LATITUDE - ACOUSTICS SERIES

Fundamentals of Acoustics
APPLICATION GUIDE Supercedes: Nothing Form 201.21-AG1 (804)

Table of Contents

Introduction ..............................................1

Fundamentals of Acoustics .................................1

Amplitude ............................................1
Sound Power Level ...............................2
Sound Pressure Level ............................2
Frequency ............................................2
Wavelength ......................................2
Octave Bands ....................................3
Adding sound Levels ..................................3
A-Weighted Sound Pressure Level ......................3
Sound Fields .........................................4
Free Field Sound Reduction ......................4
Effect of Reflective Surfaces on SPL ............5
Community Reaction to Noise ...............................5
Equivalent Sound Level ...............................5
Day-Night Sound Level ................................5
Noise Ordinances .....................................6
Outdoor Noise Effect on Indoor Sound Levels ..........6
Equipment Sound Levels ....................................7
Sound Control Options ................................7
Vibration Isolation .............................7
Equipment Position ..............................7
Acoustical Barriers .............................8
Compressor Blankets .............................9
Low-Sound and Ultra-Quiet Fans ..................9
Unit-Mounted Sound Attenuating Baffles ..........9
Off-Peak Load Limiting ..........................9
Summary ..................................................10

References ...............................................10
HVAC Equipment and Noise heard. While the actual pressure of a sound wave
is measured in pascals the amplitude of sound is
Noise is defined as “any sound that is undesired expressed in decibels (dB) of Sound Pressure
or interferes with one’s hearing of something.” Level.
When noise is excessive and it affects the
environment, it is called noise pollution and like
other forms of pollution it must be controlled or
eliminated.

Many people may not consider noise pollution as

much more than a nuisance, but it can produce
serious physical and psychological stress. Even
when people learn to “ignore” noise pollution, the
body and mind still react to it. Stress levels
increase and outward signs of annoyance and
irritability surface. In fact, the adverse effects of
noise pollution on human health lead the US
Government to pass the Noise Control Act of Figure 1. Characteristics of Sound Waves
1972, which states in part that,

“…inadequately controlled noise presents a A decibel is not a true unit of measure like a
growing danger to the health and welfare of the meter or a gallon, rather it is a unit for expressing
Nation's population, particularly in urban areas; the ratio of two power-related quantities on a
that the major sources of noise include logarithmic scale. Decibels are used to express
transportation vehicles and equipment, sound pressure levels (abbreviated Lp or SPL)
machinery, appliances, and other products in because of the huge range of sound pressures the
commerce; …and that it is the policy of the human ear can perceive.
United States to promote an environment for all
Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their
health or welfare.” Sound
Sound Pressure
Pressure, Level, dB Subjective
All heating, ventilating and air-conditioning Source Pa re 20 µPa Reaction
equipment produces noise. Because of this and
Military jet takeoff at 100 ft 200 140 Extreme Danger
the laws limiting noise pollution, designers who
specify the quietest equipment have a significant Passenger jet takeoff at 100 ft 20 120 Threshold of pain
advantage in the market today. It is the goal of Loud rock band 6.3 110 Threshold of comfort
this document to guide the design professional in Platform of a subway station 2 100
proper acoustical application of one particular Curbside of a busy street 0.2 80
HVAC system component – the air-cooled chiller.
Conversational speech at 3 ft 0.02 60
Quiet residential area 0.002 40

