Category: Asia Noise News

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Asia Noise News

A Review of Acoustics in the Hospitality Industry: A Subjective and Objective Analysis

Many bars, cafés, and restaurants have been built in Asia, that is one of the indications that the hospitality industry is moving forward. Our need for entertainment, refreshing our mood, and communication with friends, family members, or business clients are reasons why we need the hospitality Industry such as; bars, cafés, and restaurants as a place for us to do that kind of activities. Comfortableness becomes a top priority to determine if a bar, café, or restaurant is a pleasant place to be or not. One of the criteria is comfortableness in acoustics aspect, how easy the customers can have a conversation, a relaxed ambience and quietness. In Asia, especially in developing countries, acoustic comfort in bars, cafes or restaurants is not yet a major concern, even though the effect will be huge for their visitors’ comfort. One example of the impact of bad acoustic design on a cafe or restaurant is the difficulty of communicating, even though one of the things that visitors want to do is chat with family, friends or work partners. This situation will give a bad impression of the café or restaurant and reduce the number of visitors to the café or restaurant.

In this article, the author will discuss the research conducted by Lauren H. Christie and J. R. H. Bell Booth – Victoria University of Wellington. This study is titled “Acoustics in the Hospitality Industry: A Subjective and Objective Analysis” this research examining several Bars, Cafes, and Restaurants around Wellington CBD related to acoustic comfort based on objective and subjective parameters which are then compared to AS / NZA 2107:2000.

The results of the research at the cafés, bars and restaurants in Wellington CBD found that the average noise level that occurred was 80 dBA and could even reach as high as 110 dBA. If it is compared with the level of sensitivity of human hearing to speech that only ranges from 48 dBA to 72 dBA [AS / NZA 2107: 2000] this very much exceeds the limit. The NC (Noise Criteria) suggested in this study are:

  • Bar : 45 – 50 dBA
  • Café : 45 – 50 dBA
  • Restaurant : 35 – 50 dBA

As reviewed earlier, research conducted by Lauren H. Christie and J. R. H. Bell Booth takes 2 parameters, they are subjective and objective parameters. Subjective consists of a Survey Questionnaire that is spread to visitors about the information conveyed, the ability to listen, the dominant difficulties that occur, and the desired ideal conditions. This is called subjective because it is qualitative and is adjusted to personal tendencies. The second parameter is Objective, consisting of measured parameters such as BN (Background Noise), Leq, RT (Reverberation Time), STI (Normal, Rise, Loud, Shout).

BN is measured by measuring the level of sound pressure in conditions without visitors, the use is as an acoustic base value without additional noise. Leq is the average noise over a period of time, this is done as sample information on the noise value of the place. RT or Reverberation Time is the time required for the sound to decay as much as 60 dB, this parameter is used as a base for evaluating the comfort of the conversation or music in a room, RT that is too high will make someone difficult to communicate because the sound will be reflected and reduce the clarity of the conversation. STI or Speech Transmission Index is a parameter to assess the level of comfort in terms of listening to speech or conversation, the value ranges from 0 to 1 with a value of 1 is perfect or very clear STI.

The age range of visitors looks similar if evaluated based on the survey, most visitors in a bar are under 25 years old, while in the cafés and restaurants most visitors are in the range of 25 – 35 years old. Based on the survey results, the need for acoustic quality related to the highest conversations is in restaurants, followed by cafés and bars. This is very clear because the restaurant visitors have a lot of verbal interaction or direct communication when eating. At the café, there tends to be less communication and more listening to the ambiance and relaxing music with less communication if we compare it with a restaurant. The last ranked is the bar, visitors will only listen to music to arouse their mood and rarely communicate. The highest source of noise comes from other visitors’ communications, which is followed by the sound of music and kitchen equipment.

Acoustic comfort based on survey results or subjective parameters are as follows:

Restaurant

  • Restaurants are expected to have a low Background Noise and a good STI, but the actual situation in most of the restaurants researched is far from that.
  • Privacy is a very important variable in a restaurant.
  • The clarity in terms of speech is low.
  • Visitors in the restaurants are very difficult to be heard/understood when they are talking.

Bars

  • Bar customers said that a bar is more acceptable to noise than a cafe or restaurant.
  • Even though it is difficult to communicate, the bar can be accepted by visitors.
  • Bar customers need more effort to communicate.
  • The type of people who visit the bar are people who are accustomed to noisy environments.

Café

  • People who often visit a café find it easy to communicate at the café.
  • Clarity of speech is seen as a more important factor than the visitor’s environment.
  • Café is also rated as the most unacceptable environment from this acoustic-related survey.

Based on objective parameters, the results are: BN (Background Noise is in the range of 34 dBA (Leq) to 81 dBA (Leq), where 60% of the data is worth more than 50 dBA (Maximum level in AS / NZA 2107: 2000). After measuring with visitors inside, the level of the noise reaches 25dB beyond the maximum visited level, but when compared to the OSH recommendation safety limit, 85 dBA (Leq), the value is still below the threshold (the highest level of measurement is 81 dBA).

