Module: Indoor Environment & HVAC Systems

Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

4 Noise Assessment Technique and Instrumentation

z Not very definite legislative control is imposed to control nuisance due to

noise produced indoors. Some indirect control is exercised through the
Noise Control Ordinance which was enacted mainly to control
environmental noise. The main focus is on noise produced by others in
affecting the receivers. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
and the police are the responsible departments. Instead, occupational noise
(protection of employees in factories and industrial undertakings) is
subject to control under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Noise
at Work) Regulation enacted in 1992. It is dealt with by the Labour
Department.

z Several Technical Memoranda are issued pursuant to the Noise Control

Ordinance by EPD in providing procedures that should be adopted by the
Authority. “Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from
Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites”
is an example and it is for the control of noise from industrial and
commercial premises.

z The “Guidance Notes: Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Noise at

Work) Regulation, 1998” published by the Occupational Safety and Health
Branch, Labour Department, provides guidance on assessment of
occupational noise.

z Details given in the Technical Memorandum (TM) or Guidance Notes will

not be discussed. Only the basic assessment techniques/requirements are
given. The guidelines given can generally be used for indoor and outdoor
noise measurement.

z General calibration and measurement procedures given in TM for

environmental noise assessment:

Instrumentation: Sound level meter shall comply with IEC 651:1979 (Type
1) and IEC 804: 1985 (Type 1). There are 4 types (0, 1, 2

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Module: Indoor Environment & HVAC Systems
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

and 3 with decreasing accuracy) and Type 1 is for

laboratory and field use.

Calibration procedures: be carried out immediately before and after each

measurement using an acoustic calibrator
generating a known sound pressure level at a
known frequency (e.g. 250 Hz at 114 dB for a
pistonphone). Measurement is valid if the
calibration levels agree to within 1 dB.

Measurement procedures: For measurement at a building, the assessment

point shall be at a position 1 m from the exterior
of the building façade. For measurement other
than a building, it should be 1.2 m above ground.

A-weighting should be used. A, B, C and Lin

weighting networks are generally available in
most sound level meters and A-weighting can
better correlate with human hearing sensation.

Leq (equivalent continuous sound pressure level)

shall be measured (using integrating sound level
meter) with 30 minutes integrating period.

One-third octave bands from 31.5 Hz to 16 kHz

have to be obtained for analysis of the frequency
spectrum. This can be done with a 1/3 octave
band filter.

Note in particular the weather conditions when

measurements are to be taken outdoors.

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Module: Indoor Environment & HVAC Systems
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

Windscreen to minimise the effect of wind on

pressure readings is generally used.

z Suggested measurement guidelines given in the Guidance notes for

workplace noise assessment:

Instrumentation standard: Sound level meters or integrating sound level

meters to IEC 651 and IEC 804.

At least Type 2 (General field use) and

preferably Type 1 should be used. Type 1
would be suitable for impulsive noise and can
be set to mesure peak pressure level.

Noise dosementer (for monitoring personal

exposure to noise in workplace with time
varying noise level, for wearing on a person to
integrate the total noise dose) should comply
with BS6402 or equivalent.

Calibration procedures: Absolute calibration in a properly equipped

laboratory once every two years.

Be calibrated before and after the measurement

using electronic calibrator or pistonphone.

Calibration level not drift by more than 0.5 dB for

validity of measurement results.

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Module: Indoor Environment & HVAC Systems
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

Measurement procedures:

(a) Microphone position:

- Normally 1.5 m above ground for standing employees and 0.8 m
for seated employees.
- Tripod be used; if hand-held, be at arm’s length away to avoid
reflections and effect on sound field.
- Preferably measurements be taken in the absence of worker with
the microphone located at the position normally occupied by
worker’s head.
- Be placed closed to but at least 40 mm from the head if
measured with worker’s presence.
- Windscreen be generally used.
- Dosemeter usually supported from helmet or clipped to collar.

(b) Meter settings:

- For LAeq, T, Lpeak and BPL:
LAeq, T (A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure
level during a sampling period T): A weighting, FAST
response, Leq mode. FAST response can follow more closely
a fluctuating noise.
Lpeak (peak sound pressure level in dB) - for impulsive noise
only): C, Linear or FLAT weighting, impulse response, peak
hold mode.
BPL (band pressure level in dB): octave or 1/3 octave bands,
Linear or FLAT weighting, FAST response, Leq mode
- Sampling time be long enough for LAeq, T and BPL readings to
be steady within 0.5 dB; Lpeak reading be representative of the
highest peak level during the operating cycle.
- Minimum sampling time be 15 seconds and cover at least 3
operating cycles of the process or machine.
- Readings taken with the meter overloaded be rejected.

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Module: Indoor Environment & HVAC Systems
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

Reference:

1. Sound Research Laboratories Ltd., ‘Noise Control in Industry’, E & FN Spon.

2. Irwin, J.D. & Graf, E.R., ‘Industrial Noise and Vibration Control’, Prentice Hall,
latest edition.

3. Bell, Lewis H. & Bell, Douglas H., ‘Industrial Noise Control’, Dekker, latest
edition.

4. Bies, David A. & Hansen, Colin A, ‘Engineering Noise Control’, E & FN Spon,
latest edition.

5. Pelton, Howard K., ‘Noise Control Management’, Van Nostrand Reinhold,

latest edition.

6. Occupational Safety and Health Branch, Labour Department, ‘Guidance Notes:

Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Noise at Work) Regulation, latest edition.

7. EPD, ‘Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other
than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites’, latest edition.

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