Fundamentals of Acoustics Buzzing insect at 3 ft 0.0002 20 Perceptible

Rustle of leaves 0.00006 10 Faint
Sound is a result of vibrations in the air that are Normal threshold of hearing 0.00002 0 Threshold of hearing
caused by the motion of an object. Human beings
hear sound when these vibrations exert pressure Table 1. Typical Sound Pressures and Sound Pressure Levels
on the eardrum. The duration, amplitude and
frequency (or wavelength) of the vibrations The drawback to expressing sound pressure level
determine how various sounds are perceived. in decibels is that sound power level (abbreviated
Lw or PWL) is also express using a logarithmic
Amplitude decibel scale. As the term implies, sound power
The amplitude of sound determines the amount of is actually quantified in watts, however due to the
pressure sound waves exert on the eardrum. The wide range of sound power levels associated with
higher the amplitude of a sound wave, the more various sounds, a logarithmic decibel scale is
pressure it exerts, and the louder the sound that is again more convenient. This use of decibels to
describe both the pressure level and power level Frequency
of sound leads to a great deal of confusion Sound frequency is a function of how fast the
between these two sound measurements. object creating the sound is vibrating. Frequency
Understanding what sound power levels and is the number of oscillations (cycles) per second
sound pressure levels represent is the key to of the vibrating object expressed in hertz (Hz).
clearing up any confusion.
The wavelength of sound is the speed of sound in
Sound power level represents the “amount” of air (approximately 1,100 feet per second) divided
sound produced by a source; just as the Btu level by the frequency of the sound.
of a space heater represents the amount of heat
the heater can produce. In other words, sound Eq. 1: λ = c/f
power level is a characteristic of the source
producing it and is not affected by the Where: λ = wavelength, ft
environment. This makes sound power the ideal c = speed of sound, fps
way to specify equipment and to compare the f = frequency, Hz
offerings of two or more equipment suppliers.
Objects that vibrate slowly create low frequency,
Sound power cannot be measured directly; it must long wavelength, low pitch sounds. Objects that
be calculated from sound pressure measurements. vibrate quickly create high frequency, short
Since accurate sound pressure levels are, at best, wavelength high pitch sounds.
difficult to measure in the field due to interference
from other sound sources, the only way to verify
the sound power level of a piece of equipment is Example 1: Find the wavelength of a sound
through a laboratory test. wave with a frequency of 63 Hz and a sound
wave with a frequency of 8000 Hz.
Sound pressure level is what causes the eardrum
to vibrate and sound to be heard. The sound λ = c/ f
pressure level depends on the amount of sound
power produced by a sound source, as well as the λ = 1100 fps/63 Hz
environment of the sound source and the receiver. = 17.5 ft
In the space heater analogy, the amount of heat
felt from the heater is analogous to the sound λ = 1100 fps/8000 Hz
pressure level heard coming from an object. Just = 0.138 ft
as the amount of heat felt is affected by distance = 1.7 in.
from the heater and reflection of the heat from
walls, sound pressure level is similarly affected
by these same factors. All of the criteria or Sounds occur over a large range of frequencies.
ratings used to describe the “effect” of sound are Human beings can hear sounds in the range of 20
based on sound pressure level. Hz to about 20,000 Hz. These sounds are either
broadband sounds – sounds composed of a broad
Because of the logarithmic nature of decibels range of frequencies; tonal sounds – sounds
loudness doubles with every 10 dB increase in composed of, or dominated by, a single
sound pressure level. In other words, a 100 dB frequency; or a mix of broadband and tonal noise.
sound is not twice as loud as a 50 dB sound, but
32 times as loud. Examples of broadband sounds include the roar of
a crowd, falling rain, or static on a television.
Change in Change in Foghorns, train whistles and musical notes are
Change in Acoustic Subjective
Amplitude Energy Loudness
examples of tonal sound. HVAC equipment,
Barely including chillers, typically produces broadband
± 3 dB ± 50% Perceptible sound, which may include some tonal elements.
Change Table 3 shows a typical air-cooled chiller sound
Noticeable
± 5 dB ± 68% spectrum consisting sound power levels at eight
Difference
Twice/Half as octave band center frequencies.
±10 dB ± 90%
loud

Table 2. Perception of Sound Pressure Level Change

2
 Octave Band Frequency (Hz) Example 2:
63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k
Lw (dB) 97 97 98 104 100 97 94 84 SPL1 = 50 dB SPL2 = 50 dB
10SPL1/10 = 100,000 10SPL2/10 = 100,000
Table 3. Typical Octave Band Sound Power Criteria
SPL1+2 = 10 · log10(200,000)
As the name implies, octave band spectra are = 53 dB
composed of bands of sound that are a full octave
wide. The numbers shown are an average of the
Combining two identical sound sources does not
sound power over the entire octave as shown in
double the amplitude or perceived loudness of the
Figure 2. When the results of the laboratory
sound. When two equivalent sound sources are
measurements that produced the octave band
added together the amplitude of the sound only
spectrum are graphed in a narrowband spectrum,
increases by 3 decibels. This is true whether the
spikes appear at certain frequencies as shown in
levels of the two sources are 20 db, or 120 db.
Figure 3. These spikes represent the underlying
Figure 4 can be used when adding two sound
tonal sounds that can sometimes be picked out of
sources of different decibel levels. Table 4. can
a broadband sound, and which may be described
be used when adding multiple sound sources of
by terms such as rumble, roar, whine or whistle.
identical decibel levels. When two sources differ
by 10dB or more, the higher source will dominate
and nothing should be added to it.

Figure 2. Octave Band Sound Power Levels

Figure 4. Adding Two Sound Sources

No. of Equal Amount to Add

Sound Levels to Sound Level
2 3.0 dB
3 4.8 dB
4 6.0 dB
5 7.0 dB
: :
N 10 log N dB
Figure 3. Narrowband Sound Power Levels

Adding Sound Levels Table 4. Adding Multiple Identical Sound Sources

Due to the logarithmic nature of the decibel scale,
sound pressure levels must be added A-Weighted Sound Pressure Level (dBA)
logarithmically rather than arithmetically. The The A-weighted sound pressure level is a single
formula for adding two decibel levels is: number rating that is often used to analyze sound
in outdoor environments. Engineers derive this
Eq. 2: SPL1+2 = 10 · log10(10SPL1/10 + 10SPL2/10) number by adding weighting factors to each of
the octave band sound pressure level values and
then adding the resultant sound pressure levels

3
logarithmically. In the A-weighting system, low relatively small changes in position. This is
frequency octave bands are more heavily caused by the overlap of sound waves from the
weighted than high frequency bands (Table 5). various sources. In order to avoid potential
This is done to simulate the human hearing, inaccuracies caused by near field effect,
which is less sensitive to low frequency sound. measurements should be taken a minimum of one
to two “source lengths” from the equipment.
Octave Band 63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k
A-Weighting Factor -26 -16 -9 -3 0 1 1 -1

Table 5. Octave Band A-Weighting Factors

The correlation of the A-level with people’s

subjective assessment of the annoyance of many
sound types makes the A-weighting system useful
in predicting how people will react to equipment
sound levels. A-weighted sound pressure levels
(dBA) can be measured directly using a standard
Figure 5. Extent of Near Field Sound
sound level meter, or can be calculated as shown
in Example 3.
Beyond the near field, sound waves become more
Example 3: Find dBA level of a chiller with the uniform and more accurate measurements are
following octave band sound pressure spectrum: possible; this area is the far field. If the near
field and far field are clear of objects and surfaces
that would obstruct or reflect the sound waves,
Frequency (Hz)
the equipment is considered to be in a free field.
63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k
Lp (dB) 97 97 98 104 100 97 94 84 As sound waves radiate outward from a source in
a free field, the sound pressure levels decrease by
approximately 6dB for every doubling of
Solution: Apply the A-weighting factors: distance. The formula for determining the actual
sound pressure level (in dBA) of a source, at any
63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k given distance from the source is:
Lp 97 97 98 104 100 97 94 84
Eq. 3: LpA = LwA – (20 · log10D) + 2.3
A-Wtg -26 -16 -9 -3 0 1 1 -1
A-Wtd Lp 71 81 89 101 100 98 95 83 Where: LwA = A-wtd sound power of source, dBA
D = distance from sound source, ft
Add the A-weighted sound pressure levels using 2.3 = free field constant
Equation 2:

