricated of canvas. It is better to use rubber, hose for piping connections. Edges of
metal surfaces perpendicular to the air current should be rounded directing the sound at
the source and the outlet.
3. OUTSIDE SOUND TRANSMITTED TO DUCTS INSIDE.
Ducts should be lined with absorptive material 2” thick at least to a distance 10 times
the dia. of the duct( muslin covered rock wool blanket or mineral wool or fiber glass )
It also increases T.L. for sound entering the system from walls outside.  
Materials used in the ducts must be moisture resistant , fire resistant and facilitate
smooth flow of air. They should be properly held together by a “ BINDER” with
adequate mechanical strength that could resist air stream ( rock wool covered by
perforated metal )
 
COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRIAL NOISE
Community noise :
• (also called environmental noise, residential noise, or domestic noise) is defined as
noise emitted from all sources, except noise at the industrial workplace.(3) Major
sources of community noise are automobiles, construction work, loudspeakers,
recreational activities, fireworks, etc
Industrial Noise:
• industrial noise, is hazardous to a person's hearing because of its loud intensity through
repeated long-term exposure. It is a sound with a high intensity caused by industry
machines. Sources of such noise pollution is caused by machines in various factories,
industries and mills. Noise from mechanical saws and pneumatic drills is unbearable
and a nuisance to the public. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dB for all workers
for an 8 hour day

NOISE TRANSMISSION
It is the transmission of sounds through and between materials, including air, and musical
instruments.
 • Airborne transmission - a noise source in one room sends air pressure waves which
induce vibration to one side of a wall or element of structure setting it moving such
that the other face of the wall vibrates in an adjacent room. Structural isolation
therefore becomes an important consideration in the acoustic design of buildings.
Highly sensitive areas of buildings, for example recording studios, may be almost
entirely isolated from the rest of a structure by constructing the studios as effective
boxes supported by springs. Air tightness also becomes an important control
technique.

• The most important acoustic control method is adding mass into the structure, such as a
heavy dividing wall, which will usually reduce airborne sound transmission better than a
light one.

• Acoustic control measures usually include attempts to isolate the source of the impact, or
cushioning it. For example carpets will perform significantly better than hard floors.
Flanking transmission - a more complex form of noise transmission, where the resultant
vibrations from a noise source are transmitted to other rooms of the building usually by
elements of structure within the building. For example, in a steel framed building, once
the frame itself is set into motion the effective transmission can be pronounced.
• Noise, or unwanted sound, disturbs our peace and quiet in all aspects of our lives. 
Sound energy can be transmitted through several different media, including gases,
liquids and solids.  This enables noise to leak into our homes, vehicles, workplaces and
classrooms through numerous “noise transmission paths.”  

• A critical first step in developing an effective soundproofing solution is to identify the

offending noises and their sources, and to determine the noise transmission paths
through which the noise is transmitted to our ears.  One effective means of
soundproofing is to interrupt or intercept this noise along the noise transmission paths
through the addition of sound barriers and sound absorbent materials.

MASS LAW
• Mass-law-- Phenomenon whereby doubling the mass per unit area of a panel, or
doubling the frequency for a given mass per unit area, increases the sound transmission
loss by six decibels.

• According to the mass law for homogeneous building materials, such as glass, wood,
and concrete, the TL and sound transmission class rating (abbreviated STC) increase by
about 5 for each doubling of surface weight.

• STC is a single-number rating of TL performance for a construction element tested over

a standard frequency range. The higher the STC, the more efficient the construction is for
reducing sound transmission
TRANSMISSION LOSS.

• When one subtracts the sound that is either reflected or absorbed, what remains is the
sound energy that actually passes through the partition. The difference, in decibels,
between the original amount of sound energy on opposite sides of the partition is the
partition’s transmission loss. A partition that is very efficient in preventing the passage of
sound has a high transmission loss; it is an excellent sound barrier. On-the other hand, a
wall that has a low transmission loss is a poor sound barrier.

• There is a second method, however, of obtaining a high transmission loss in a wall—.-

building an air cavity within the partition. To be effective, however, the two halves of the
wall must not have any interconnection between them whatsoever, since any such
interconnection will transmit sounds across the cavity.

