Released on = August 7, 2007, 6:19 am

Press Release Author = David Ingersoll

Industry = Construction

Press Release Summary = The new noise law in New York City states that "the making,
creation or maintenance of excessive and unreasonable and prohibited noises within
the city affects.is a menace to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare
and the prosperity of the people of the city."



Press Release Body = Because of this statement, New York City has established new
rules, guidelines and standards for governing noise within the city, and they will
be using the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) to monitor these new noise
regulations. You can view all of these new codes at
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/airnoise.html

The biggest changes that are going to affect the soundproofing and noise control
industry will come from the construction noise section of this new code. The DEP
will be requiring a noise mitigation plan prior to the start of work at all
construction sites effective July 1, 2007. The noise mitigation plan is to be posted
at every construction site and if complaints are received around that site a DEP
inspector will come to the site to see if any changes need to be made to the posted
plan.

The new codes specifically call for noise mitigation within five categories of
construction devices including impact equipment, earth moving devices, construction
trucks, stationary devices and manual devices.

Impact equipment includes such items as pile drivers, jack hammers, hoe rams and
blasting equipment. The new codes call for noise barriers to be utilized for noise
pathway controls around pile drivers. The code states in section 28-102 a.1.C.i-iii,
"The responsible party shall construct a portable noise barrier that shall be free
from gaps and holes and constructed of a sufficiently massive material to achieve a
Sound Transmission Class rating of STC30 or greater.The Noise barrier shall be long
and tall enough to completely block the line of sight between the pile driver and
any indoor receptor within 200 feet and that is a maximum of 20 feet above level
grade, when work occurs. The barrier shall be placed as close to the actual pile
driving work as feasible.Where applicable, portable noise shields made of steel
frames wrapped with noise curtain materials, such as Sound Seal model BBC-13-2 or
equivalently rated material." The new code also has very similar requirements
jackhammers, hoe rams and blasting equipment.

Earth moving devices and construction truck requirements for noise pathway controls
are very similar to the impact equipment requirements, but add these comments, in
section 28-102 b. 1. C. iii, when dealing with vac-trucks and dump trucks. "Portable
noise shields made of steel frames wrapped with noise curtain material, such as
Sound Seal model BBC-13-2, or equivalently rated material, shall be used to form a
noise barrier in the direction of sensitive receptors and completely block the line
of sight between the receptors and the trucks. Noise curtains are typically made out
of a ¼" thick heavy vinyl material, often with a noise absorptive quilt attached to
one side. Those noise curtains generally weigh 1.5 lbs/sq.ft., have an STC rating of
about 32, and come in 4-foot wide sheets complete with grommets and Velcro edges to
aid in hanging the curtains and sealing the sheets side-by-side."

Stationary devices such as cranes, auger drill rigs and street plates also carry
similar noise pathway controls and portable noise control shields to those stated
for the impact equipment, earth moving devices and construction trucks.

Manually operated equipment such as concrete saws carry the same requirements for
noise pathway controls, but add these comments for acoustical enclosures, in section
28-102 e. 1. C. iii. "Portable noise control enclosures made of steel frames wrapped
with noise curtain material, such as Sound Seal BBC-13-2, or equivalently rated
material, shall be built to surround (top and 3 sides) the concrete saw and
operator. A well made enclosure, using curtain material with a Sound Transmission
Class rating of STC30 or greater, can generally provide a 5dBA insertion loss
providing there are no gaps in the enclosure."

In addition to the requirements for the aforementioned construction device
categories, the new codes (section 28-107 4E) are calling out treatment for
perimeter noise barriers. The noise barrier specifications call for "noise barriers
made of a noise-resistant material sufficient to achieve a Sound Transmission Class
(STC) rating of STC30 or greater, based on sound transmission loss data taken
according to ASTM Test Method E90. Such a barrier can provide as much as a 10dBA
insertion loss providing it is positioned as close as possible to the noise source
or to the receptors. To be effective, the barrier must be long and tall enough to
completely block the line of sight between the noise source and receptors. The gaps
between adjacent panels must be filled-in to avoid having noise penetrate directly
through the barrier."

This has just been a summary of some of the recommendations outlined within the new
noise control plans for New York City.

Acoustical Solutions has been serving the soundproofing and noise control building
industry for twenty years and is a national representative for the Sound Seal
Company. Along with products for the above mentioned devices, enclosures and noise
pathways, Acoustical Solutions offers a full line of indoor and outdoor industrial,
commercial, environmental and architectural noise control products including
enclosures, wall and fencing systems, acoustical panels, tiles, vibration and
isolation control, doors and door hardware. For more information please visit
http://www.acousticalsolutions.com or call 1-800-782-5742.


Web Site = http://www.acousticalsolutions.com

Contact Details = Dave Ingersoll
Acoustical Solutions, Inc.
2420 Grenoble Road
800 782-5742
804 346-8808
info@acousticalsolutions.com