LpA = 10 · log10(10SPL1/10 + 10SPL2/10 +…+ 10SPL8/10) Distance (ft) SPL Reduction (dBA)
30 27.2
= 10 · log10(3.3193 x 1010) 50 31.7
75 35.2
= 10 · 10.5 100 37.7
150 41.2
200 43.7
= 105 dBA
Table 6. Sound Pressure Level Loss in a Free Field
Sound Fields
The area close to the sound source is called the Obstruction-free sound fields rarely occur in
near field. When the sound levels of a piece of practice. Typically equipment is placed close to a
equipment with multiple sources, e.g. an air- wall of a building that reflects the sound hitting it.
cooled chiller with multiple compressors and This sound reflection can increase the sound
fans, is measured in the near field, sound pressure pressure level of the equipment relative to what it
readings may fluctuate by as much as 10 db with would be in a true free field environment. An

4
excellent reference source for determining the Rome prohibited nighttime chariots races because
effect of obstructions on sound pressure levels is the noise disturbed Roman citizens who were
the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute’s trying to sleep. In 1972 the United States
(ARI) Standard 275 – Application of Sound Congress passed the Noise Control Act in order to
Rating Levels of Outdoor Unitary Equipment. protect American citizens from excessive noise
levels. In 1976 the Environmental Protection
ARI Standard 275 recommends an adjustment Agency (EPA), which has primary responsibility
factor of +3 dB to account for sound reflected for enforcing the Noise Control Act, published
from a nearby wall if the equipment is mounted “The Model Community Noise Control
within 10 feet of the wall as shown in Figure 6. Ordinance” to assist municipalities in developing
laws for local noise control, but stopped short of
mandating actual noise limits, preferring to leave
that task to state and local governments.

Two terms are typically used to quantify

community noise levels:

Equivalent sound level, Leq is a single number

value of the sound level, in dBA, that represents
the average sound level at a location over a given
period of time. That is, while the actual sound
level may vary over time, Leq is the steady-state
sound level that equates to the total, measured
acoustical energy averaged over the period for
which it was measured. For example, in Figure 8.
Figure 6. Single Reflective Surface
the actual sound level varies from approximately
38 dBA to about 73 dBA, however the Leq for the
ten minute period shown is 58 dBA. The Leq can
If the equipment is located within 10 feet of two
be measured directly using an integrating sound-
reflecting surfaces, such as two walls forming an
level meter.
inside corner as shown in Figure 7, ARI Standard
275 recommends an adjustment factor of +6 dB to
account for the increased sound pressure level
caused by the sound reflection.

Figure 8. Time Variance of Outdoor Sound

Day-night sound level, Ldn is the A-weighted

equivalent sound level for a 24-hour period in
which a 10 dB weighting is added to the sound
levels measured from 10 PM to 7 AM. In other
words, an area in which the daytime Leq = 60 and
Figure 7. Two Reflective Surfaces the nighttime Leq = 50, would have a weighted
nighttime Leq of 60 and an Ldn of 60.

Community Reaction to Noise

Regulations to limit outdoor noise levels have
existed for thousands of years. Laws in ancient

5
 Because there is no nationwide noise limitation,
and due to the wide range of ambient background
noise levels, the only way to determine the noise
level limits for a given jurisdiction is to research
the actual community noise ordinances, assuming
one has been written. Table 7 compiles the
allowable limits from the noise ordinances of a
handful of cities across the country, but even
these are subject to change and should not be used
without further research.

