Township of Warwick, PA Chapter 123 Noise

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Warwick 1-15-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-1.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Alarm systems — See Ch. 41.

Mass public assemblies — See Ch. 49.

Nuisances — See Ch. 127.

Zoning — See Ch. 195.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 123, Noise, adopted 9-27-1984 by Ord. No. 84-1 as Part 6:600 of the 1984 Warwick Township Code, as amended.

§ 123-1 Measurement; sound level restrictions.

A. Noise shall be measured with a calibrated, Type II sound level meter having an A-weighted filter constructed in accordance with specifications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Measurements are to be made at any point on the boundary line of any residential, commercial or other district property within the Township.

B. Impact noise shall be measured using the fast response of the sound level meter. Impact noises are intermittent sounds such as from a punch or drop forge hammer. Measurements are to be made at any point on the boundary line of any residential, commercial or other district property within the Township.

C. In all zoning districts, as defined and designated under the provisions of the Code of Warwick Township,[1] at no point on or beyond the boundary of any adjacent property shall the sound level of any person, property, residence, business or corporation exceed the dBA levels shown in Table I below. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the permissible sound levels shall be reduced by 20 decibels as measured under the test procedures established under this chapter.

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 195, Zoning.

§ 123-2 Exemptions.

The following are exempt from the provisions of these regulations:

A. Police, fire, ambulance and other governmental emergency vehicles.

B. Occasionally used safety signals, warning devices and emergency pressure relief valves.

C. Governmental warning devices.

D. Aircraft (except model aircraft).

E. Temporary construction, specifically authorized by the Township.

F. The work to provide electricity, water or other utilities when public health or safety is involved.

G. Public celebrations, specifically authorized by the Township.

§ 123-3 Permissible sound levels.

The following table describes the maximum pressure level permitted from all properties located in any zoning district, as defined and designated by the Code of Warwick Township.[1] The noise level shall be measured from any point on or beyond the boundary line of any adjacent property.

TABLE I Maximum Permitted Sound Levels From Any Source Decibels (dBA)
Sound Measured In	Continuous Slow Meter Response	Impact Fast Meter Response
Residential districts	50	60
Commercial districts	65	75
All other districts	70	80

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 195, Zoning.

§ 123-4 Vibration.

A. Vibration shall be measured at or beyond any adjacent lot line indicated in Table II below, and such measurements shall not exceed the particle velocities so designated. The instrument used for these measurements shall be a three component measuring system capable of simultaneous measurement of vibration in three mutually perpendicular directions.

B. The maximum vibration is given as particle velocity, which may be measured directly with suitable instrumentation or computed on the basis of displacement and frequency. When computed, the following formula shall be used:

PV = 6.28 F x D Where: PV = Particle velocity, inches per second F = Vibration frequency, cycles per second D = Single amplitude displacement of the vibration, inches.

C. The maximum particle velocity shall be the vector sum of the three individual components recorded. Such particle velocity shall not exceed the values given in Table II.

	TABLE II Maximum Ground Transmitted Vibration For O and O-1, C-1 C-2 and C-3 and LI Districts
	Districts	Particle Velocity Adjacent Lot Line in Inches/Second	In Inches/Seconds Residential District
	O and O-1 Office/Nonmanufacturing Districts (Mobile Home)	0.10	0.02
	C-1, C-2 and C-3 Commercial Districts	0.20	0.02
	LI Limited Industrial District	0.20	0.02
	NOTE: Where vibration is produced as discrete impulses, and such impulses do not exceed frequency of 100 per minute, then the values in Table II may be multiplied by two.