1 Introduction

To assess the sound power levels for industrial noise sources, such as electric motors, pumps and
compressors, fans, furnaces and boilers, coolers, piping and valves, stacks and flares,
construction and building machinery, and many others, the following approaches can be used:

• Determination of the noise sound power level of the sources from measurements near the
source or further away in the field.
• Noise data obtained from the manufacturer of the noise source in question.
• A database with default data for typical sound emission values for individual industrial noise
sources. Since the large variety in industrial noise sources and particularly in their individual
state of noise control, does not allow a database of generic validity to be set up, the data
provided in such a database will inevitably need to be limited to a representative number of
typical examples.
• Prediction/computation using parameter formulae, usually based on the principle of "acoustic
efficiency". Different classes of noise reduction, e.g. "good", "average" and "poor" can be
distinguished.
• Default values for the typical sound power level radiated by a specific industrial activity per
unit area, taking into account classes of sound reduction applied. This is possible for many
industrial activities, for example petrochemical plants, power plants, ship yards, timber
plants, etc.

The best way to gather the relevant sound power data is done by taking noise measurements at
each source. Apart from measuring the sound power, information can be gathered about
location, dimensions, operating time and conditions. The best measurement method can be
selected with help of fact sheets, available in the free available SourceDB. In order to be able to
reuse this measured data, the SourceDB+ software gives the opportunity to store the data with
the relevant description. This software enables the user to quickly sort data and select the most
appropriate one.

The non editable database called SourceDB, with many industrial sources and description of
measurement methods, can be found at www.Imagine-project.org, or at www.dgmr.nl. This
database is a part of the deliverables of IMAGINE project sponsored by the EU.

2 Industrial noise
The noise mapping approach developed in the HARMONOISE and IMAGINE projects clearly
distinguishes noise production and noise propagation. It is based on a generic noise propagation
model that is applicable to any type of noise source as long as it is described in appropriate terms
as, for example, type, sound power level, spectrum, coordinates, operating conditions, etc.

Industrial noise is produced by companies, varying from small retail to large chemical plants.
If input data for sound propagation calculations and noise mapping is to be determined from
measurements in situ of the noise emissions of industrial noise sources, harmonized methods are
needed to obtain comparable and consistent results.
The report "Measurement Methods" of the IMAGINE project Work Package 7 addresses the user
who wants to take measurements on industrial noise sources to determine input data for noise
mapping purposes, see SourceDB.
If no measurements can be made (future developments, lack of money and time), one may use
the noise data, for instance the CE-label, of the machinery.
SourceDB+

3 Noise mapping - obtaining source input data

3.1 Requirements for input data

The following information, sound power data, constitutes a complete set of input data for sound
propagation calculations with the methods developed in HARMONOISE and is to be used for
noise mapping:

• Location (coordinates) and elevation of the noise source

• Dimensions and orientation
• Type of source (point-, line-, area-, volume-source)
• Operating conditions of the source
• Emitted sound power level spectrum
• Directivity for each relevant operating condition
• Working hours (day, night, season)

Note that not all of the information above is equally important as the impact on the noise
mapping results is different. This becomes important if only limited or no data for individual
quantities is available. For example, while - obviously - to know the sound power level of the
source is crucial, lacking knowledge of the directivity may still lead to an acceptable noise map as
a result of many sources.

3.2 Sound power levels

To assess the sound power levels for industrial noise sources, such as electric motors, pumps and
compressors, fans, furnaces and boilers, coolers, piping and valves, stacks and flares,
construction and building machinery, and many others, the following approaches can be used:
• Determination of the noise sound power level of the sources from measurements near the
source or further away in the field.
• Noise data obtained from the manufacturer of the noise source in question.
• A database with default data for typical sound emission values for individual industrial noise
sources. Since the large variety in industrial noise sources and particularly in their individual
state of noise control, does not allow a database of generic validity to be set up, the data
provided in such a database will inevitably need to be limited to a representative number of
typical examples.
• Prediction/computation using parameter formulae, usually based on the principle of “acoustic
efficiency”. Different classes of noise reduction, e.g. “good”, “average” and “poor” can be
distinguished.
• Default values for the typical sound power level radiated by a specific industrial activity per
unit area, taking into account classes of sound reduction applied. This is possible for many
industrial activities, for example petrochemical plants, power plants, ship yards, timber
plants, etc.

Author: DGMR Page 2 of 15

SourceDB+

The best way to gather the relevant sound power data is done by taking noise measurements at
each source. Apart from measuring the sound power, information can be gathered about
location, dimensions, operating time and conditions. Performing these measurements for a large
industrial area with all kinds of different sources is time consuming. For instance measuring and
collecting the relevant sound power data for a petrochemical plant of 25000 m2 will take about
three man days whereas for the assessment of a small manufacturer of wooden stairs, half a day
of measuring time may be sufficient.