The data in Table 7 indicate a fair amount of

agreement, but also significant variability in
acceptable noise levels. In the case of Pittsburgh,
PA, as well as many other cities, particularly
Figure 9. Typical Outdoor Day-Night Sound small towns, noise ordinances either don’t list
Levels at Various Locations. specific values, or don’t exist. One observation
that can be made from Table 7 is the allowable
Figure 9 shows the background noise levels (Ldn) sound levels are reduced by 5 to 10 dB during
for various locations. The differences in noise evening and nighttime hours to account for
levels from one type of community to another greater noise sensitivity that occurs at night due to
illustrate why it has been left to state and local people watching TV, sleeping, etc.
governments to set the sound level limits in their
noise control ordinances – a limit of 45 dBA may Example 4: Consider an air-cooled chiller
be perfectly reasonable for a rural neighborhood, operating at a school in Denver, CO. If the chiller
but it would be totally impractical in an urban is separated from a nearby housing development by
area with an Ldn of 68 dBA. Likewise, a limit of an open, 150’ field, what is the maximum allowable
60 dBA, would be achievable in both a suburban dBA level of the chiller that will meet the daytime
setting and on a farm, but would be considered noise ordinance limits? What about at night?
much too high in the typically quiet farm setting.
Allowable daytime sound level, Leq = 55 dBA
Table 7. Community Noise Ordinance Values
Solving Eq. 3 for LwA:
Allowable Noise Levels Leq (dBA)

City or Residential Commercial Industrial LwA = 55 + (20 · log10150) - 2.3

1 2
Municipality Day Night Day Night Day Night LwA = 96 dBA
San Antonio, TX 63 56 70 63 72 65
Portland, OR 55-60 50-55 65-70 60-65 70-75 65-70 Allowable nighttime sound level, Leq = 50 dBA
Long Beach, CA 50 45 60 55 70 70
Therefore, the maximum allowable chiller LwA at
Denver, CO 55 50 65 60 80 75 night would be 91 dBA
Salt Lake City, UT 55 50 60 55 80 75
Toledo, OH 60-65 55-60 70 65 75 75
St. Louis County,
55 50 65 60 80 75
MO Outdoor Noise Effect on Indoor Sound Levels
Pittsburgh, PA No noise ordinance or no maximum values specified. In 1974, the EPA published, “Information on
Santa Fe, NM 55 50 60 55 75 70
Levels of Environmental Noise Requisite to
Protect Public Health and Welfare with an
Tuscon, AZ 70 62 72 65 85 70
Adequate Margin of Safety.” In this document
Bernillo County,
55 45 70 70 80 80 the EPA established that an indoor Ldn ≤ 45db
NM
1 (that is, a daytime equivalent sound level of 45
“Day” is typically defined as the hours of 7am - 10pm, but may
vary by 1-2 hrs. from city to city
db, and a nighttime equivalent sound level of 35
2
“Night” is typically defined as the hours of 10pm – 7am, but may
db) would prevent indoor activity interference and
vary by 1-2 hrs. from city to city annoyance. These levels were intended to apply to

6
residences as well as special use buildings such as Sound Control Options
hospitals and schools. Several techniques can be employed to reduce the
sound pressure levels of equipment in the field.
To date, an indoor Ldn ≤ 45db is still considered Some of the more common sound attenuating
an acceptable level for hospitals and residences, practices include using low sound fans,
although special consideration must be given to compressor blankets, and acoustic barriers. Other
the location of equipment in the case of hospitals. strategies, such as off-peak load limiting, proper
When equipment is located near a building, as is unit positioning and vibration isolation, also
often the case with hospitals and schools, the provide varying levels of sound reduction. The
reduction in sound levels due to free field loss is method of sound control best suited for any
negated and the designer must rely on the particular job depends upon many factors,
structure of the building to attenuate the including the amount of reduction required and
equipment noise. the impact on the first cost of the job.

