As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AMBIENT SOUND
The intrinsic sounds that occur in a community without significant
measureable effects of normal community sounds, natural environmental
sounds, or intrusive noise.
COMBINED NOISE LEVELS (CNLs)
When multiple incoherent intrusive noise sources occur simultaneously
on one or more real source property(ies), the combined noise level
of all intrusive noise sources will be used to determine compliance
with the four intrusive noise level limits at the real receiving property(ies).
The additive combined effect of these incoherent sources is computed
by:
Where:
|
|
Lpt
|
=
|
Total sound-pressure level (or sound level), in dB (dBA).
|
|
Lp1
|
=
|
Sound-pressure level of first source (or sound level), in dB
(dBA).
|
|
Lp2
|
=
|
Sound-pressure level of second source (or sound level), in dB
(dBA).
|
|
Lpn
|
=
|
Sound-pressure level of "nth" source (or sound level), in dB
(dBA).
|
|
Po
|
=
|
Standard reference pressure of 20 micropascals.
|
COMPLIANCE METRICS (CMs)
The combined acoustic metrics of the LEQ, LMAX, LPK, and LPTL, which are simultaneously measured during the same
interval during a single period. These acoustic metrics are the equivalent
continuous sound level (LEQ), A-weighted fast-response
maximum sound level (LMAX), unweighted peak,
sound-pressure level (LPK), and unweighted
narrow-band pure-tone level (LPTL). The acoustic
reference is 20 micropascals using either the RMS or peak, as appropriate.
COMPRESSORS AND BLOWERS
(1)
Devices used to move fluids, especially gaseous fluids. Typical
devices include but are not limited to reciprocating, lobe, roots,
screw, and related ones.
(2)
Devices used to intake or exhaust, extract, or move fluids,
air, fumes, and gases. Typical applications include but are not limited
to compressors and blowers of buildings, factories, industrial plants,
mine ventilation, radiators, bag houses, and related similar uses.
CONSTRUCTION
Will include but not be limited to any site preparation,
assembly, erection, demolition, substantial repair, maintenance, alteration
or similar action for or of housing or other structures, public or
private rights-of-way, structures, utilities, or similar property,
including grading or contouring terrain for buildings and public and
private roads. Site preparation will include that of electrical substations,
sewage plants, water treatment plants, oil and gas development, mine
development and to include but not be limited to related short-term
work. The time duration of construction will be limited to that defined
by the permit of the issuing authority, whether local, county, state
or federal agency.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Equipment used during construction or demolition, including
but not limited to heavy trucks, pay loaders, tractors, power shovels,
air compressors, cranes, graders, jackhammers, hammers, nail guns,
conveyors, concrete and cement mixers, generators, welders and drilling
rigs.
DAYTIME HOURS
The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays; the
hours between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
DECIBEL
A unit of level when the base of the logarithm is the tenth
root of 10 and the quantities concerned are proportional to power;
unit symbol, "dB."
dBA
A unit of A-weighted sound level; the weighted sound-pressure
level by the use of the A-metering characteristic and weighting specified
in ANSI Specifications for Sound Level Meters.
DOMESTIC POWER EQUIPMENT (DPE)
Equipment that includes but is not limited to equipment driven
by batteries, electric motors, air-driven motors, internal-combustion
engines, or other sources of power-driven equipment that is used for
household and residential applications. DPE includes, by way of example
but not limited to, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, lawn and garden tractors,
tillers, chainsaws, drills, saws, impact wrenches, portable residential
generators, portable pumps, trimmers, power washers, snowblowers,
leaf and related blowers, mulchers, chippers, leaf vacuums, and related
equipment.
EMERGENCY WORK
Any work that is performed or required to restore property
to a safe condition following a public calamity, work required to
protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger, or
work by private or public utilities for providing or restoring immediately
necessary utility service.
EQUIPMENT
Any stationary or portable device or any part thereof capable
of generating sound or noise that could exceed the intrusive noise
level limits based on a combination of both level and time duration.
EVENT
Not-for-profit events sponsored by nonprofit organizations
or community groups and others, as appropriate. Events will include
but are not limited to school games, school sports, church bazaars,
and community fairs. The normal sounds which are not excessively loud
associated with these events will include but are not limited to cheering
crowds, bands, referee whistles, nonamplified music and similar sounds.
EXCESSIVELY LOUD NOISE SOURCES
(1)
This will include people or equipment.
(2)
Any equipment that is louder than normal for equipment of the
same type, especially for identical equipment of the same make and
model that is in good working order, by example but not limited to
domestic power equipment, farm equipment, portable generators, standby
emergency generators, pumps, or construction equipment with a defective
muffler, and HVAC equipment, including those with bad bearings or
squealing belts.
(3)
Also people's voices or sounds/noises made by them, which
are louder than necessary for the situation. By example: loud or rowdy
parties, gathering of groups of people where voices or sounds/noises
made by them are louder than reasonably necessary for the situation.
EXISTING EQUIPMENT
Any equipment, apparatus, and/or device that has existed,
has been installed or used, and has been in operation on the real
source property before enactment of this chapter. This applies to
ones that are permanently installed, movable, or portable. This will
include but not be limited to existing domestic, power equipment and
existing HVAC equipment. By example, residential, commercial, industrial
and other equipment will include but not be limited to fans of all
types, air conditioners of all types, rooftop- and ground-level condensing
units, gas- or electric-powered lawnmowers and weed trimmers, leaf
blowers, lawn and garden tractors, generators, motors and engines,
chainsaws, fluid compressors of all types, fluid regulating valves,
and all, devices of any type that are capable of producing sound or
noise that exceeds the intrusive noise level limits based on a combination
of both level and time of duration.
FANS
Devices used to move gaseous fluids, normally but not limited
to air and fumes. Typical devices include but are not limited to centrifugal
fans, propeller fans, and axial vane fans. Devices, which are normally
fans, are used to intake or exhaust, extract, or move air, fumes,
and gases. Typical applications include but are not limited to fans
of buildings, factories, industrial plants, mine ventilation, radiators,
restaurants, household window units, and bag houses, and related similar
uses.
FARM LIVESTOCK
Farm animals, to include but not limited to cows, horses,
and pigs, kept on a farm located on agricultural land or other land
as authorized by the Zoning Ordinance.
FARM FOWL
Fowl, to include but not limited to chickens, turkeys, geese,
and ducks. Fowl will kept on a farm located on agricultureal land
or other land as authorized by the Zoning Ordinance.
FAST RESPONSE
The nominal exponential averaging time of 1/8 second as measured
with a sound-level meter that complies with ANSI standards.
FREQUENCY
For a function periodic in time, the reciprocal of the period;
Unit, hertz (Hz).
HARMONIC
Sinusoidal quantity that has a frequency which is an integral
multiple of the frequency of the periodic quantity to which it is
related.
HVAC EQUIPMENT
Commercial and residential heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
equipment as part of a closed-loop system that includes air handlers,
compressors, condensing units, chillers, and residential air conditioners.
INTERVAL
A one-minute interval where the compliance metrics of LEQ, LMAX, LPK, and LPTL are simultaneously measured.
INTRUSIVE NOISE (IN)
Noise exceeding the normal ambient sound of the community
without the significant measureable effects of normal community sounds
and natural environment sounds. Intrusive noise includes but it is
not limited to excessively loud voices of individuals or groups of
people, amusement parks, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, commercial
sport activities, car racing, fans of all types, compressors and blowers
of all types, HVAC equipment, firecrackers, backup alarms of nonlicensed
vehicles, bulldozers, payloaders, graders, material moving equipment,
compressor-driven engines and motors and their radiator fan, mine
ventilation fans, paging systems, standby generators, baghouse fans,
gas flaring, gearboxes, electric motors, reciprocating engines, gas
turbines, including their exhaust and turbine body noise, excessively
loud condenser fans, excessively loud music, excessively loud stereo
equipment, rowdy crowds, excessively loud parties, model airplanes
and cars, excessively loud domestic power equipment, excessively loud
commercial and residential HVAC, and related items. Intrusive noise
does not include natural environmental sounds or normal community
sounds.
INTRUSIVE NOISE SOURCE (INS)
A noise source that occurs on a real source property, RSP,
or other location on either public or private property, that causes
intrusive noise to occur on any real receiving property, RRP, either
private or public property. "Intrusive noise source" shall also mean
the combined noise level, CNL, of more than one source located on
one real source property or public property that generates intrusive
noise on a real receiving property. By example, the CCE could be many
HVAC sources on the roof of a single building or several buildings,
or many sources distributed throughout the property of a single industrial
plant, or many of them, that impact on a real receiving property.
