NOISE MEASUREMENTS, STANDARDS

AND CONTROL TECHNIQUES

Presented by
NAME-PRABHU PRASAD ROUT
ROLL NO-117MN0670
Coarse-Surface Mine Environment Technology
Coarse Teacher-Prof D.P.Tripathy
NOISE MEASUREMENTS:
Bels and decibels:
The sound pressure of the faintest sound that a normal healthy individual
can hear is 0.00002 Pa. The sound pressure produced by a Saturn rocket is
greater than 200 Pa.
To cope with this problem, a scale based on the logarithm of the ratios of the
measured quantities is used. Measurements on this scale are called levels.
The unit for these types of measurement scales is the bel.
L’ = Log Q/Qo
Where L’ = levels, bels
Q = measured quantity
Qo = reference quantity
A bel turns out to be a rather large unit, so for convenience it is divided into
10 subunits called decibels (dB). Levels in decibels are computed as:
L = 10 Log Q/Qo
SOUND POWER AND INTENSITY
Sound Power Level - If the reference quantity (Qo) is specified, then the
decibel takes on physical significance. For noise measurements, the
reference power level has been established as 10 -12 W. Thus, sound power
level may be expressed as:
Lw = 10 Log [ W/ 10-12 ]

Sound Intensity Level – For noise measurements, the reference sound

Intensity is 10-12 W.m-2 . Thus the sound intensity level is given as:
Li = 10 Log [ I/ 10-12 ]
Sound Pressure Level:

L p  10 log 10 ( p ( t ) / p ref )
Equivalent Noise Level: 2

T
Leq  10 log10 1/ T  (p(t ) / pref )2 dt
•pref = reference sound pressure, standardized at 2 × 10 -5 N/m2 (20 µ Pa) for air-borne sound; for other media, reference may be 0.1 N/m 2
(1dyne/cm2) or 1µN/m2 (1µ Pa)
•p(t)= instantaneous sound pressure
0
Figure-1: Sound Pressure for known sounds
 10 log 2 = 3 dB

Figure-2: Adding noise sources and subtracting background noise

Figure 3:Chart method – adding decibels
Figure 4: Chart method – subtracting background noise
NOISE MEASURING INSTRUMENTS:
Acoustic instruments have been used for decades to quantify the physical properties
of sound and classify them on the basis of physical parameters like amplitude and
duration.
Instruments : sound level meter, octave band analyzers, noise dose meter,
audiometer etc.
Different weighting networks Ex- A, B, and C have been adopted in sound level
meters. However, scales other than A are seldom used since they do not provide a good
approximation to the human ear frequency response.
Noise survey meter is the simplest and cheapest instruments used in the
measurement and analysis of steady noise.
Sound scope meter combine of both sound level meter and octave band analyzer in a
small unit.
Noise dose meter is used to integrate automatically the sound energy received with
regard to its intensity and duration. They are simple, small and assess total noise
exposure at work place.
SOUND LEVEL METER:
•Sound level meters measure sound pressure level and are commonly used in noise
pollution studies for the quantification of almost any noise, but especially for industrial,
environmental and aircraft noise. However, the reading given by a sound level meter
does not correlate well to human-perceived loudness; for this a loudness meter is needed.
The current International standard for sound level meter performance is IEC 61672:2003
and this mandates the inclusion of an A-frequency-weighting filter and also describes
other frequency weightings of C and Z (zero) frequency weightings. The older B and D
frequency-weightings are now obsolete and are no longer described in the standard.
•Originally, the A-frequency-weighting was only meant for quiet sounds in the region of
40 dB SPL, but is now mandated for all levels. C-frequency-weighting however is still
used in the measurement of the peak value of a noise in some legislation, but B-
frequency-weighting - a half way house between 'A' and 'C' has almost no practical use.
D-frequency-weighting was designed for use in measuring aircraft noise. For all civil
aircraft noise measurements A-frequency-weighting is used as is mandated by the ISO
standards.
•The frequency response of A-weighting takes frequency of 1000Hz as the reference and
gives predetermined positive or negative adjustments to all other frequencies in such a
way as to match roughly the Fletcher-Munson equal-loudness counter .
•The noise level reading obtained using the A-weighting network, is called the A-
weighted sound level (or simply the sound level A) with unity dB(A) .
Figure 5 – Weighting Networks
INSTRUMENTS FOR NOISE MEASUREMENTS:

Figure-6: a) Sound level meter , b) Noise dosimeter,

c) Octave band Analyser
Figure 7- Circuit diagram of Sound level meter
The most basic measurement any sound
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS (1/N OCTAVE):

level meter can make is an overall dB level.