Attenuation of equipment noise is especially Proper vibration isolation is critical to every

critical in the case of schools. In 2002 the application. Air is not the only medium through
American National Standards Institute published which sound waves travel. Vibrations in
ANSI Standard S12.60-2002 – Acoustical improperly isolated piping or electrical conduit
Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and can cause objectionable indoor noise levels, as
Guidelines for Schools. This standard requires can structure-borne vibrations that result from
that new school classrooms and other learning inadequate isolation of the equipment itself.
spaces be designed to limit indoor ambient noise Improperly sized water piping and valves can also
levels to 35 dB or less. Given the stringency of cause noise problems such as valve chatter and
this requirement, design engineers must pay excessive broadband noise due to high water
particular attention to equipment selection, velocity.
equipment location, building materials and other
sound attenuation devices and strategies. Several If the chiller is mounted on the roof of the
methods and devices for attenuating air-cooled building, special attention must be paid to roof
chiller sound will be discussed in the next section. structure design under the equipment.
Insufficient roof mass or structural rigidity can
Equipment Sound Levels allow sound waves and equipment vibration to
pass through the structure and into the building.
In order to establish a level playing field and
Proper selection and use of vibration isolation
ensure that all manufacturers were rating and adds relatively little first cost to a job. Adding
reporting equipment sound power levels the same mass and rigidity to the support structure of the
way, the American Refrigeration Institute (ARI)
chiller will increase first cost, but it is far less
developed ARI Standard 370 – Sound Rating of costly to do so at the design stage than when a
Large Outdoor Refrigeration and Air- problem is discovered after the equipment has
Conditioning Equipment. ARI believed this
been installed.
standard would facilitate communication and
understanding between owners, architects, Equipment position is also an important factor in
acousticians, engineers, contractors, government all cases. If the chiller is located to close to the
officials and equipment manufacturers. property line, free-field losses will be minimal
ASHRAE also endorses the use of ARI Standard
and sound levels at nearby residences may exceed
370 in the Applications Handbook. In order to the limits of local noise ordinances. However, if
ensure that equipment performs as specified, all the equipment is located too close to the building
outdoor air-cooled chillers should be rated in
it serves, indoor noise levels may be elevated
accordance with ARI Standard 370. and/or sound reflected from the walls of the
structure could increase property line sound levels
Suggested Specification Text: by as much as 3-6 dB. Equipment should be
Sound power levels of air-cooled located as far from the property line as practical,
but no closer than 10-20 feet from the building.
chillers shall be rated in accordance
with ARI Standard 370. The orientation of the equipment can also help.
Equipment should be positioned so that the

7
control panel or the DX cooler is between the the fan noise is loudest at the top of the unit and a
compressors and the noise-sensitive area. Doing significant portion of the compressor noise can
so can reduce the perceived sound pressure level radiate through the condenser coils. Using the
by 1 or 2 dB. While the noise reduction achieved equipment center as the intersection of L1 and D
by carefully positioning and orienting the chiller may result in greater noise levels in the field due
is relatively low, this consideration generally adds to underestimation of the required barrier height.
no first cost to the job.
L* (ft.) Attenuation
Acoustical barriers are often erected around
0.5 4 dB
equipment when adjacent properties are too close
to allow for significant free field losses. Such 1 7 dB
barriers are constructed of solid brick, sand-filled 2 10 dB
cinderblocks or special masonry material that is 3 12 dB
available commercially. Note: Acoustical 6 15 dB
barriers can affect equipment performance if
12 17 dB
located too close to the equipment. Consult * Ref: Equation 4 and Figure 10.
manufacturer’s literature to determine
minimum clearances between equipment and Table 8. Acoustical Barrier Effectiveness
obstructions to facilitate proper airflow and
maintenance. Roof parapets and the corners of buildings also
act as acoustical barriers as shown in Figure
The effectiveness of an acoustical barrier can be 11and should be taken into account in any design.
determined by using equations presented in ARI
Standard 275 – Application of Sound Rating
Levels of Outdoor Unitary Equipment. The
standard allows the designer to calculate an “L”
factor using Equation 4 and a diagram similar to
Figure 10.