If there is not enough time to measure the relevant sound power data, the sound power levels
might be obtained from manufacturers of the equipment, for instance the CE-label. These sound
power levels are of course for very strict operation conditions, probably described by the
measurement method used. In addition to this data information such as the location and working
hours must be obtained. If the manufacturers cannot supply these sound power levels, one can
use data from a database.

The industries given in table 1 can be used for purpose of filter your measurement data.

Table 1
Industry types
Aircraft industries Motor car industries
Aluminium production Multi-purpose terminal
Asbestos production Paper mills
Breweries Petrochemical plants
Bulk terminals Petrol stations
Car repair shops Power plants
Carbon production (incineration, graphitization) Quarries
Carcass disposal installations Rearing installations (poultry, pigs)
Cement works Roro terminals
Ceramics production (incl. porcelain) Rotary kilns (clinker, lime production)
Chemical plants Scrap terminals
Coal gasification and liquefaction plants Shipyards
Coke ovens Shunting yards
Combustion installations Slaughterhouses
Concrete production Smelting installations (non-ferrous metal processing)
Construction and building sites Smitheries (ferrous metal processing)
Construction plants Steel and pig iron production
Container repair Stone mills
Container terminals Stores (cooling, loading/unloading)
Contractor companies Surface treatment installations (metal processing)
Copper production Surface treatment installations (non-metal)
Dairies Tanning plants (hides and skins)
Foundries (ferrous metal) Textile industries
Furniture industries Timber plants
Gas terminals Transformer stations
Glass production Warehousing, distribution
Hot-rolling mills (ferrous metal processing) Waste disposal installations (hazardous)
Metal ore roasting and sintering installations Waste disposal installations (non-hazardous)
Metallurgical, chemical or electrolytical installations
(non-ferrous metal processing) Waste incineration installations
Mineral melting installations Waste landfills
Mineral oil and gas refineries Weaving
Mining Windmill parks

Author: DGMR Page 3 of 15

SourceDB+

4 Making the database practical

Many relevant parameters can be found for one specific source and many more for all sources.
To keep the database manageable, one can enter the next items:

• Source types can be grouped into the most important categories only (e.g. process furnaces
will be categorized into furnaces with floor and with sidewall burners only, although many
other special designs exist).
• Quality of the source in terms of noise emissions and extent of applied noise control can be
categorized into "poor", "average" and "good” only.

The terms poor, average and good have the following interpretation in SourceDB:
• Poor: no noise mitigation measures have been taken and the machine/source is either old or
badly maintained. The sound power levels are not always based on detailed measurements,
but some examples have been found.
• Average: some noise mitigation measures have been taken and the machine/source is
adequately maintained. If no other information of a specific machine/source is available, the
source is called average.
• Good: the sound power levels of these machines/sources are among the lowest you can buy
or manufacture. No research has been done whether these sources may be called Best
Available Techniques.

Next to this, a text entry field is available which can hold many more measurement parameters.

Author: DGMR Page 4 of 15

SourceDB+

5 Source database
The source database will give the user a way to store and sort sound power levels, including a
mean third octave band spectrum, for individual sources and whole plants based on
measurements and formulas with a small number of parameters.

5.1 General look of Source DB+

SourceDB+ consists of a number of screens, which can be accessed easily. The opening screen
may look like this:

Author: DGMR Page 5 of 15

SourceDB+

Clicking on the tab called “Spectra” will give the third octave spectral information. See the
following figure:

The width of the columns can be changed as done in a spreadsheet.

If the source type is “Formula”, the spectrum consists of “-200” entries.

Double clicking on a selected source or clicking on the “View” button, opens the “view” mode of a
selected source. This will give access to two or three tabs that may differ depending on the type
of data. An overview of the tabs is given below.

Input type Tab 1 Tab 2 Tab 3

Standard Source Picture
Formula Source Formula Picture
Directivity Source Directivity Picture

The first tab is always called “Source”, which shows all the input data, including the table
showing in which industry types the source may be found.

Author: DGMR Page 6 of 15

SourceDB+

The tab “Picture” may include a picture of the source, so the user can identify the source.

The tab “Formula” gives access to a mathematical expression. Some values like power
consumption or pressure drop have to be filled in. If no values are given, the spectrum consists
of -200 entries. When the “Calculate” button is pressed, the sound power is given together with
an “educated guess” third octave spectrum.

Author: DGMR Page 7 of 15

SourceDB+

The tab “Directivity” gives you sound power levels in different directions. The results may be
viewed selecting the “View” button.

Author: DGMR Page 8 of 15

SourceDB+

5.2 Description of input fields

The input fields which are used, are described for the different tabs.