• Wider air gap within a wall construction will prevent the transmission of sounds more
effectively through it.
 TRANSMISION LOSS

60 dbs. 40 dbs.
T.L. = 20 DBS.
MAXIMUM ACCETABLE NOISE LEVEL
• Normal conversation is about 60 dB, a lawn mower is about 90 dB, and a loud rock
concert is about 120 dB. In general, sounds above 85 are harmful, depending on how
long and how often you are exposed to them and whether you wear hearing protection,
such as earplugs or earmuffs.
• The level at which employers must provide hearing is 85 decibels (daily or weekly
average exposure).
• Your ear can stand a maximum of 85 decibel as an average noise level over a day, before
it is damaged by the noise. Anything above 85 decibels can damage your hearing.
Normal conversation is typically situated in the 60-70 decibel range.
MEANS OF NOISE CONTROL IN BUILDINGS
• MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS
• Noise levels above 140 dB are not considered safe for any period of time, however brief.
For children, no exposure above 120 dB.

• Normal conversation is about 60 dB, a lawn mower is about 90 dB, and a loud rock
concert is about 120 dB.

• In general, sounds above 85 are harmful, depending on how long and how often you are
exposed to them and whether you wear hearing protection, such as earplugs.
ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS
• Noise Average decibels (dB)
• Leaves rustling, soft music, whisper 30
• Average home noise 40
• Normal conversation, background music 60
• Office noise, inside car at 60 mph 70
• Vacuum cleaner, average radio 75
• Heavy traffic, window air conditioner,
noisy restaurant, power lawn mower 80–89 (sounds
(above 85 dB are harmful)
• Subway, shouted conversation 90–95
• School dance 101–105
• Sports crowd, rock concert, loud symphony 120–129
• Car races 130
• Gun shot, siren at 100 feet 140
REDUCTION AT SOURCE
• Industrial machinery and processes are composed of various noise sources such as rotors,
stators, gears, fans, vibrating panels, turbulent fluid flow, impact processes, electrical
machines, internal combustion engines etc.
• Besides these are the entertainment equipment in the house, namely the radio, record-
players and television sets. Domestic gadgets like the mixer-grinders, pressure cookers,
coolers, air- conditioners, exhaust fans, vacuum cleaners, sewing and washing machines
are all indoor sources of noise pollution
• The exposure to noise can be reduced by eliminating the source of noise substituting the
source with a quieter one, applying engineering modifications, using administrative
controls, and by using protective equipment. The best way to reduce exposure to noise is
to engineer it out at the design stage.

NOISE REDUCTION NEAR SOURCE

• reducing noisy machine operations by replacing rivets with welds
• redesigning machinery power sources to give quiet speed regulation, for example
through the use of electric motors
• avoiding metal-to-metal contact by using SPRINGS,washers or acoustical material
• repairing loose and rotating parts, replacing worn bearings and gears and by regular
maintenance
• Use of vibration isolation mountings and silencers to reduce noise at source
• absorbing acoustic shock by providing rubber or plastic coatings
• using conveyor belts rather than rollers
• using acoustical silencers in intake, exhaust systems and air conditioning systems.
 BARRIERS

• A noise barrier (also called a

sound wall, noise wall, sound
barrier, or acoustical barrier) is
an exterior structure designed
to protect inhabitants from
noise pollution.

• Noise barriers are the most

effective method of mitigating
road, railway, and industrial
noise sources –In the case of
surface transportation noise,
other methods of reducing the
source noise intensity include
encouraging the use of hybrid
and electric vehicles, improving
automobile aerodynamics and
tire design, and choosing low-
 VARIOUS BARRIERS
• Sound barrier materials can include masonry,
earthwork, steel, concrete, wood, plastics, insulating
wool, or composites.

• Walls that are made of absorptive material mitigate

sound differently than hard surfaces. It is now also
possible to make noise barriers with active materials
such as solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity
while also reducing traffic noise.

• A wall with porous surface material can be absorptive

where little or no noise is reflected back towards the
source or elsewhere. Hard surfaces such as masonry or
concrete are considered to be reflective where most of
the noise is reflected back towards the noise source and
beyond.

• Noise barriers can be effective tools for noise pollution

control, but Cost and aesthetics also play a role in the
choice of noise barriers.
• Sound waves bounce against a barrier back to the source. Sound attenuation is a more
common solution, which lowers the intensity of the sound by absorbing it.

• Acoustic barriers should be around 2m high to sufficiently block out traffic noise and
prevent noise from rolling over the top.