Eq. 4: L = L1 + L2 –D

Where,

Figure 11. Pre-existing Acoustical Barriers.

Acoustical barriers can add significant first cost to

a job, however when properly applied they greatly
reduce property line noise levels and prevent
Figure 10. Calculating Acoustical Barrier Effect complaints and potential fines.

The “point of evaluation” in Figure 10 could be

anywhere. If ground level sound is of concern, Example 5: If the sound power level of the chiller
the point of evaluation should be located five to in Figure 10 is 102 dB, what is the sound pressure
six feet off the ground to represent a typical level at the point of evaluation assuming L1 = 16’,
person. If a multistory structure, such as an L2 = 19’ and D = 30’?
apartment building, hotel or hospital is located
near the sound source, multiple points of L = 16 + 19 – 30
evaluation may have to be selected to evaluate the L = 5 ∴the attenuation of the barrier = 14 dB
effectiveness of the barrier at different elevations.
From Table 6, the sound level reduction due to a
The point where lines L1 and D intersect in Figure 30’ straight-line distance = 27.2 dB
10 should be located at the upper edge of the
equipment, on the side closest to the acoustical 102 – 14 –27 = 61 dBA*
barrier. This location, rather than the “center” of
the equipment is used to account for the fact that *Note: this is the same amount of attenuation
achieved by a 150’ free field loss.

8
Compressor blankets can attenuate the sound Unit-mounted sound attenuating baffles can be
pressure levels of the compressors. Made of a added to reduce the sound transmission of the
dense material, compressor blankets encompass chillers. The type and construction of sound
the entire compressor and can reduce their sound attenuating baffles varies from manufacturer to
pressure level by 2 or 3 dB. However, both the manufacturer. Figure 12 shows one example of
compressors and the condenser fans generate compressor perimeter attenuators – heavy gauge
sound on an air-cooled chiller, and compressor steel baffles that facilitate airflow through the
blankets do nothing to attenuate the fan sound. compressor section to the condenser coils while
Therefore, the overall attenuation of the chiller blocking sound emissions. Such baffles are often
sound due to compressor blankets is typically field mounted after start-up and designed to be
only about 1 dB. Compressor blankets generally removable for ease of compressor service.
only add 2-3% to the first cost of a chiller.
Since both the compressor and fan sound levels
Low-sound and ultra-quiet fans are another must be reduced to significantly reduce chiller
option worth considering. Propeller fans such as noise, baffles are typically included to reduce the
the ones used on air-cooled chillers can be amount of sound that propagates through the
extremely loud, but measures can be taken to condenser coils as well. An example of such
reduce the amount of sound they generate. Some baffles, consisting of specially formulated, inert,
of the ways propeller fan noise can be reduced inorganic spun fiber, mounted in the
are: reducing the speed of the fan, changing the aerodynamically neutral zone of the condenser, is
pitch of the blades and increasing the number of shown in Figure 13.
blades. Low-sound fans are often standard on
newer chiller designs and many manufacturers
offer an option for ultra-quiet fans.

Depending upon what techniques are used, low-

sound fans can reduce chiller fan noise by 3-4 dB
and ultra-quiet fans by 5-7 dB. Once again,
however, the fan noise is only one component of
the total chiller noise and reducing fan noise does
nothing to reduce compressor noise. Therefore,
the overall reduction in chiller noise for low noise Figure 13. Chiller Sound Attenuating Baffles
or ultra-quiet fans alone may only amount to 1-3
dB or 2-4 dB, respectively. Given the variety of Off-peak load limiting can be used to control
options available to reduce fan noise, ultra-quiet air-cooled chiller noise, particularly at night when
fans may add anywhere from 2% to 5% to the noise sensitivity is greater and noise ordinances
first cost of the chiller. are more stringent. Air-cooled chillers rarely run
at their design point, which is why ARI developed
Integrated Part Load Values (IPLVs) to evaluate
the efficiency of the chillers throughout their
operating ranges. Historically air-cooled screw
chillers have not been noticeably quieter at part
load operation than at full load, but thanks to
recent technological advances, air-cooled screw
chillers can now be quieter as well as more
efficient at part load operation.