For the Source tab the following data fields are used:
Source description: Clear description including limitations (e.g. on total power consumption).
Sound power: The A-weighted sound power of the source. If the source consist of a
formula, no data is entered. This field is calculated from the third octave
spectrum.
Drive type: The power that runs the source (internal combustion, electricity, steam,
water, solar power, nuclear, steam, or other.
Industry type: Distinguished are 70 industry types. One source may occur in many
different industry types.
Source type: Distinguished are point sources, line sources, emitting buildings and
emitting area’s.
Quality: Denotes the quality of the source in respect to the noise emission.
Distinguished are good, average and poor.
Data input: Distinguishes between three different input data: Standard (means no
directivity or formulas are involved), Formula (calculation of the sound
power based on a certain parameter) or Directivity (input is based on
many spectra with direction given).
Operating conditions: Information about the circumstances in which the source is used.
Source height: Height to be used for calculating excess attenuation. This is only an
indication. The source may be placed on the ground or on a roof!
Height variation: Differentiation in height for calculating excess attenuation.
Deviation: Indication of spread in the sound power level, mostly based on few
samples.
Date: Date at which the source has been measured or the source data has been
published.
Date valid through: After this date the source data should be re-checked for validity.

Author: DGMR Page 9 of 15

SourceDB+

Notes: In these field data can be entered to clarify the origin of the source, the
capacity, etc.

For the Spectrum tab, the following input fields are used:
Source description: Clear description including limitations (e.g. on total power consumption)
(the same as in the source screen).
Sound power: The A-weighted sound power of the source. If the source consists of a
formula, no data is entered. This field is calculated from the third octave
spectrum.
Spectrum: The third octave bands, in A-weighted levels, are given.

The Source tab displays all the information of a particular source mentioned in the sources and
the Spectrum screen. Also a list is given, which displays the industry types in which the source
will probably be used.

The Formula tab gives a mathematical expression with one or more fields to enter parameters.
Clicking on the calculate button results in a third octave spectrum with the total sound power
level.

The Picture tab displays a picture of the source if one is given, together with the sound power
level and the spectrum.

The Directivity tab displays the sound power levels measured in different directions. The
directions are entered as coordinates with the centre of the source as 0,0,0 (x,y,z). The averaged
sound power levels over all the data entered is shown as the sound power level on the bottom of
the screen.

Author: DGMR Page 10 of 15

SourceDB+

5.3 How to filter data

In this paragraph, processes for filtering and selecting the source data are described. When using
SourceDB+ it is possible to select and copy data from the source database in a user friendly way.
SourceDB+ provides a view of the database from which detailed information can be loaded and
taken from the source database.

When starting SourceDB+ a spreadsheet called “Sources” with source data appears with the first
line already selected. Above the spreadsheet a filter bar is placed to filter the loaded data. Every
column of the spreadsheet can be filtered. When filtering, a selection of the data is displayed in
the spreadsheet. Filters per column consist of a selection list in case of predefined data (i.e.
Column Quality with predefined data good, average, poor) or an input field in which a text to
filter can be entered. Filter lists are indicated with “<select>”, filter text is indicated with
“<type>”. When filtering more than one column, only the sources which suffice the filter
combination are displayed.

Only one source from the spreadsheet can be selected at a time. To navigate through the
spreadsheet the mouse can be used or the cursor keys on the keyboard. To view a source in
more detail, a selected source can be viewed. To view a source, use the menu-item “View” in the

Edit menu or use the tool button from the toolbar. It is also possible to use the shortcut
CTRL-S, double click the mouse or press “ENTER” on the keyboard.

When viewing sources, a window with detailed information is opened. All information on the
selected source from the database is shown in this tabbed form, including its picture (if
available), and depending on the kind of source its directivity and formula.

5.4 How to copy data

Every selected source can be copied. This can be done both in the spreadsheet and in the
detailed information form. Data from the source can be copied to text format, which can be
pasted into every text processor (i.e. Microsoft Office Word) and other spreadsheet programs

(i.e. Microsoft Office Excel). Using menu-item “Copy” in the Edit menu, tool button or the

shortcut CTRL-C in the main form and the speed button in the detailed form.
Sources can also be copied to Environmental noise mapping and calculation application Predictor
using menu-item “Copy” in the Edit menu, tool button or the shortcut CTRL-P in the main

form and the speed button in the detailed form.

Author: DGMR Page 11 of 15

SourceDB+

5.5 Minimum requirements

To use SourceDB+ the following minimum requirements are defined:

128 MB internal memory

1 GHz CPU
Screen resolution 1024 x 768
Windows 98, 2000, XP

Author: DGMR Page 12 of 15

SourceDB+

Acknowledgement
We would like to thank all the colleagues in the IMAGINE project who provided valuable input on
sound power levels and prepared fact sheets for these standards. Without their support
preparing the source database would not have been impossible in its present form.

Author: DGMR Page 13 of 15

SourceDB+

Annex 1

Structure of database

Author: DGMR Page 14 of 15

SourceDB+

Author: DGMR Page 15 of 15