Handbook of Acoustical Measurements and Noise Control, Third Edition

Cyril M. Harris, Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1. Introduction
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D., Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 2. Definitions, Abbreviations, and Symbols
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D., Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 3. Sound Propagation in the Open Air
Joseph E. Piercy, Ph.D.
Gilles A. Daigle, Ph.D.
Acoustics and Signal Processing, Institute for Microstructural Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON K1A
OR6, Canada
Chapter 4. Sound in Enclosed Spaces
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D., Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 5. Acoustical Measurement Instruments
Daniel L. Johnson, Ph.D., Director, Biophysics Operations, EG&G Special Projects, Albuquerque, NM 87119
Alan H. Marsh, DyTec Engineering, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D., Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 6. Vibration Measuring Instruments
Robert B. Randall, B. Tech., B.A., Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S.W. 2033, Australia
Chapter 7. Vibration Transducers
Eldon E. Eller, Senior Project Engineer
Robert M. Whittier, Director, Research and Development
Endevco Corp. (a subsidiary of Allied Signal Aerospace Corp.), San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Chapter 8. Acoustical and Vibration Analysis
Robert B. Randall, B. Tech., B.A., Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S.W. 2033, Australia
Chapter 9. Noise Measurement Techniques
John R, Hassall M. Sc., Br el and Kjaer, Naerum DK-2850, Denmark
Chapter 10. Vibration Measurement Techniques
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D., Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 11. Sound Levels and Their Measurement
David M. Yeager, Ph.D., P.E., Advisory Engineer, IBM Acoustics Lab, Boca Raton, FL 33432
Alan H. Marsh, DyTec Engineering, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Chapter 12. Measurement of Sound Exposure and Noise Dose
Alan H. Marsh, DyTec Engineering, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA 92649
William V. Richings, Consultant, Chalfont, St. Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 0JJ, United Kingdom
Chapter 13. Measurement of Sound Power
William W. Lang, Ph.D., P.E , Program Manager, IBM Corporation, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
Chapter 14. Measurement of Sound Intensity
Malcolm J. Crocker, Ph.D., University Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
36849
Chapter 15. Measurement Standards and Test Codes
William W. Lang, Ph.D., P.E. Program Manager
Matthew A. Nobile, Ph.D., Acoustical Engineer
IBM Corporation, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Chapter 16. Effects of Noise and Reverberation on Speech
Harry Levitt, Ph. D., Distinguished Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Center for Research in Speech and
Hearing Sciences, City University of New York, New York, NY 10036
John C. Webster, Ph.D., Consultant, Spencerport, NY 14559
Chapter 17. Hearing Characteristics
Arnold M. Small, Jr., Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Speech Pathology and Audiology and of Psychology, University of
Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
Robert S. Gales, Consultant, formerly Head, Airborne Acoustics Branch, Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA
92109
Chapter 18. Hearing Loss from Noise Exposure
William Melnick, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
Chapter 19. Hearing Evaluation
Maurice H. Miller, Ph.D., Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, New York University; Chief, Center for
Communications Disorders, Lenox Hill Hospital New York, NY 10021
Laura Ann Wilber, Ph.,D., Professor of Audiology and Hearing Impairment, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
Chapter 20. Hearing Loss; Legal Liability
Allen L. Cudworth, Sc.D., Vice President, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Boston, MA 02117
Chapter 21. Hearing Protection Devices
Charles W. Nixon, Ph.D., Chief, Bioacoustics and Biocommunications, Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research
Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH 45433
Elliott H. Berger, M.S. Manager, Acoustical Engineering, Cabot Safety Corp., Indianapolis, IN 46268
Chapter 22. Hearing Conservation Programs
Larry E. Royster, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh,
NC 27695
Julia Doswell Royster, Ph.D., President, Environmental Noise Consultants, Inc., Raleigh, NC 27622
Chapter 23. Noise-Induced Annoyance of Individuals and Communities
Sanford Fidell, Lead Scientist, BBN Systems & Technologies (a division of Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc.), Canoga
Park, CA 91304
David M. Green, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Chapter 24. Human Performance and Noise
Dylan M. Jones, Ph.D., University Reader, School of Psychology, University of Wales College at Cardiff, Cardiff, CF1
3YG, United Kingdom
Donald E. Broadbent, C.B.E., Sc.D., F.R.S., External Staff, Medical Research Council, Department of Experimental
Psychology University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3UD, England
Chapter 25. Physiological Effects of Noise
Gerd Jansen, Dr. Med., Dr. Phil., University Professor of Occupational Medicine, Istitut für Arbeitmedizin der Universität
Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf D-4000, Germany
Chapter 26. Criteria for Noise and Vibration Exposure
Henning E. von Gierke, D. Eng., Director Emeritus, Biodynamics and Engineering Division, Armstrong Aerospace Medical
Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH 45433; Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, Wright
State University, Dayton, OH 45401
W Dixon Ward, Ph.D., D. Sc., Professor, Departments of Communication Disorders, Otolaryngology and Environmental
Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Chapter 27. Vibration Control Principles
Cyril M. Harris, Ph.D.,Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of
Architecture, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Chapter 28. Vibration Control Techniques
