As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
"A" LEVEL (an abbreviation for the "A-weighted sound level")
The unit of measure of the sound level of all noise as measured with
a sound level meter using the "A" weighting network of the meter. The A-weighting
scale corresponds to the approximate frequency sensitivity of the human ear.
The units of measurement are decibels (dB). As an abbreviation indicating
the sound level has been A-weighted, the units may be expressed as "dB(A)."
All references to "decibel" shall be presumed to mean "dB(A)" unless otherwise
specified.
AMBIENT NOISE
All-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being
usually a composite of sounds from many sources near and far, but excluding
unreasonable noise, as the term "unreasonable noise" is defined herein.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Every ambulance and vehicle operated by the City of Hudson Police
or Fire Department, County Sheriff's Department, other police agency or fire
department, or authorized public utility company when on an emergency call.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY AIRCRAFT
Every aircraft, including helicopters, operated by or on behalf of
the City of Hudson Police or Fire Department, County Sheriff's Department
or other police agency or fire department.
BUILDING APERTURE
Any designated opening in a building to which a person may reasonably
have access, including but not limited to any door, gate, window, skylight
or hatch.
CONSTRUCTION
Any activity necessary or incidental to the erection, demolition,
assembling, altering, installing or equipping of buildings, public or private
highways, roads, premises, parks, utility lanes or other property, including
but not limited to related activities such as land clearing, grading, earthmoving,
excavating, blasting, filling and landscaping.
DECIBEL
The measurement units of sound level: 1/10 of a bel; a unit of measure
used to express either: (1) The absolute sound pressure level as the logarithm
of the sound power or intensity to a reference sound pressure of 20 micronewtons
per square meter; or (2) The relative difference in sound pressure level,
in sound power or intensity, between two acoustic signals, equal to 10 times
the common logarithm of the ratio of the two sound powers or intensities,
or the arithmetic difference in absolute sound pressure levels.
EMERGENCY SIGNAL DEVICE
Any gong, horn, whistle or siren, the use of which is permitted on
emergency vehicles pursuant to § 375 of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law.
FREQUENCY
The number of sound pressure oscillations per second, expressed in
hertz, abbreviated as "Hz."
IMPULSIVE SOUND
Either a single pressure peak or a burst of repetitive peaks (multiple
pressure peaks) that has a duration of less than one second.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership or company, corporation, association,
firm, organization, governmental agency or any other group of individuals
or officer or employee thereof.
REAL PROPERTY LINE
Either:
(1)
The imaginary line, including its vertical extension, that separates
one parcel of real property from another; or
(2)
The vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit that is one
in a multi-dwelling-unit building.
SOUND
An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity
or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes
compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include
any characteristics of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
SOUND LEVEL
The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound-level
meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C, as specified in
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications for sound-level
meters. If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting
shall apply.
SOUND-LEVEL METER
Any instrument, including a microphone, amplifier, an output meter
and frequency reading networks, for the measurement of noise and sound levels
in a specified manner and which complies with standards established by the
American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) specifications for sound-level
meters, ANSI S1.4-1983 (R2006), as amended. A meter meeting ANSI Type 2 specifications
or better shall be used. The sound-level meter shall be used on the "slow"
meter setting unless impulsive sources are being measured, in which case the
"fast" setting shall be used.
SOUND SOURCE
Any person, animal, device, operation, process, activity, or phenomenon
which emits or causes sound.
SOUND REPRODUCTION DEVICE
A device intended primarily for the production or reproduction of
sound, including but not limited to any musical instrument, radio receiver,
television receiver, phonograph, tape player, tape deck, compact disc player
or similar device that reproduces or amplifies sound.
TONAL SOUND
Any sound in which one or more discrete frequency tones are clearly
audible.
UNREASONABLE NOISE
Any excessive, unusually loud or offensive sound which either annoys,
disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety
of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities.