STUDENTS Lecture 4 (Chapter 3)

2/12/2017
Noise control
Jaime Westbrook, AuD, CCC-A, F-AAA
Standards and recommendations to

use noise control
• OSHA 1983:
• >90 dBA TWA (5 dB exchange rate).
• > 140 dB peak SPL impulses.
• MSHA 1999:
• >90 dBA TWA (5 dB exchange rate).
• Mine-worker exposure should not exceed 115 dBA with or without
protection.
• DoD 2004:
• >85 dBA.
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Standards and recommendations to

use noise control
• European parliament and council 2003:
• Lower action values:

• >80 dBA.
• > 135dB peak SPL impulses.
• Upper action values:

• >85 dBA.
• Limit values:
• >87 dBA.
• > 140dB peak SPL impulses.
Means of noise reduction

• Use of alternative working methods that lead to less noise
exposure.
• Use alternative equipment with less noise emission.
• Restructure the layout and design of the work-place.
• Train workers to reduce noise exposure.
• Reduce airborne noise: Use shields, enclosures, etc.
• Reduce structure-borne noise: Use damping and insulation.
• Proper equipment maintenance.
• Scheduling work to reduce noise exposure and provide rest
periods.
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Individuals responsible for noise controls
• Industrial hygienists.
• Engineers.
• Facility and safety managers.
• Audiologists.
Economic efficiency of noise

control measures
• Cost – benefit balance.
• Capability of doing the noise control.
• Noise control should not be threaten the viability of the

employer’s business.
• However, employer claims can be judged by court.
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Benefits of noise control measures

• Potential elimination of cost s related to the implementation
of a hearing conservation program.
• Reduction of noise-induced hearing loss.
• Reduced worker compensation and related legal costs.
• Improve communications and reduce vocal effort.
• Reduction in absenteeism.
• Potential of reducing work accidents, and improve work
safety.
• Potential of reduction in coronary heart disease.
Source, path, and receiver approach

to noise control
• Reduce noise at the source:
• Reduction of noise along the path reaching workers.
• Reduction of noise reaching the receiver’s ears.
…HOW?
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Reduce noise at the source

• Purchasing quiet equipment. Standards require every
attempt to reduce machine noise by:
• Selecting nonmetallic materials.
• Adjusting the design to avoid resonance peaks.
• Damping vibrations by inserting joints.
• Reduce the height of falling parts.
• Regulate compressed air exhaust.
• Adjust power transmission to reduce noise.
• Include effective air-jet cooling flanges to reduce noise.
• Reduce speed gently between forward and backward shifting.
• Enclose noisy components.
• Improve noise insulation.
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• Replacement of equipment with alternative quieter

equipment.
• Modification of equipment by implementing engineering or

technical measures.
… Can you think of examples?

• Identify the noisiest machines and machine parts, and the cause
of noise:
• How can you identify these?
• Can you think of any examples?
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Examples of the use of noise

control principles
Materials and systems used for

controlling noise
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controlling noise
• Silencers or mufflers:
• Absorptive silences: use porous sound absorbing material (e.g.
fiberglass).

controlling noise
• Silencers or mufflers:
• Reflective silencers: use large impedance changes and sound
reflection properties to reduce noise in a pipe or duct.
• Combination of absorptive and reflective features.
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Criteria for selecting silencers
• Physical constraints when fitting the silencers.
• The aerodynamic considerations.
• Acoustical performance of the silencer in terms of insertion

loss.

controlling noise
• Active noise cancellation:
• Pros:
• Good for low frequency attenuation.
• Good for eliminating pure tones.
• Works well in moisture.
• Cons:
• Ineffective for sounds above 1 kHz.
• Components of an active noise canceller:

• Sensor microphone.
• Controlling unit that evaluates the incoming sound, and determines the
anti-phase signal.
• Speaker that emits the anti-phase signal to cancel the noisy signal.
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controlling noise
• Acoustic pip lagging:
• The pipe exterior surface of the pipe is wrapped with a sound
absorption material.
Reducing noise due to equipment vibration
• Mounting equipment on vibration isolators (e.g. rubber pads).
• Spraying or attaching vibrating dampers on vibrating

surfaces.
• Adding noise damping rubber joints between parts.
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Vibration damping
• Damping higher frequencies is easier than lower
frequencies.
• Two ways for vibration damping:

• Extensional damping: the damping material sprayed or brushed
directly on the surface.
• Constrained layer damping: sandwiching the damping material
between surfaces.
• Vibrations can be monitored by the macro-fiber composite

that uses piezoelectric materials.
Can telephones damage your hearing?