For the RT value, both the bars, cafés and restaurants are within the standard of <1.0 S. STI rating is found to be very diverse, but from the use of the 4 types of sound that are normal, raised, loud, and shout the same pattern is obtained, the higher the sound level, the better STI. From this research, we know that there are differences in preferences of acoustic comfort factors in bars, cafes, and restaurants. The difference in preferences is due to differences in the main functions of each hospitality industry. At the restaurant, visitors expect to be able to communicate well in one scope of the table and maintained privacy from the scope of another table. At the café, the need for tranquility is the main thing and the need for communication is not as high as the restaurant. At the bar, the main needs of visitors are listening to music and not too concerned about communication difficulties.

So, has your hospitality industry considered acoustic comfort? It’s a very important aspect to keep visitors coming back to your venue!

Written by:

Betabayu Santika

Acoustic Design Engineer

Geonoise Indonesia

Beta@geonoise.asia

Source:

AS/NZS 2107 (2000). Acoustics – Recommended design sound levels and reverberation times for building

interiors. Australian/New Zealand Standards: Sydney/Wellington.

Bell-Booth, J. R.H. (2004). Methodology Research.

Christie, L. H. (2004). Acoustical Comfort: Research Design into Measuring Restaurants and

Bars Acoustic Environments.

Christie, L. H. & Bell-Booth, J. R.H. – Acoustics in the Hospitality Industry: A Subjective and Objective Analysis

Categories
Asia Noise News

Calibration

Sound measurement is one of the measurements which is considered to be important in a lot of different industries. For example, automotive, manufacture, HSE, research and so on. One of the aspect that is important for all measurements are its calibration. Calibration is a process of documenting and adjusting the reading of measurement instruments with a traceable reference. 

The frequency range of acoustic measurement in air is wide, from infrasound to ultrasound. From tenth hertz to 200 kHz. It is measured in a wide range of dynamic range too, from 20 micropascal to 20 kilopascal. Therefore, to be able to conduct these measurements in a wide range of frequency and dynamic, different kinds of microphone is used.

Most measurement microphones and reference microphones is condenser microphone. This type of microphone is widely chosen because of its flat frequency response and a good mechanical stability. The standard used for measurement microphone is IEC61094-4 which is called working standard microphones, abbreviated WS. WS microphones are categorized into 3 types based on its diameter which are 23.77 mm, 12.7 mm and 6.35 mm. These three microphones are called WS1, WS2 and WS3 respectively.

Another standard is used for Laboratory Standard Microphone, abbreviated LS, which is IEC61094-1. Similarly to WS, LS can be categorized by its diameter, which are LS1 with 23.77 mm and LS2 with 12.7 mm diameter. LS microphone is designed so that it can be fitted into calibration coupler and is normally used by national metrology institute as a national reference in a country. Both of the standards mentioned above specify dimension, sensitivity, frequency response, acoustic impedance, dynamic range, ambient influence and stability.

Condenser microphone is a reciprocal transducer. This microphone can work as a microphone by converting acoustic signal into electric, as well as working as a sound source by converting electrical input into acoustic output. This is why condenser microphones can be calibrated by a calibration method called reciprocity.

Before we discuss further about the calibration method, it is useful to discuss about sound field and the type of microphone used to measure in such fields. There are three types of sound field in general. In a cavity which dimension is smaller than a quarter of the measured wavelength, the soiund field is called pressure-field. This field happens in a calibration coupler for microphone calibration, telephone and hearing aids, for example. Sound field in an anechoic chamber or outdoor where sound can propagate without obstacles is called free-field. While sound field in a reflective room is called diffuse-field. 

All types of microphones can influence the sound field which is being measured, including condenser microphone. Microphones that are used in cavities should have a stiff diaphragm, or in another word has a high acoustic impedance. For free-field condition, microphones that are chosen ideally has a diameter less than 5-7% from the wavelength of the sound being measured. In practice, this rarely happens, so that the influence has to be taken into account in the measurement results. Similar situation happens in diffuse-field, although the influence is relatively smaller.

Note that the influence in the free-field and diffuse-field depends only on the dimension of the microphone’s body. Because of this reason, the influence only have to be measured once for the same microphone model. After the influence is defined, it can be applied to all the same microphone of the same model. 

Let’s go back to reciprocity calibration. This method was invented in the 1940s. This method has been developed and standardised which makes the method one of the most widely used calibration techniques to determine microphone’s response in pressure-field and free-field. The calibration method is based on transfer function of two microphones which are coupled as microphone and sound source.