• The denser the material, the more it’ll absorb noise.

• A noise barrier should extend all the way to the ground; gaps at the base or in between
sections will allow extraneous noises to enter underneath.
• Sound protection barriers should be constructed as close to the source as possible, such
as by the road or around an A/C unit.
BRUSHWOOD FENCES

• Found to reduce noise if 600mm is used. It is

‘Rustic’ and aesthetic.

• Not suitable in fire prone areas

HEDGES
METAL FENCES

• Sturdier than wooden fencing Cost effective

Easy to install in backyard
• Looks cheaper and not as versatile Least
effective noise barrier
 WOODEN FENCES

• Easy to install – Cost effective and material is easily accessible

• Less effective as a noise barrier Shorter life due to damage /rot Not suitable for fire
prone homes(source)
 NOISE CONTROL BY
SCREENING BARRIERS
• Obstruction by walls and partitions as barriers has a far greater effect on propagation of
sound and this effectiveness depends on the effective height and location of the obstacle
with respect to the source and the receiver.

• These should be placed as close to the source as possible. Particularly in order to screen
the open space between source and receiver, walls or partitions are used for this must
extend laterally over the site limits. Lowering the level of road has an appreciable effect. To
avoid reflections, walls or partitions on the loud side should be covered with absorbent
materials or inclined away from the vertical. Avoid opening in the screens.
EQUIPMENT NOISE CONTROL
SOUND INSULATION
To prevent from being disturbed by activity in the next room whether the room is upstairs or
in line the construction has to prevent sound from being transmitted.
two types of sound insulation might be referred i.e. air borne and impact sound insulation. a
suspended ceiling system can be used to improve the impact sound insulation . sound
absorptive materials to reduce air-borne noise.
sound insulation is the prevention of transmission of sound or alternatively a reduction of
sound energy transmitted into adjoining air space.
a. air borne sound insulation—insulation against noise originating in air.
b. impact sound insulation---originating directly on a structure.
SOUND INSULATION OF A.C. DUCTS AND PLANTS ACOUSTICAL
FILTER
An acoustical filter in a duct consists of a combination of volumes and masses i.e.
chambers, short duct sections, perforations, which are combined to suppress a range of
frequency noise transmitted through duct to the filter.
Acoustical filters are used where extreme quietness is required. ( radio, television and
recording studios ) which suppress low frequency noise. Abs. Coe. of duct lining is very
poor at low frequencies hence , a filter in ventilation system is used in combination i.e.
filter to attenuate low frequency and duct lining to high frequency.(ref.fig.)
FILTERS

ACOUSTICAL FILTER
NOISE CONTROL IN AIR COOLED CHILLERS
CONTROL OF MECHANICAL NOISE GENERATOR ROOM
ACOUSTIC

The Noise is controled by providing Acoustic

lining on walls & ceiling, all ordinary doors /
shutters are to be converted in to sound proof
doors. The proper Air ventilation system and
cooling airflow required so the engine does not
overheat. Axial flow fan of required size &
numbers provided for proper Air ventilation.
Acoustic louvers, splitter & Insulated ducts are
provided to suppress the noise where
required.

ISOLATION OF MACHINE VIBRATIONS

Cause of such vibrations should be removed at its source.
 
by tightening the loose parts.
proper balancing of rotary parts (vibrating mounts )
resilient mount made of rubber, cork, felt, spring or similar products should be used to
prevent sound radiating to other parts.
RESILIENT MOUNTS-SPRINGS
MACHINE ISOLATION FROM MACHINE ISOLATION
FLOOR /WALLS
USE OF RESILIENT CHANNELS FOR WALLS

Resilient channel is mounted to

a wall stud. Note that the
channel is attached at the
lower contact point and lips out
and up.

RESILIENT CHANNEL

Resilient Channel is sturdy metal device that, when

used to hang drywall (instead of just attaching the
drywall to the studs or joists), GREATLY improves the
sound transmission characteristics of the wall or ceiling
system.
STAGGERED STUD WALL CONSTRUCTION
STAGGERED STUD WALL CONSTRUCTION
USE OF SUSPENDED CEILINGS
• It is sometimes suggested that a suspended acoustical-tile ceiling of the type found in
offices and commercial establishments will absorb impact sounds transmitted from a floor
above. In this type of construction, a light metal framework is suspended from the ceiling
by wires or metal rods and acoustical tiles are then set in place on this framework. This type
of ceiling will absorb impinging sounds to some extent, and it will hide exposed pipes and
ducts as well, but it will have almost no effect whatsoever on suppressing any airborne
sounds or impact sounds that may be transmitted through the ceiling from the floor above,
mainly because of the lightness of the overall construction and also because of the ceiling,
since it is suspended by rigid wires or rods, will merely transmit the sounds unchanged.

