Recommended noise criteria for siting industrial facilities near residential communities with extremely low ambient sound levels

Abstract

Noise limits or criteria in many residential communities are based on an allowable increase in level above the prevailing ambient sound level, usually on the order of 3 to 5 dBA. The theory is that such a small increase results in masking of the new or existing intruding facility noise by the environmental ambient sound. However, many facilities are planned for installation or already exist in remote and very quiet ambient environments with residual levels as low as 25 dBA during the day or nighttime. This paper summarizes a study conducted to determine appropriate criteria in such remote and quiet areas where little or no noise masking will occur from ambient sources. The paper discusses both audible noise measured by the A-weighted level, low frequency noise characterized by the C-weighted level and tonal noise.