The two microphones are coupled in a well-defined acoustic environment. The transfer function which is the ratio between output voltage of the sensor and input current of the source is measured. This ratio is called electrical transfer impedance (Ze). Furthermore, by knowing the acoustic transfer impedance (Za), the product of the sensitivity of the two microphones can be defined by this equation.

Where M1 and M2 is the sensitivity of microphone 1 and microphone 2, Ze/Za is the ratio between electric and acoustic transfer impedance.

By using three microphones (1,2,3) and defining three impedance ratio equations (A,B,C) for three possible combinations (1-2, 1-3, 2-3), the sensitivity of three microphones can be calculated by solving these three equations.

Some national metrology institutes are doing reciprocity calibration for laboratory standard microphones. The frequency ranges from 20Hz to 10kHz for LS1 and 20Hz to 20kHz for LS2. Some of the institutes has experience in calibrating lower or higher frequency range.

Categories
Asia Noise News

Profound November News

SIT-mounted sensor for Wave Hammer

The Profound mounted accelerometer for the SIT-series has been custom-designed for high performance integrity testing of installed foundation piles. Especially for large diameter bored piles this sensor enables optimal circumstances to perform the measurement.

Advanced design and application
The SIT-mounted sensor is an alternative to the hand-held sensor whereby the sensor is fixed on the pile head using a separate mounting plate. One or more mounting plates can be mounted on the pile head in advance of the actual measurement. During the measurement the stiff connection between the mounted sensor and pile head ensures optimal high-quality measurement results, asthe mounted sensor registers exceptionally well the response to the hammer blow. Thus providing users with accurate information about the pile shaft and possible defects.
The mounted accelerometer is ideal to be used in combination with the Wave Hammer range for large diameter piles.

News from Soil Instruments Ltd.: GEOSmart

GEOSmart is an in-place inclinometer consisting of closely spaced MEMS 0.5 metres apart. The sensors are mounted on stainless steel tubing with a single cable running the length of the string which reduces the number of cables protruding from the top of the borehole. GEOSmart is installed in either PVC Schedule 40 or 70mm casing and is used to monitor displacement in geotechnical applications including diaphragm walls, embankments, retaining walls, landslides and potential slope failures. Due to its lightweight robust construction with joints capable of bending up to 90o, GEOSmart is conveniently transported to site and can be installed by one site technician. At the end of the project GEOSmart can be removed and reused whereby the length of the string can be easily adapted.

New features vibramonitoring.com

With the new features on vibramonitoring.com we have created a new datasheet. Please contact us for the new datasheet.

Partnership VDV : online monitoring

We are proud to announce that from now on we have entered into a partnership with Vista Data Vision (VDV). VDV supplies leading software for the visualisation of data for geotechnical monitoring projects.

The VDV platform offers extensive and straightforward options presenting all measurement data of the different instrumentation in one project to your clients. The platform offers numerous options for setting threshold values, alarms, user accounts and for combining information from various equipment such as: VIBRA systems, Robotic Total Stations, IPI sensors, noise monitoring systems, air quality monitors. It is also possible to integrate webcams.
VDV Burst Data allows to import high speed dynamic data such as from instruments made by Profound. The data is imported into the VDV database and can then be viewed with all other data types already supported by VDV.

Exhibitions

In October we attended 2 Dutch conferences: the 23rd GTL for Sound, Vibration and Air Quality in Hoevelaken and the Geotechnical conference in Breda. The reactions to all the new products like the Wave Hammer, mounted sensor, the partnership with VDV and the early impressions of the VIBRA-r were very positive.
Our special guest Chris Wembridge of Soil Instruments Ltd. demonstrated the GEOSmart system himself at the Geotechnical conference.

Categories
Asia Noise News

Noise, Nuisance or Danger

As an introduction to this question some basic facts about noise.

Basic noise facts

Noise is typically defined as ‘unwanted sound’. The unit for sound is the Decibel which is a value calculated with logarithms from the pressure to get a scale from 0 to 120 dB where 0 dB is the hearing threshold for a young person with healthy hearing and 120 dB is the pain threshold.

We can state that noise is a type of energy created by vibrations. When an object vibrates it causes moment in air particles. The particles will bump into each other and will generate sound waves, they are ongoing until they run out of energy.

High and low tones are perceived by our hearing due to fast and slow vibrations.

Sound needs a medium to travel and the speed of sound is around 340 meter per second. Examples of typical noise levels:

Due to the nature of the calculation of Decibels we cannot just add them together.

Examples:

3 dB + 3 dB = 6 dB

But…..

10 dB + 10 dB is not 20 dB but 13 dB

The Decibel (sound pressure level) for sound in air is relative to 20 micro pascals (μPa) = 2×10−5 Pa, the quietest sound a human can hear.

The human hearing system

The human hearing system is capable of hearing sounds between 20 Hz and 20000 Hz. Below 20 Hz is called infra sound and above 20000 Hz is called ultrasounds. Both infra- and ultrasound is not audible for us. Elephants however can hear frequencies as low as 14 Hz and bats can hear frequencies up to 80000 Hz.