Eric E. Ungar, Eng., Sc.D., Chief Consulting Engineer, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138
Douglas H. Sturz, Senior Consultant, Acentech Incorporated (a Bolt Beranek and Newman Company), Cambridge, MA
02140
Chapter 29. Part 1: Types and Characteristics of Vibration Isolators
Romulus H. Racca, Principal Engineer, Barry Wright Corporation, Watertown, MA 02172
Chapter 29. Part 2: Selection and Applications of Vibration Isolators Harry L. Hain, Staff Engineer
John J. Heintzel, Staff Engineer
Charles J. Leingang, Staff Engineer
Lord Corp., Eric, PA 16506
Chapter 30. Sound-Absorptive Materials
Ron Moulder, Principal Research Scientist, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 43201
Chapter 31. Airborne Sound Insulation
A.C.C. Warnock, Ph.D., Senior Research Officer
J.D. Quirt, Head
Acoustics Section, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON KIA OR6,
Canada
Chapter 32. Structureborne Sound Isolation
Isivan L. Ver, Ph.D., Principal Consultant, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138
Douglas H. Sturz, Senior Consultant, Acentech Incorporated (a Bolt Beranek and Newman Company), Cambridge, MA
02140
Chapter 33. Noise Control in Buildings
A.C.C. Warnock, Ph.D., Senior Research Officer
J.D. Quirt, Head
Acoustics Section, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A OR6,
Canada
Chapter 34. Electric Motor Noise
James B. Moreland, M.B.A., Director, Totl Quality, Westinghouse Science and Technology Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Douglas H. Cashmore, B. Sc. (Hons.), M. Sc., Principal Engineer, Centrilift (a Baker Hughes Company), Claremore, OK
74017
Chapter 35. Transformer Noise
James B. Moreland, M.B.A., Director, Total Quality, Westinghouse Science and Technology Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Ramses S. Girgis, Ph.D., ABB T&D Company, Power Transformer Division, Muncie, IN 47307
Chapter 36. Gear Noise
William D. Mark, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138 (now at Pennsylvania
State University, Applied Research Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802)
Chapter 37. Bearing Noise
F.P. Wardle, Ph.D., C. Eng., M.I. Mech, E, RHP Ltd., Bodegraven 2411 PK, The Netherlands
Chapter 38. Measurement and Analysis of Machinery Noise
Richard H. Lyon, Ph.D., President
Richard G. Cann, P.E., Corporate Consultant
David L. Bowen, Senior Consultant
RH Lyon Corp, Cambridge, MA 02138
Chapter 39. Condition Monitoring of Machinery
Joëlle Courrech, D. Eng., Senior Applications Engineer, Bruel and Kjaer, Naerum, DK-2850, Denmark
Chapter 40. Control of Machinery Noise
Colin G. Gordon, President, Colin Gordon and Associates, San Mateo, CA 94402
Robert S. Jones, M.E., Acoustical Consultant, Acentech Incorporated, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Chapter 4I. Fan Noise
J. Barrie Graham, P.E., Consultant, Graham Consultants, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Robert M. Hoover, Acoustical Consultant, Hoover & Keith, Inc., Houston, TX 77082
Chapter 42. Noise Control in Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems
Robert M. Hoover, Acoustical Consultant, Hoover & Keith, Inc., Houston, TX 77082
Warren E. Blazier, Jr., Principal Consultant, Warren Blazier Associates, Inc., San Francisco, CA 94109
Chapter 43. Noise Control Criteria for Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems
Warren E. Blazier, Jr., Principal Consultant, Warren Blazier Associates, Inc., San Francisco, CA 94109
Chapter 44. Ventilating Systems for Small Equipment
George C. Maling, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Senior Physicist, IBM Corporation, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
Andrew K, Boggess., Jr., M. Sc., Principal Engineer, EG&G Rotron, Woodstock, NY 12498
Chapter 45. Control of Plumbing Noise in Buildings
John J. Van Houten, P.E., Principal Consultant, J.J. Van Houten & Associates, Inc., Anaheim, CA 92805
Chapter 46. Rail Transportation Noise and Vibration
Carl E. Hanson, Ph.D., Vice President
Hugh J. Saurenman, Ph.D., P.E., Senior Consultant
David A. Towers, P.E., Senior Consultant
Harris Miller Miller & Hansen, Lexington, MA 02173
Chapter 47. Aircraft Noise
John Philip Raaney, Ph.D., P.E., former Head of Aircraft Noise Prediction Office
Jimmy M. Cawthorn, former Aerospace Technologist
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665
Chapter 48. Highway Noise Prediction and Control
William Bowlby, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235
Chapter 49. Noise Assessment of Building Sites
George E. Winzer, Principal, Winzer Associates, Acoustical & Environmental Consultants, Rockville, MD 20855
Chapter 50. Community Noise Measurements
Dwight E. Bishop, President, Acoustical Analysis Associates, Inc., Canoga Park, CA 9l303
Paul D. Schomer, Ph.D., P.E., Chief-Acoustics/Environmental Noise Research, U.S. Army Construction Engineering
Research Laboratory, Champaign, IL 61824
Chapter 51. Noise and the Law
Albert J. Rosenthal, Maurice T. Moore Professor Emeritus of Law and Dean Emeritus of Law, Columbia University, New
York, NY 10027
Chapter 52. Aircraft Noise Litigation: Case Law Review
Ricarda L. Bennett, J.D., Attorney-at-Law; Principal, Heliport Consultants, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Gary Hoover, J.D., Gatzke, Mispagel & Dillon, Carlbad, CA 92009 (now Assistant District Attorney, County of San Diego,
San Diego, CA 92101)
Chapter 53. Aircraft Noise Regulation
Richard J Linn, Senior Coordinator, Environmental Planning, American Airlines, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, TX 75261
Richard N. Tedrick, Ph.D., Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC 20591
Chapter 54. Environmental Impact Statements
Henning E. von Gierke, D. Eng., Director Emeritus, Biodynamics and Engineering Division, Armstrong Aerospace Medical
Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH 45433; Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, Wright
State University, Dayton, OH 45401
Kenneth M. Eldred, Director, Ken Eldred Engineering, Concord, MA 01742
Robert K. Break, J.D., Partner, Latham & Watkins, Attorneys, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Preface