LOG AVERAGE LEVEL (LAL)
(1)
The logarithmic average for each of the four compliance metrics
consisting of the equivalent continuous level (LEQ), maximum sound level (LMAX), peak sound-pressure
level (LPK) and PTL (LPTL), where LXX represents either the LEQ, LMAX, LPK, and/or LPTL. The log average level is computed
for each of the compliance metrics by:
|
|
Where:
|
|
Lxx
|
=
|
Log average level in dBA or dB.
|
|
Lx1
|
=
|
Level of the first measurement in dBA or dB from the first interval.
|
|
Lx2
|
=
|
Level of second measurement in dBA or dB from the second interval.
|
|
Lxn
|
=
|
Level of the "nth" measurement in dBA or dB from the nth interval.
|
|
n
|
=
|
The number of measurement intervals that is greater or equal
to 20.
|
|
Pc
|
=
|
Standard reference pressure of 20 micropascals.
|
(2)
The four log average levels using 20 or more intervals from
a single period are:
(a)
Log average Level One (LAL1): the log average level of the LEQ.
(b)
Log average Level Two (LAL2): the log average level of the LMAX.
(c)
Log average Level Three (LAL3): the log average level of the
LPK.
(d)
Log average Level Four (LAL4): the log average level of the
LPTL.
MINING DEVELOPMENT
Site development for a commercial mine and its related facilities
that includes but is not limited to site preparation, mine site construction
of a reasonable and limited duration and the installation of equipment
and apparatus that will be needed to operate the mine. This will include
site preparation and restoration.
MINING OPERATIONS
The ongoing operation of a mine of any type that is producing
the product, such as coal, gravel, sand, and other raw materials,
and the related transportation by haul truck, rail car, or conveyor
to a storage facility on site or off site. Operations and equipment
used for operations will entail but are not to be limited to the use
of material handling conveyors, material processing plants, stockpile
operations, mine ventilation fans, fans of all types, haul trucks,
bulldozers, graders, pay loaders, preparation plants, and any or all
potentially noisy apparatus used for the ongoing production of raw
materials that might exceed the intrusive noise level limits. Operations
will include normal maintenance and the movement of vehicles and construction-type
equipment on the site or to and from the site. Devices or equipment
remotely located from the site will be included in mine operations.
This will include but not be limited to conveyors and mine ventilation
fans. Equipment and facilities used for the operation of deep coal
mines, strip mines of all types, river dredging, sand and gravel mines,
and all other mining types are subject to the intrusive noise level
limits.
MOTORCYCLE
Any motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider
and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with
the ground. The term shall include motorized bicycles, motor scooters,
mopeds and the like.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle that is self-propelled, used primarily for transporting
persons or property upon public highways and required to be licensed
under Pennsylvania law.
MUFFLER
A device which is effective in reducing the sound or noise
of a fluid flow in, by way of example, but not limited to reciprocating
engines, regulating valves, fans, pumps, compressors, turbine engines,
and related items. The term "muffler" shall be construed to include
silencers.
NARROW-BAND ANALYSIS
Measurements made with dynamic analyzers, normally using
the Fast Fourier Transform Algorithm, to decompose a time signal into
its frequency components of level versus frequency consisting of a
spectrum level with a resolution of 1 Hz or less. Typical measurement
setups use Hanning Windows, at least 1 Hz resolution and preferably
1/8 Hertz resolution, and enough ensemble averages to measure the
magnitudes of pure tones, if they exist, or the components of a line
spectrum displayed as a spectrum level.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS (NES)
Environmental sounds that are inherent to the community and
are due to naturally occurring sounds that include but are not limited
to insects, rustling leaves, wind generated sound, wild birds, wild
animals, frogs, rain, lighting, or weather. NES shall not be construed
to include the noise of domesticated animals or excessively loud sounds
of a person.
NIGHTTIME HOURS
The hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays; the
hours between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
NOISE LIMIT 1 (NL1)
The equivalent continuous sound level, in dBA, that is not
to be exceeded for a given zoning district for a particular time of
day as specified in Table I of the intrusive noise level limits.
NOISE LIMIT 2 (NL2)
The A-weighted fast response maximum sound level that is
not to exceed the magnitude of the reference equivalent continuous
sound level of the intrusive noise level limits by more than 10 dBA
for a given zoning district for a particular time as specified in
the intrusive noise level limit of Table 1.
NOISE LIMIT 3 (NL3)
The unweighted peak sound-pressure level that is not to exceed
the decibel value of the reference equivalent continuous sound level
of the intrusive noise level limit by more than 20 dB for a given
zoning district for a particular time.
NOISE LIMIT 4 (NL4)
A pure-tone level, in dB, whose magnitude at a specific frequency
is 10 points below the pure-tone level curve for the reference equivalent
continuous sound level for the zone and time of day. PTL decibel magnitudes
for the specific tonal frequency will be based on linear interpolation
of the PTL curve values for the two nearest octave-band center frequencies.
NORMAL COMMUNITY SOUND (NCS)
Sounds that are inherent to the community and consistent
with the norms of this community, and are an integral part of the
normal community environment, and are ones that the average resident
would reasonably expect to occur in their community assuming they
are not excessively loud. Typical community sounds occurring at reasonable
and not excessively loud levels may include but are not limited to
children playing, occasional dog barks, domestic power equipment,
residential HVAC equipment, and other related sounds. These include
but are not limited to reasonable transportation sounds that meet
state, federal, and local noise requirements and limits. Sounds covered
by the special provisions of this chapter are subject to the strict
conditions of those provisions.
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT
Site development for a commercial oil and gas well and its
related facilities that includes but is not limited to site preparation,
well site construction of a reasonable and limited duration, drilling
of the oil or gas well, hydraulic fracturing of the oil or gas well,
installation of equipment and apparatus that will be needed to operate
the well, as well as site restoration. The construction of compressor
stations and gas-processing facilities will be part of the development
phase. Equipment and apparatus will include but not be limited to
compressors, engines and/or motors, storage tanks, metering devices,
pipe installation for transmission to storage facilities or transportation
pipeline, and any other equipment associated with a drilling operation.
OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS
The ongoing operation of an oil or gas well and associated
facilities that are used in the production of oil and gas and the
related transportation of the products, to include but not be limited
to storage facilities that are on or off site and/or transportation
pipelines. Operations will entail but are not limited to the use of
compressors of all types; engines, especially those used to drive
compressors; electric motors, especially those used to drive compressors;
cooling equipment for both the prime mover and the intercooling stages
including their fans; regulating valves; noisy pipes, especially whose
fluid is being excited by a valve or compressor; pumps, and other
equipment, devices, or apparatus used for the ongoing production of
oil and gas along with their byproducts. Operations will include normal
maintenance and the movement of vehicles and construction type equipment
on the site or to and from the site. Devices or equipment remotely
located from the site will be included in oil and gas operations.
This will include but not be limited to fluid-pressure-boosting equipment
and regulating valves.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, public or private association
or corporation, firm, trust, estate, Municipality, governmental unit,
public utility or any other legal entity whatsoever that is recognized
by law as the subject of rights and duties.
PERIOD
A single, twenty-four-hour period during which compliance
measurements are made to determine if the noise level limits are being
exceeded by the collective log average levels.
PROPERTY BOUNDARY
An imaginary line on the real receiving property, with a
vertical extension of that line above and below the surface of the
property at all elevations, that separates the intrusive noise source
or the combined noise level of more than one intrusive noise source
from the real source property. The property boundary can be associated
with either the source property or the receiving property when the
two properties are not defined by a common property boundary. "Property"
will mean both private and public property, whereas the intrusive
noise source may be on private property and affecting public property
or it may be on public property and affecting private property. "Property
boundary" will be understood to be the line that separates any intrusive
noise source at any elevation from any receiver location on a real
receiving property or public property.
PURE TONE
The magnitude and frequency of a noise occurring at a discrete
frequency as determined by an Fast Fourier Transform measurement (narrow-band
analysis) of the noise with a dynamic analyzer using at least 1 Hz
and preferably 1/8 Hz resolution, a Hanning window, and sufficient
averaging to determine the magnitude of the pure tone level that is
exceeded 5% of the time (also referred to as the "exceedance rate
of Ls").
PURE TONE LEVEL (LPTL)
The magnitude of a discrete-frequency noise or sound, a pure
tone, expressed in decibels with a reference of 20 micropascals.
PURE TONE LEVEL CURVE CRITERIA (PTLCC)
The series of curves defined in table 1 consisting of octave
band center frequency in Hertz (Hz) versus pure-tone level in unweighted
decibels (dB).