A special noise weighting for the human perception has been introduced in the 1930’s and called the A-weighted Decibel, dB(A). This was introduced to align the noise levels with the sensitivity and physical shape of the human hearing system.

Basic human hearing system

When sound waves enter the ear, they travel up the ear canal and hit the ear drum, the ear drum will vibrate and the three smallest bones in the human body will transfer these vibrations to the fluid in our inner ear’s sensory organ the cochlea. The sensory hair cells will vibrate which will send nerve impulses to the brain, the brain will translate these impulses for us and we perceive sound!

Dangers of noise

Noise from certain music can be a very pleasurable sound for one person and a horrific noise for another. From this fact we can see that noise is not only an absolute value but also strongly depending on the receiver’s mindset.

However, there are some clear absolute values concerning the danger levels of noise.

  • Generally accepted as safe is spending 8 hours per day in an environment not exceeding 80 dB(A)
  • NOT safe would be to spend 1 hour in a disco with levels at 100 dB(A) which are easily exceed nowadays

Apart from the obvious hearing loss there are many other issues that can arise from exposure to (too) high noise levels such as:

  • Hypertension
  • Heart disease
  • Annoyance – stress
  • Immune system – psychosomatic

The positive side to remember is that Noise Induced hearing loss is 100% preventable!!

Worldwide solutions

Governments (especially in Europe) know the actual cost of high noise exposure and they concluded that protecting their citizens from high noise exposure (during working hours, recreation as well as during sleep) is far more effective than dealing with the costs of citizens enduring high noise related illnesses, demotivation, sleep disturbance etc.

They are investing in quiet schools (optimal learning environment), quiet hospitals (patients recover a lot faster in quiet wards), implement city planning to create quite zones.

Of course, they also have strong noise regulations that are being enforced.

Acoustical societies worldwide help to create awareness and leverage noise legislations with governments.

Noise in Asia

I have been living in Asia for the last 15 years and of course I noticed it’s noisy. Noise regulations (if exist at all) are very lenient and mostly not enforced. I’m very happy to see that Acoustical Societies are coming up in Asian countries and can convince governments to invest in setting up proper noise regulations and enforcing them. I’m very happy to be able to contribute to a quieter world by creating more awareness for the dangers of noise!

Categories
Asia Noise News Building Accoustics

Noise and Vibration Monitoring for Construction Sites

In a densely populated city like Bangkok, most of the construction projects are surrounded by condominiums, offices or residential areas. The construction sites must control the noise and vibration that may affect the surroundings. Construction sites need to control the noise and vibration levels that they produce following the EIA standard.

To manage this, noise and vibration instruments are installed which automatically will send alarms to the construction company if the thresholds are exceeded.

Noise Monitoring Station

Sound level meter class 2 according to IEC61672-1 standard which can collect the data of SPL, LEQ and LMAX. These instruments are calibrated before they are installed at a construction site. The system has a LED display and warning light when noise levels in the site are over a trigger level, which is referred to in the standards for maximum sound levels around construction sites.

According to the announcement of National Environment Board no.15 BE.2540 (1997) in the topic of “Standard loudness”, the average sound 24 hour must not exceed 70 dBA and the maximum peak level must not exceed 115 dBA.

Sound level meter are designed to be used outdoors and an additional LED display was added by Geonoise which is a professional sound and vibration company. Sound level meter with LED display also can analyse the loudness in percentile (Statistical,Ln) or analyse the frequencies in 1/1 and 1/3 octave bands. In addition to storing vibration data, you can also create level notifications in Alarm Alert format before vibration levels exceed the standard value for monitoring the activities being performed.

Vibration Monitoring

In the construction industry, transportation Industry and most large industries vibrations will occur.
High vibration levels will cause structural damage to buildings, bridges, structures as well as nuisance or health risks to occupants in exposed (residential) buildings.

Therefore, it is necessary to comply with the standard of vibration in a building according to the Announcement of the National Environment Board Announcement No. 37, BE 2553 (2010) Re: Determination of Standard Vibration to Prevent Impact on Buildings and the measuring instruments need to comply with DIN45699-1.

At construction projects in Bangkok, most cause a lot of unwanted noise and vibrations. Vibration caused by construction projects are caused by piling work as well as the increased traffic of large trucks that enter and exit the construction site. To prevent that vibration levels will be exceeded, a vibration monitoring system will have to be installed.

The Announcement of the National Environment Board No. 37, BE 2553 Vibration standards to prevent impacts on buildings is the main regulation to comply with for construction sites in Thailand. The vibration standards are derived from DIN 4150-3 whereas buildings are classified into 3 types.

Building types according to DIN 4150-3:

  • Type 1 buildings such as commercial buildings, public buildings, large buildings, etc.
  • Type 2 buildings such as residential buildings, dormitories, hospitals, educational institutions, etc.
  • Type 3 buildings, such as archaeological sites or buildings that cultural values but not strong, etc.

In addition to storing vibration data, you can also create level notifications in Alarm Alert format before vibration level exceed the standard value for monitoring the activities being performed.

Categories
Asia Noise News Building Accoustics

Exploring Jakartan Public Transportation Through The Sound

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, is home to 10 millions of Indonesia population. Recently the Indonesian government is being sued by a group of activists and environmentalists due to the unhealthy air quality in Jakarta. The plaintiff hopes that through the lawsuit, the Indonesian government can improve existing policies to address the air pollution issues.

On 18 Jul, according to the Switzerland-based pollution mapping service AirVisual, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Jakarta is 153, categorized as unhealthy and may cause increased aggravation of the heart and lungs. The recommendation upon this condition is to wear a pollution mask and use air purifiers inside the room. The AQI Measures five criteria air pollutants (particulate matter, sulphur, dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone), and converts the measured pollutant concentration in a community’s air to a number on a scale of 0 to 500.

Air Quality Index – AirVisual

Jakarta is one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. The uncontrolled increase in urban population is proportional to the number of the vehicle in Jakarta. According to Badan Pusat Statistik (Statistics Indonesia), the growth of motorized vehicle in Jakarta is 5,35% every year, on the other hand, this growth will increase the number of pollution in Jakarta. This statement is supported by the acting head of Jakarta Environment Agency, Andono Warih, the fuel residue of motorized vehicles was the main contributor to severe air pollution as 80 per cent of vehicles powered by diesel fuel operated from Jakarta Greater Area (Jabodetabek) to the capital.

Jakartan can contribute directly to overcome air pollution issues. Public transportation is an environmentally friendly mode of getting around. Because public transportation carries many passengers on a single-vehicle, thus it can reduce the number of vehicles as well as reducing the number of emissions from transportation in a dense urban area. Further, public transportation can help Jakarta to reduce the smog, to meet air quality standards and to decrease the health risk of unhealthy air quality. 

The urban transportation system in Indonesia consists of buses, trams, light rail, metro, rapid transit and ferries. Particularly in Jakarta, urban rail-based transportation, such as Commuter Line Train, Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), provides mobility and access to the urban area.

MRT Jakarta Phase 1 – MRT Jakarta

The first phase of MRT Jakarta (MRT-J) has been operating since March 2019. In daily operation, the train runs from Lebak Bulus Grab Station to the Bundaran HI Station. There are 13 stations along the railway; the underground stations are Bundaran HI, Dukuh Atas BNI, Setiabudi Astra, Bendungan Hilir, Istora Mandiri, and Senayan Station. Meanwhile, the overground stations are ASEAN, Blok M, Blok A, Haji Nawi, Cipete Raya, Fatmawati, and Lebak Bulus Grab Station. The MRT-J only needs 30 minutes to travel along the 16 kilometres railway, starting from Lebak Bulus Grab Station in South Jakarta to the Bundaran HI Station in Central Jakarta.

There are 16 train lines available to take the passengers getting around. Based on the MRT-J website, In weekdays operation, the trains operate at 05.00 WIB to 24.00 WIB with a total of 285 trips. Meanwhile, in weekend operation, the trains run at the same hour with a total of 219 trips.

During the promo operation (1 April – 12 May), the average number of daily passengers reached 82,643, whereas after the full tariff was applied, the average per day was 81,459.

The following pictures will show you the scenes of MRT Jakarta.

So what do you think? Have you tried getting around using MRT Jakarta? If you have never, try immediately and feel the different sensation of Public Transportation in Indonesia.

Further, through this article, I would like to invite you, explore the MRT Jakarta through a different perspective, that may be for a group of people this method is still rarely used, a sound.

Do you realize that sound can tell us about character, place, and time? Sometimes, it informs us in ways visuals can’t, and that is the idea of what we are going to do right now. Later you will hear, a file of recorded sound of MRT-J in its daily operation.

The sound was recorded by the soundwalk method, any excursion whose primary purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are. We may be at home, walking across a downtown street, or even at the office. Meanwhile, in this case, our environment is inside the line of MRT Jakarta. The goal is to capture any sound sources that exist during the operation of MRT-J, including the activity of the passengers.

The sound was recorded by using a mounted microphone on the iPhone X at a level of 1.2 m above the ground. The following sound is a recorded environment while the MRT-J was travelling from Bundaran HI Station to Setiabudi Astra Station, the duration of recording sound is 4 minutes and 40 seconds. Please use an earphone or any similar devices to listen to the audio for a better experience.

Caution: please set the volume around 50 – 70 % of the maximum volume.