• How can you avoid sudden loud sounds over the phone?
 Acoustic shock limiters.
• Phase cancellation to eliminate unexpected feedback or sudden

loud sounds mainly in the telephone headset or other audio
devices.
 Train employees on proper use of audio devices.
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Reduction of noise along the path reaching workers
Reduction of noise along the path

reaching workers
• Equipment enclosures.
• Sound shields or barriers.
• Worker isolation in insulated booth.
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Reduction of noise along the path

reaching workers
• Remember… the direct and the indirect paths of sound?
• Can sound reflections from the walls increase the sound

level?
• How to reduce the noise along the path?
• Acoustic enclosures.
• Reorganize workplace.
Acoustic enclosures
• Contain the noisy equipment in sound treated container.
• Works if equipment remains in on place.
• Containers must not affect the working productivity.
• The amount of enclosure attenuation depends on:

• The enclosure material.
• Remember…
• What is the absorption coefficient?
• Is it frequency dependent?
• What is “Noise reduction coefficient”?
• The tightness of seals.
• Isolation of the enclosure from the equipment to reduce vibration.
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Acoustic enclosures
Information need to order acoustic enclosures
• Overall and octave band noise levels.
• The desired attenuation.
• The size and dimensions of the equipment.
• Operational and maintenance requirements including

ventilation and lighting.
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Barriers between noise sources and workers
• Used when the equipment can’t be fully enclosed.
• Efficiency depends on wall dimensions, material, and

transmission loss (TL).
• Measurement of TL at 16 different frequencies in the range of

(125 to 4000 Hz) is required to determine the barrier’s sound
transmission class (STC):
• Barrier mass  (Doubling mass: ~5 dB attenuation)
• Air space  3 inches: ~ 6 dB attenuation.
• Absorptive materials.
Isolation the worker in insulated booth
• Good for office workers, and remotely controlled equipment.
• Call centers are usually insulated so that operators don’t

have to turn the volume very high.
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Reorganizing the workplace

• Avoid having employees near noise unless they have to.
• Example: quality control stations can be in a quite location.
• Pay close attention to the location of:

• Noise sources.
• Barriers and shields.
• Windows and doors.
• Walls and wall design including absorption materials.
• The use of absorption chambers to reduce machine noise.
Reorganizing the workplace

• The use of absorption chambers to reduce machine noise.
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Maintaining and servicing equipment

and workplaces
• Poor maintenance can cause more noise:
• Inadequate lubrication.
• Worn out mufflers.
• Broken acoustic enclosures.
Reduction of noise reaching

the receiver’s ears
• Hearing protection devices become mandatory if noise
exposure exceeds the specified level (e.i. 85 dB for 8 hours).
• Have clear signs to wear hearing protection in designated

areas.
• Restrict entrance only for workers in these areas.
• Clearly mark noisy machines with clear signs.
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• Administrative controls to reduce noise exposure:

• Adjust workers’ schedules to reduce the duration of noise exposure
below limits.
• Provide adequate rest periods:

• Noise should be below 70 dBA to be considered as REST.

• Medium-level noise can affect the health although not affecting
the hearing:
• Cardiovascular dysfunction.
• Change in breathing.
• Annoyance.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Distraction and difficulty concentrating.
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Control of exposure to other

ototoxic substances
• Ventilation systems for toxic fumes.
• The use of:

• Facemasks.
• Protective clothing.
• Respirators.
• Showers.
• Gloves.
• Proper training.
• Goggles.
• Etc.
Questions?
19

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2/12/2017

Standards and recommendations to

Standards and recommendations to

• Lower action values:

• Upper action values:

Means of noise reduction

Individuals responsible for noise controls

• Facility and safety managers.

Economic efficiency of noise

• Capability of doing the noise control.

• Noise control should not be threaten the viability of the

• However, employer claims can be judged by court.

Benefits of noise control measures

Source, path, and receiver approach

• Reduction of noise along the path reaching workers.

• Reduction of noise reaching the receiver’s ears.

Reduce noise at the source

Reduce noise at the source

Reduce noise at the source

• Replacement of equipment with alternative quieter

• Modification of equipment by implementing engineering or

… Can you think of examples?

Reduce noise at the source

Examples of the use of noise

Materials and systems used for

Materials and systems used for

Materials and systems used for

• Combination of absorptive and reflective features.

Criteria for selecting silencers

• Physical constraints when fitting the silencers.

• The aerodynamic considerations.

• Acoustical performance of the silencer in terms of insertion

Materials and systems used for

• Components of an active noise canceller:

Materials and systems used for

Reducing noise due to equipment vibration

• Mounting equipment on vibration isolators (e.g. rubber pads).

• Spraying or attaching vibrating dampers on vibrating

• Adding noise damping rubber joints between parts.

• Two ways for vibration damping:

• Vibrations can be monitored by the macro-fiber composite

Can telephones damage your hearing?

 Acoustic shock limiters.

• Phase cancellation to eliminate unexpected feedback or sudden

 Train employees on proper use of audio devices.

Reduction of noise along the path reaching workers

Reduction of noise along the path

• Sound shields or barriers.

• Worker isolation in insulated booth.

Reduction of noise along the path

• Can sound reflections from the walls increase the sound

• How to reduce the noise along the path?

• The amount of enclosure attenuation depends on:

Information need to order acoustic enclosures

• Overall and octave band noise levels.

• The desired attenuation.

• The size and dimensions of the equipment.

• Operational and maintenance requirements including

Barriers between noise sources and workers

• Used when the equipment can’t be fully enclosed.