|
Octave Band Center Frequency
(Hz)
|
---|
Pure-Tone Level
|
16
|
32
|
63
|
125
|
250
|
500
|
1000
|
2000
|
4000
|
8000
|
---|
PTL70 (dB)
|
101
|
96
|
91
|
86
|
81
|
76
|
72
|
68
|
64
|
60
|
PTL65 (dB)
|
96
|
91
|
86
|
81
|
76
|
71
|
67
|
63
|
59
|
55
|
PTL60 (dB)
|
91
|
86
|
81
|
76
|
71
|
66
|
62
|
58
|
54
|
50
|
PTL55 (dB)
|
86
|
81
|
76
|
71
|
66
|
61
|
57
|
53
|
49
|
45
|
PTL50 (dB)
|
81
|
76
|
71
|
66
|
61
|
56
|
52
|
48
|
44
|
40
|
PTL45 (dB)
|
79
|
74
|
68
|
62
|
56
|
51
|
47
|
43
|
39
|
35
|
PTL40 (dB)
|
78
|
71
|
64
|
58
|
51
|
46
|
42
|
38
|
34
|
30
|
PTL35 (dB)
|
76
|
69
|
61
|
54
|
46
|
41
|
37
|
33
|
29
|
25
|
PTL30 (dB)
|
74
|
66
|
58
|
49
|
41
|
36
|
32
|
28
|
24
|
20
|
PTL25 (dB)
|
73
|
64
|
54
|
45
|
36
|
31
|
27
|
23
|
19
|
15
|
PTL20 (dB)
|
71
|
61
|
51
|
41
|
31
|
26
|
22
|
18
|
14
|
10
|
PTL15 (dB)
|
69
|
59
|
48
|
37
|
26
|
21
|
17
|
13
|
9
|
5
|
PTL10 (dB)
|
68
|
56
|
44
|
33
|
21
|
16
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
REAL RECEIVING PROPERTY (RRP)
The real property impacted by intrusive noise. The receiver
location affected by intrusive noise can occur anywhere on the real
receiving property at any elevation occurring within or on the property
or the boundary of it.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
Off-road motor- and engine-driven vehicles, recreational
boats, and recreational aircraft, motorcycles used off road, licensed
or unlicensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Recreational vehicles
include but are not limited to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs); dirt motorcycles;
dune buggies; personal watercraft; snowmobiles; ultra-light aircraft;
stock and race cars, whether used off or on tracks or race courses;
and racing, endurance or motocross motorcycles, whether, used on or
off tracks or race courses.
REAL PROPERTY
An interest or aggregate of rights in land that is guaranteed
and protected by law. For purposes of this chapter, the term "real
property" includes a leasehold interest.
RECEIVER LOCATION
Any point on the real receiving property (RRP) at any elevation.
The receiver location will include any point within or on the property
boundaries at any elevation that is at, above, or below ground level.
The receiver location does not have to be the point nearest to the
source location. Normally enforcement measurements will be made at
any location on the RRP that is needed to determine noncompliance
with this chapter for any locations adversely affected by the intrusive
noise, normally but not limited to people on the RRP.
REAL SOURCE PROPERTY (RSP)
Any real property containing a noise source or which collectively
contains more than one significant noise source whose collective effect
is to generate intrusive noise that affects any real receiving property
by crossing any property boundary that separates the two properties.
This boundary does not necessarily have to be a common boundary for
the two properties. The crossing may occur at any elevation, which
can be at, above, or below ground level.
SHORT-TERM CONSTRUCTION
The required time to complete the immediate project which
has been undertaken where progress is ongoing with a reasonable completion
date from the start of the project. An example would be repair of
a utility line.
SHORT-TERM EVENT
The required time for the immediate event which is ongoing
and of a temporary nature, such as few hours, days or a week.
SITE DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to a tract of land, including paving,
utilities, filling, grading, excavating, mining, dredging or drilling
operations.
SOUND
See ANSI terminology S1.1-1994, Item 3.01.
SOURCE LOCATION
The location, which can be stationary or moving, of an intrusive
noise source that transmits intrusive noise to any receiver location
on a real receiving property.
SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE
Any vehicle designed and used primarily for grading, paving,
earthmoving, and other construction work; and that is not designed
or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property on
a public highway; and that is only incidentally operated or moved
over the highway.
TRANSPORTATION NOISE
Sound generated by motorized modes of transportation lawfully
operating on public roads, railroad rights-of-way, commercial waterways,
or controlled airspace. The noises of these lawful modes of transportation
are covered by the appropriate agencies. Transportation noise does
not include noise generated by recreational vehicles.
WARNING DEVICE
Any device intended to provide public warning of potentially
hazardous, emergency or illegal activities, including but not limited
to a commercial, residential or vehicle burglar alarm, regulated and
licensed motor vehicle equipped with a backup signal, fire alarms,
law enforcement and fire vehicles and similar devices.
WEEKDAY
Any day, Monday through Friday, that is not a legal holiday.
WEEKEND
The days of Saturday and Sunday or any legal holiday.
WINDSCREEN
A porous device used to cover the microphone of a sound-level
meter to suppress the effect of air movement over the microphone that
causes false sound/noise.