After listening to the sound, can you identify what sound sources are presented in the recording? Here are the sound sources that I have identified:

  1. Engine sound increases speed
  2. Public Address system
  3. Engine sound
  4. Rail friction
  5. Passengers’ activities (cough, sneeze, conversation, footsteps, etc.)
  6. The sound of the door opening
  7. Brake squeak

Now we have identified the sound sources that are presented in the recording. But, do you know how many decibels that I have to endure while travelling using the MRT-J? In this article, manual measurements of noise levels were performed with a sound level meter in the MRT Jakarta with passengers on its usual route. A-weighted sound level measurements were recorded directly from one station to the next during the time between 08:00 and 09:00, using a calibrated microphone on a stand at a level of 1.2 m above the ground. The results of equivalent continuous A-weighted noise levels Leq (LAEq) in the MRT-J with passengers on its usual route from one station to the next is shown in Chart 1. 

Leq is the A-weighted energy means of the noise level averaged over the measurement period. The results from the measurements show that the A-weighted noise level is varied between 77 dB to 82 dB. Further, if we look closely into the Chart, the noise level is fluctuating. It can be caused by a lot of factors, such as: 

  1. The position of MRTJ (When MRT-J inside the tunnel, the noise can be levelled up due to the reflection phenomenon).
  2. Speed (The machine indicates producing a higher noise when in the maximum speed).
  3. Path Crossing.
  4. The Public Address System Volume.

Moreover, the level of continuous noise in Chart 1 represents a quite noisy environment. According to The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, states that Long or repeated exposure to sound at or above 85 dB can cause hearing loss. Thus, according to the measurement results, I suggested you wear ear protection during commuting by MRT-J. The earplug is one of the equipment that we can use to protect our hearing; you only need to spend a few thousand rupiahs for this. Wearing earplugs can help you to reduce the noise by 18 – 34 dB, it depends on the models/brand. For more accurate results, we need to do a complex measurement, such as:

  1. Add measurement point (In this article, the measurement was done only in a measurement point, at the second car of the line).
  2. Add a velocity as a measured parameter.
  3. Add the measurement time; the measurement can be done during the operation hour, non-stop. (05:00 – 24:00 WIB).

Nonetheless, the idea of showing the measurement results is spreading noise awareness. Noise sticks with you around, even common sounds you hear at work or home can contribute to long term hearing loss and other health risks, they are everywhere, but only a few people are aware of it. Noise pollution is a health threat nobody is talking about. Here are some parameters to help you determine acceptable — and dangerous — noise levels:

  • 45 dB: nightly noise ordinance threshold set by many municipalities concerned with industrial noise exposure for residents
  • 65 db+: exposure for prolonged periods can cause physical and mental fatigue
  • 85 dB+: can cause permanent hearing loss if exposed for extended periods
  • 85-120 dB: dangerous over 30 minutes of exposure
  • 120-130 dB: can cause permanent hearing loss for exposure over 30 seconds
  • 130 dB+: not only are these noises painful, but hearing protection should always be used if avoidance is not possible.

Everyone needs to take care of their ears and hearing, as damage to the auditory system could be irreparable. The loss because of the noise exposure is gradual; you might not notice the signs, or you ignore them until they become more apparent. Please do protect your ears. 

Reference:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/02/jakarta-residents-to-sue-government-over-severe-air-pollution

http://support.airvisual.com/knowledgebase/articles/1185775-what-is-aqi

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.10.017

https://jakarta.bps.go.id/publication/2018/10/03/cb1285d8dbe8be8754a5830d/statistik-transportasi-dki-jakarta-2018.html

https://en.tempo.co/read/1214627/jakarta-air-pollution-mostly-caused-by-motorized-vehicles-agency

https://www.nationalexpresstransit.com/blog/why-is-public-transportation-good-for-the-environment/

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/indonesia-accelerating-urban-transportation-development-with-public-private

Westerkamp, Hildegard (1974). “Soundwalking”. Sound Heritage

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5308171/

https://www.sensear.com/blog/noise-is-everywhere-how-to-deal-with-it-does-it-create-a-dangerous-environmenthttps://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19599097/noise-pollution/

Categories
Asia Noise News Building Accoustics

Noise in HVAC System; What, Where and How Noise comes from?

One of the things that becomes an unpredictable issue of a building, especially with a centralized air conditioning system, is the noise it creates. Calculating noise from every part of the HVAC system is needed to avoid unwanted noises in adjacent rooms.

What do we need to know to avoid noise from the HVAC system?

Are there simple steps to avoid it?

In this article, we will discuss about the noise that occurs in the HVAC system and how to avoid it.

Every sound that is heard can usually be identified through its frequency range. In relation to frequency range, noise that occurs related to the HVAC system is divided into 3 categories within the frequency range:

  • Low Frequency

Fan Noise, it generally produces sound from 125 Hz to 500 Hz octave frequency bands. Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes noise is usually from 125 Hz to 500 Hz octave frequency bands.

  • Mid Frequency

Airflow Noise and turbulence-generated noise in a duct range from 31.5 Hz to 1000 Hz.

  • High Frequency

Damper and Diffusers Noises, they usually contribute to the overall noise in the range of 1000 Hz until 4000 Hz octave bands.

All the noise above can be avoided if we know how to design HVAC system acoustically and each of these issues must be addressed:

HVAC System Acoustically – GeoNoise Asia
  • Duct-borne Noise

The sound generated by the fan will travel along with the ductwork both upstream and downstream easily because the velocity of sound is much greater than the velocity of air in ducts.

  • Radiated Equipment Noise

Radiated equipment noise transmits through the wall or floor into the adjacent space or in the case of rooftop equipment to the environment. It is generated by vibration of the fan casing and motor.

  • Duct Break-in Noise

Noise inside ceiling plenums or from air conditioning equipment, plant room, etc, can break into the duct and then be carried into rooms or spaces downstream. So, where possible, avoid ducts passing through noisy areas as this can significantly increase noise through the air conditioning system, avoid lightweight ducts as well, replace them with heavier ducting such as sheet steel.

  • Duct Break-out Noise

Along with the ductwork, however, transmits through the wall of the duct, thus impacting the adjacent space. Generally, it happens from noise passing through the duct, aerodynamics noise from obstructions fitting in the duct, and turbulent airflow causing duct walls to vibrate and rumble radiating low-frequency airborne noise.

  • Terminal Noise

The final links in the distribution chain are the terminal air devices. These are Grilles, Diffusers, Registers, and Vent Cover that go over the duct opening in the room. Streaming air noise from diffusers and from transitions can cause additional noise in the receiving room. So that for this issue, we need to concern choosing the proper specs of supply and return air devices. We need to try to find out the NC (Noise Criteria) rating for them from their respective manufacturers.

By knowing those 5 ways of how noise occurs, it makes easier for us to categorize noise that will produce in our HVAC system design and help us in choosing what material, enclosure, duct shape and everything we need to reduce noise.

Categories
Asia Noise News

Ensure no sound pollution rules are breached in UP, HC tells govt (Allahabad)

noise pollution india
noise pollution india

Allahabad, Aug 20 The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that no noise pollution rules are violated in the state, saying the breach of decibel limits would be treated as the violation of fundamental rights of citizens.
A bench of justices P K S Baghel and Pankaj Bhatia gave the direction on public interest litigation by one Sushil Chand Srivastava, an Allahabad native.

Srivastava had moved the court alleging that huge LCD screens have been put up all over the city and they emanate sound beyond permissible decibel limits and cause noise pollution since early in the morning till late into the night.

The petitioner submitted to the court that authorities have failed to enforce the law as well as various directions of the Supreme Court on the menace of the noise pollution.

Taking note of the allegations, the court asked authorities to categories the cities in the state into industrial, commercial, residential or silence zone for regulating noise pollution in the state.

The court also entrusted the responsibility of implementing various laws and bylaws, rules and regulations relating to the noise pollution in their jurisdictions to the station house officers of various police stations and the circle inspectors.

The court also directed its registry to send a copy of its order to the state chief secretary for its compliance.

“Any breach of the Noise Pollution Rule, 2000 shall be treated to be the violation of the fundamental right of a citizen,” the court added.

Source

Categories
Asia Noise News Building Accoustics

Feeling Unproductive? You Might be Overlooking This Productivity Killer

Feeling Unproductive in Office - GeoNoise Asia

Feeling Unproductive in Office – GeoNoise Asia

We believe that the best way to be highly productive is to be able to get into our monoideal state. Josh Kaufman says in his book “The Personal MBA”:

“Monoidealism is the state of focusing your energy and attention only on one thing. It’s often called a “flow” state: clear, focused attention on one subject for a long period of time.”

For this to happen, potential distractions and interruptions need to be eliminated. This is the reason for some people, working early in the morning or late at night can feel very productive – because on a normal day, no one is going to call you at 4 in the morning.

However, most of us do our work in an office which does not operate at those silent, undistracted hours. The good news is, we still can manage our potential distractions by knowing what distracts us the most. This can be done by allocating a time when you want to be in your monoideal state and free yourself from distractions during that time. For example, you can put your phone into flight mode and turning off email notifications from 8 to 11 and start to check emails and communicating with the outside world from 11 until lunch. The timing will depend a lot on the type of work you are doing and how much time will you need to be in monoideal state.

Unfortunately, there are things that is out of your locus of control – there is a retrofitting job upstairs, your co-worker decided to sing along to the song he is listening to, people in the other room are laughing loudly (are they talking about their boss?) and so on. If it’s not in front of your eyes, for example pop-up notifications on your screen, most of the distractions come to you in a form of sound, or I think it’s better to call it “noise”.