SOUND ISOLATION
• Noise Isolating. Many in-ear and on-ear headphones isolate you from ambient noise.
Some are better than others. The idea is a physical barrier between your ear and the
offending sounds. With over-ear headphones, the noise isolation usually isn't a lot, but
enough to muffle the surrounding sound somewhat. Noise isolating headphones
physically block ambient noise with their seal against your ear.
HOW TO ISOLATE?
• Install sound curtains or thick blankets. You can absorb a little sound by mounting thick
blankets to the wall. ...
• Use bookcases. You can make walls thicker and more soundproofed by simply making use
of bookshelves. ...
• Mount shaky items. ...
• Install a door sweep. ...
• Use acoustic wedges panels.

COMPOSITE WALLS
A wall built of a combination of two or more
masonry units of different types of materials
that are bonded together, one forming the
facing of the wall and the other the backup.

Structural members that are made up of two

or more different materials are known as
composite elements. ... As a material, concrete
works well in compression, but it has less
resistance in tension.
ALUMINIUM COMPOSITE WALL
SOUND PROOF WALL CONSTRUCTION
There are two methods of building a partition having a high transmission loss:
1. make the wall heavy 2. build the wall in two completely separate halves with an air space
between.
• The heavier a partition—that is, the more mass it has per unit volume—the more effective
a sound barrier it will be. A solid 6-in.-thick concrete wall or an 8-in.-thick brick wall make
much more effective sound barriers than the usual stud wall in which ½ in.-thick gypsum-
board is nailed to both sides. The reason is that the impinging air molecules find it much
more difficult to induce a vibratory motion in a massive wall than in a lightweight wall.
Weight makes the difference. However, there is a limit to how much one can increase the
weight of a wall.
DOUBLE WALL CONSTRUCTION..CAVITY WALL
ISOLATION OF AIR BORNE OR STRUCTURE BORNE NOISE.
Only two things stop sound - mass and space. You need mass to contain the airborne sound,
but then you also need space (an air gap or similar unobstructed area) so that the structure
borne sound can not be transmitted. One could make use of sound isolation techniques such
as staggered stud walls or resilient hangers and channels hence, there is a high mass wall, an
air gap, and then another wall, making sound transmission difficult.
PLENUM BARRIERS
The plenum barriers block noise that would otherwise transmit through the ceiling and over
the top of partition. ... The suspended acoustic ceiling and lightweight plenum barrier work
together effectively as a system to provide the same amount of sound isolation as the STC-
rated wall construction below the ceiling level.
PLENUM CURTAINS
 SOUND LOCK
• A vestibule or entranceway that has highly absorptive walls and ceilings and a carpeted
floor; used to reduce transmission of noise into an auditorium, rehearsal room or studio,
or from the area outside.

• Sound Lock allows you to limit the volume of your playback by detecting the loudness
and lowering it to the level you have set. So you no longer have to bother with the loud
action scenes and sound volume going through the roof.

• Sound Lock adjusts the system volume per channel (up to 14 channels) and generates a
smooth sound output by lowering the volume during loud scenes. It therefore enables
you to watch movies without having to adjust the volume manually every time it
increases over the level of your comfort. The application allows you to easily set the
sound output limit by dragging the bar to the desired level. Sound Lock displays sound
output level for every channel currently in use.

 
EXAMPLE OF A SOUND LOCK
IN LITTLE THEATER

EXAMPLE OF A SOUND LOCK IN

LEGITIMATE THEATER
STC RATINGS—SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASS

• It is a rating of how well a building material attenuates air-borne sound. Ratings are given to
partitions, ceiling, floors, doors, windows and exterior walls etc.

• Higher STC ratings are better. However they are calculated only for a sounds above 125Hz.

• STC ratings are used for windows, doors, walls and most building materials. For windows,
STC rating ranges from 18 to 38.

• STC ratings are the only way to accurately compare various noise reduction products. The
STC rating is the average amount of noise stopped at 18 different frequencies in decibels.