Using special compressor loading sequences and

careful staging of condenser fans, sound power
levels at 50% load can now be reduced by 5 to 10
dB or more, compared to full load sound. Even
greater reductions can be achieved at loads below
50%. Referring back to Table 7, reductions such
Figure 12. Compressor Perimeter Attenuators as this match up nicely with the differences
between the allowable daytime and nighttime
levels in most community noise ordinances.

9
With the off-peak load limiting option, operators References
can even program maximum allowable nighttime
noise levels into the chillers and the control logic Beranek, L.L. (ed.) 1971. Noise and Vibration
will automatically limit the load at which the Control. New York: McGraw-Hill
chiller can operate to prevent it from exceeding
the allowable sound power level. Of course, the Ebbing, C., and Blazier, W. (eds.) 1998.
building conditions must also be satisfied, so care Application of Manufacturers’ Sound Data.
must be taken to account for off-peak cooling Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating,
load when programming the load limiting option. Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
Inc.
Summary Lord, H.W., Gatley, W.S., and Evensen, H.A.
1987. Noise Control for Engineers. Malabar, FL:
Figure 14 shows a rough comparison of the first
Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company, Inc.
cost impact relative to effectiveness of the various
sound attenuation options presented above.
Actual costs vary greatly from manufacturer-to- Schaffer, M. 1991. A Practical Guide to Noise
manufacturer and size-to-size. However, to and Vibration Control for HVAC Systems. Atlanta
maximize the benefit gained from the dollars GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
spent it is important to select an option with a low and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
first cost impact relative to the attenuation
achieved. Sickler-Hart, D. 1997. Analysis of Albuquerque
New Mexico’s Ambient Noise and Albuquerque
Environmental Health’s Noise Control Program,
Albuquerque, NM: City of Albuquerque.

ARI. 1997. Standard 275-97 – Application of

Sound Rating Levels of Outdoor Unitary
Equipment. Arlington, VA: Air-Conditioning and
Refrigeration Institute.

ARI. 2001. Standard 370-2001 – Sound Rating of

Large Outdoor Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Equipment. Arlington, VA: Air-
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.

ASHRAE. 2001. ASHRAE Handbook – 2001

Fundamentals, chapter 7. Atlanta, GA: American
Figure 14. Comparison of Sound Attenuating Options
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
Noise pollution is a real world problem and as a
result, community noise ordinances are here to ASHRAE. 2001. ASHRAE Handbook – 2003
stay. In the past engineers and building owners HVAC Applications, chapter 47. Atlanta, GA:
had to rely on expensive, sometimes ineffective, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
methods of attenuating chiller sound, often Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
sacrificing performance and aesthetics in the
process. However, thanks to on-going advances EPA. 1974. Information on Levels of
in technology, air-cooled chillers of today are not Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public
only more efficient, but also quieter than their Health and Welfare within an Adequate Margin
counterparts of the past. The results are: lower of Safety. Washington, DC: Environmental
first costs, lower operating costs, more satisfied Protection Agency.
owners, and happier, healthier communities.
U.S.C. 4901-4918. 1972. The Noise Control Act
of 1972, Public Law 92-574 as Amended Through
P.L. 107-377. Washington, DC: United States
Congress.

10
P.O. Box 1592, York, Pennsylvania USA 17405-1592 Tele.800- 861-1001 Subject to change without notice. Printed in USA
Copyright © by York International Corporation 2004 www.york.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Form: 201.21-AG1 (804) BZP 3M 804 .96
Supersedes: Nothing Code: DXS

11