Noise is a productivity killer that you might be overlooking, especially if you have passed the stage of being distracted by your phone, browsing Facebook on your computer and looking at cat videos on Youtube. Fortunately, noise is manageable in a few different ways. The most viable option for an existing office is to make noise-related rules and to make everybody aware that noise can reduce their productivity. For example, companies can make rules that retrofitting job, singing and gossiping must be done outside of office hour. Another way to fix this is to separate areas for people who want to be focused and areas where people can socialize and discuss with their co-workers.

The best way to manage noise? Is to take noise into consideration from the beginning of the design process of the working space. This can be a long and complex process where there are a lot of aspects to be considered in designing an ideal office. It needs a balance between visual pleasure, company’s philosophy, functionality, health, safety and all other aspects that we want to take into account. A lot of times, all those aspects will relate to noise or acoustics in some ways, depending on each unique case.

For us acousticians, these are the things that we typically think about when helping others to design their working space (and actually any other built environment):

  • Ambient noise: We want the noise level inside of the working space to be reasonably low, whether it is intrusion from outside such as traffic, railway, aircraft and neighbouring building (neighbour’s mechanical system can be quite noisy), or the noise from inside the building such as HVAC system and lifts.
  • Sound insulation: We don’t want to hear sound that we don’t want to hear from the next room, upstairs or downstairs. By designing a suitable ceiling, flooring and wall systems, a sufficient sound insulation can be achieved.
  • Room acoustics: We want to be able to listen comfortably and understand verbal information that we want to. This is critical especially in meeting rooms and event space.
  • Sound reinforcement and public address system: We want the sound reinforcement and public address system to be heard clearly while not disturbing others who don’t want to hear it.

All the above can also be done after the building and the working space is built. But if it’s done before it’s built, you will have a lot more options and be more cost efficient rather than changing what is already been built.

So, if you are a highly productive person, or if you want to become one, we would suggest you to consider noise in choosing the space you are working in.

Categories
Asia Noise News Building Accoustics

Are You Stressed at Work?

Are you stressed at work?

How many times did you need to cover your ears at work? You might be stressed because you are working in a noisy environment even without realizing it.

A noisy environment is one of the primary stress triggers for the employee and it will lead to a reduction in productivity. It is dangerous for your health but it could also impact your bonus at the end of the year? Let us remind you how noisy your working environment is by mentioning some sources:

  • Copy machines
  • Obnoxious ringtone
  • Computers
  • Air Conditioning
  • Noises from outside the office buildings (Trucks, Airplanes, Highway noise, nearby constructions)
  • Laughing/Talking
  • Gossip about boss
  • Gossip about co-worker who is not invited into WhatsApp Group

Those are common noise sources that might be contributing to the noise around you. We must remember that the distinction between noise and sound is very subjective. It can be particular to each person and even depend the situation.

Noise and sound can both be dangerous for your health and can be easily measured to quantify. The graphic below shows some noise levels. Fifty decibel would be great for a working environment, exposure for long time to noise levels above 80 decibel will permanently damage your hearing.

 

How Loud is Too Loud? – GeoNoise Asia

 

After reading the graphic, please take a moment to think about how many decibels your ears have to endure daily? Let’s say that you’re working in a general business noisy office. The noise levels can be reaching up to 90 decibels because of the cumulation of various noises such as laughter, yelling, ringtones, etc. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that exposure to noise causes stress, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Furthermore, loud sounds will damage sensitive structures of the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

The damage because of the noise exposure is gradual; you might not notice the signs or you ignore them until they become more apparent. Here are the symptoms of the Noise-induced Hearing Loss:

  • Sounds have become distorted or muffled
  • You can hear people, but you can’t quite understand what they’re saying
  • You can’t hear or understand speech from 3 feet away or farther
  • You must turn the volume up more than others do in order to hear it as well as they can

All checked?

Please call professional help immediately! If it is not, congratulations, you still have a good hearing. But it doesn’t guarantee you that you will be free from NIHL.

Here are the tips on how to stay sane in a noisy working environment and prevent the NIHL at the same time:

•   Bring earplugs to your work!

You only need to spend a few thousand rupiahs for this. Wearing earplugs can help you to reduce the noise by 18 – 34 decibels. It depends on the models/brand. By blocking/reducing that amount of noise, you’re still able to hear the sound around you.

•   You might want to try the Noise Cancelling Headphones

It is made for keeping the noise away from your ears. If you use this in the office, it not only will help you block the annoying noise but also will make your music sounds way better than any other headphones in the same situation. The price ranges between a hundred thousand rupiah – millions of rupiah. It is an excellent investment, though!

•   Take a break!

When the noise around you is too much to handle, give your ears a break! It gives your eara time to recover from the stressful sound and this action also a preventive way to the damage of your ears. None of them seems to be working for you? Please contact the acoustical consulting service. They will help you to find the best solutions to your problems.

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