At the time the first edition of the Handbook of Noise Control was published in 1957, various aspects of noise
control were treated in specialized scientific journals and in reports of government agencies and industrial
organizations. This information was not always easily accessible. Furthermore, there was a need for an
authoritative work covering the entire field. The Handbook met this need and was also the first book on noise
control published in the U.S.A. It included considerable technical information not previously available and
defined the term noise control for the first time: Noise control is the technology of obtaining an acceptable
noise environment, at a receiver, consistent with economic and operational considerations; the receiver may
be a person, a group of people, an entire community, or a piece of equipment whose operation is affected by
noise.

In the years that followed, many countries enacted noise control legislation, and noise became a matter of
increasing social and economic importance, leading to new engineering methods of control. Accordingly, the
Handbook of Noise Control was updated in 1979 to reflect these important changes.

More recently, technical innovations such as microminiaturization and the practical application of digital
techniques have made possible innovative measurement techniques and the application of engineering
methods that were not economically feasible a generation earlier. These changes have given rise to the need
for a completely revised and enlarged handbook. Because there is now much greater emphasis on acoustical
measurements throughout the text, the book has been retitled Handbook of Acoustical Measurements and
Noise Control.

The Handbook employs uniform terminology, symbols, and abbreviations that probably represent as close to
an international consensus as is possible to obtain at this time. Both the International System of units and the
U.S. Customary System of units are used throughout.

Each of the chapters in the Handbook is written by an expert in his or her special area. Technical information
has been made accessible by the use of simple charts and written explanations in place of highly technical
formulas without lowering the substantive level of the Handbook’s contents. This has required much effort on
the part of the authors of the various chapters, and I am deeply grateful to them for their skill and patience.

The chapters of the Handbook are grouped as follows: properties and propagation of sound waves in the open
air and in enclosures; measurement instrumentation, measurement techniques, the analysis of sound and
vibration, and standards; hearing characteristics, hearing loss from noise exposure, hearing evaluation,
hearing protection devices, hearing conservation programs, and liability for hearing loss; effects of noise on
speech communication, annoyance, human performance, and physiology; criteria for noise and vibration
exposure; methods of measuring, evaluating, and controlling noise and vibration in buildings; machinery and
equipment noise (its characteristics, measurement, analysis, monitoring, and methods of control); the
measurement and control of noise in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems—including
noise control criteria for use in designing HVAC systems and in assessing the noise produced by such
systems; transportation noise; community noise; and noise legislation and regulations (including litigation and
environmental impact statements).
The wealth of technical information contained in this book has been collected from many sources. Material has
been reproduced, by permission, from books as well as copyrighted publications of a number of technical
societies, primarily the Acoustical Society of America, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, and the
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. Some of the contributors are
employed by the government of the United States. Material included in their chapters has been released for
publication, but because these are personal contributions, the contents do not necessarily reflect the official
view of the relevant department or agency.

Other valuable sources include publications of the standards organizations of various countries and
publications of international organizations—particularly the International Organization for Standardization and
the International Electrotechnical Commission. Copies of these publications may be obtained by writing the
appropriate organizations at the addresses listed in Chapter 15. The standards cited in the text have resulted
from the selfless efforts of members of various national and international committees, to whom we owe a debt
of gratitude.

Special thanks are due Harold B. Crawford, editor in chief of engineering and technical books at McGraw-Hill,
Inc.; Margaret Lamb, editing manager in McGraw-Hill’s Professional Publishing Group; and especially Laura
Givner, editing supervisor in the Professional Publishing Group.

Cyril M. Harris

© Acoustical Society of America