This is a single number, which represents
the sound energy over the entire frequency
range of the meter. It provides no
information about the frequency content of
the sound. We can obtain information on
the frequency content by using filters. The
most common are octave band and 1/3
octave band filters.
Octave Band - Measures the total
acoustical energy within the passband of a
band pass filter. The term “octave” denotes
a doubling in frequency. Hence, each
octave band covers a frequency range of
one octave. We refer to the octave band by
its center frequency. The center frequencies
of successive filters are separated by one
octave. The preferred octave band center
frequencies (by international standard) are:
31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000,
8000 and 16000 Hz. The bandwidth of a
filter is the width in frequency between the
–3 dB points. This is an example of a
constant percentage bandwidth filter. The
width of octave filters progressively Figure 8:Characteristics of an octave band filter
Table 1:Center and cutoff frequencies (Hz) for standard full octave
and 1/3 octave filters
NOISE STANDARDS:
Whereas the increasing ambient noise levels in public places from
various sources, inter-alia, industrial activity, construction activity, fire
crackers, sound producing instruments, generator sets, loud speakers,
public address systems, music systems, vehicular horns and other
mechanical devices have deleterious effects on human health and the
psychological well being of the people; it is considered necessary to
regulate and control noise producing and generating sources with the
objective of maintaining the ambient air quality standards in respect of
noise.
 
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS IN RESPECT OF NOISE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS/ZONES:

•The ambient air quality standards in respect of noise for different

areas / zones shall be such as specified in the Schedule annexed to
these rules.
• 

•TheState Government shall categorize the areas into industrial,

commercial, residential or silence areas / zones for the purpose of
implementation of noise standards for different areas.
• 

•The State Government shall take measures for abatement of noise

including noise emanating from vehicular movements, blowing of
horns, bursting of sound emitting firecrackers, use of loud
speakers or public address system and sound producing
instruments and ensure that the existing noise levels do not exceed
the ambient air quality standards specified under these rules.
 
Area Code Type of Area/Zone Limits in dBA (Leq)

Day Time Night Time

(6 AM-10 PM) (10 PM-6 AM)

1 Industrial Area 75 70

2 Commercial Area 65 55

3 Residential Area 55 45

4 Silence Zone 50 40

Table 2-Ambient air quality standards in respect of noise for different areas/zones:
Table 3 - Acceptable outdoor and indoor noise levels for various types of residential
areas and public/private places respectively as per IS: 4954-1968:

• Outdoor noise levels in residential areas:

Types of residential areas Acceptable noise levels in dBA

Rural 25-35
Suburban 30-40
Residential Urban 35-45

Residential and business urban 40-50

City 45-55
Industrial Area 50-60
• Indoor noise levels in public/private places:
Type of place/building Acceptable noise levels in dBA
Radio and TV studios 25-30
Music room 30-35
Hospital, Class room, Auditorium 35-40
Apartment, Hotel, Home 35-40
Conference room, Small office 35-40
Concert room, Private Office 40-45
Libraries 40-45
Large Public Office, Banks, Stores 45-50
Restaurants 50-55
Table 4- Maximum permissible noise exposure level in relation to the daily
exposure time as per OSHA standards:

Sound Level, Leq in dBA Duration per day in hours

90 8
92 6
95 4
97 3
100 2
102 1.5
105 1
110 0.5
115 0.25 or less
Table 5- Recommended noise exposure for industrial workers in India:

Noise Level, Leq in dBA Exposure Time in hours per day

90 8

93 4

96 2

99 1

102 30 minutes

105 16 minutes

108 8 minutes

110 4 minutes

114 2 minutes or less

CONTROL OF NOISE POLLUTION

The techniques employed for noise control can

be broadly classified as:
(1) Control at source
(2) Control in the transmission path
(3)Using protective equipment (Control at
receiver end)
1)NOISE CONTROL AT SOURCES
The noise pollution can be controlled at the source of generation
itself by employing following techniques:

A) Reducing the noise levels from domestic sectors

B) Maintenance of automobiles
C) Control over vibrations
D) Low voice speaking
E) Prohibition on usage of loud speakers
F) Selection of machinery
G) Maintenance of machines
(A) REDUCING THE NOISE LEVELS
FROM DOMESTIC SECTORS

•The domestic noise coming from radio, tape

recorders, television sets, mixers, washing
machines, cooking operations can be minimized
by their selective and judicious operation.

•By usage of carpets or any absorbing material,

the noise generated from felling of items in
house can be minimized.
(B) MAINTENANCE OF AUTOMOBILES

•Regular servicing and tuning of vehicles will

reduce the noise levels.

•Fixing of silencers to automobiles, two

wheelers etc., will reduce the noise levels.
(C) CONTROL OVER
VIBRATIONS

The vibrations of materials may be

controlled using proper foundations, rubber
padding etc., to reduce the noise levels caused
by vibrations.
(D) LOW VOICE SPEAKING

Speaking at low voices enough for

communication reduces the excess noise
levels.
E)PROHIBITION ON USAGE OF
LOUD SPEAKERS
•By not permitting the usage of
loudspeakers in the habitant zones except
for important meetings / functions.

•Now-a-days, the urban administration of

the metro cities in India, is becoming
stringent on usage of loudspeakers.
(F) SELECTION OF
MACHINERY
•Optimum selection of machinery tools or
equipment reduces excess noise levels.

•For example selection of chairs, or selection

of certain machinery / equipment which
generate less noise (sound) due to its superior
technology etc. is also an important factor in
noise minimization strategy.
(G) MAINTENANCE OF
MACHINES
•Proper lubrication and maintenance of
machines, vehicles etc., will reduce noise levels.

•For example, it is a common experience that,

many parts of a vehicle will become loose while
on a rugged path of journey.

•Ifthese loose parts are not properly fitted, they

will generate noise and cause annoyance to the
driver/passenger.
(2) CONTROL IN THE
TRANSMISSION PATH

The change in the transmission path will increase the

length of travel for the wave and get
absorbed/refracted/radiated in the surrounding
environment.
The available techniques are:
(a) Installation of barriers
(b) Installation of panels or enclosures
(c) Green belt development
(A) INSTALLATION OF
BARRIERS
•Installationof barriers between noise source
and receiver can attenuate the noise levels.

•The barrier may be either close to the source

or receiver, subjected to the condition that,
R<< D or in other words, to increase the
transverse length for the sound wave.
 Barrier Receiver
Source

D
R

Barrier close to source

Source Barrier

Receiver

D R

BARRIER CLOSE TO RECEIVER

Fig 9-Attenuation of noise level by barriers
(B) INSTALLATION OF PANELS OR ENCLOSURES

•A sound source may be enclosed with a paneled

structure such as room as a means of reducing
the noise levels at the receiver.

•The actual difference between the sound

pressure levels inside and outside an enclosure
depends not only on the transmission loss of the
enclosure panels but also on the acoustic
absorption within the enclosure and the details of
the panel penetrations which may include
windows or doors
(C) GREEN BELT DEVELOPMENT

•Green belt development can attenuate the sound

levels.
• The degree of attenuation varies with species of
greenbelt.
•The statutory regulations direct the industries to
develop greenbelt four times the built-up area for
attenuation of various atmospheric pollutants,
including noise.
(3)USING PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

•Protective equipment usage is the ultimate step in noise

control technology, i.e. after noise reduction at source and/or
after the diversion or engineered control of transmission
path of noise.
•The usage of protective equipment and the worker’s
exposure to the high noise levels can be minimized by
following.
(a) Job rotation
(b) Exposure reduction
(c) Hearing protection
(A) JOB ROTATION
BY ROTATING THE JOB BETWEEN THE WORKERS WORKING AT A
PARTICULAR NOISE SOURCE , THE ADVERSE IMPACTS CAN BE REDUCED.

(B) EXPOSURE REDUCTION

THE SCHEDULE OF THE WORKERS SHOULD BE PLANNED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT, THEY SHOULD NOT BE OVER EXPOSED TO THE HIGH NOISE
LEVELS.

(C) HEARING PROTECTION

EQUIPMENT LIKE EARMUFFS, EAR PLUGS ETC. ARE THE
COMMONLY USED FOR HEARING PROTECTION. ATTENUATION
PROVIDED BY EAR-MUFFS VARY WIDELY IN RESPECT TO THEIR
SIZE, SHAPE, SEAL MATERIAL ETC.
REFERENCES:
1. http://www.dstegoa.gov.in/Noise%20rules-10-08-2017.pdf
2. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 2: Advanced
Air and Noise Pollution Control
3. Edited by: L. K. Wang, N. C. Pereira and Y.-T. Hung © The
Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, NJ
4. Assessment and Control of Noise Pollution in Mining
Industry, Proceedings of National Seminar held by Institution
of Engineers at Madras, 1989.
5. Rao, P.R., Noise Pollution and Control, Encyclopedia of
Environmental Pollution and Control, Vol.-2, Environmedia
Publications, India, 1995 ed.
6. Mathur, J.S.B., Noise Control : Legislation, Planning and
Design, Industrial EffluentTreatment, Vol.:2, Applied Science
Publishers Ltd., London, 1981 ed.
7. Mathur J.S.B., Noise Control : Methods of Reduction,
Industrial Effluent Treatment,Vol. : 12, Applied Science
Publishers Ltd., London, 1981 ed.