Abstract:

Acousticians and mechanical engineers specify design noise levels for occupied spaces and systems components (units of equipment). While it is widely accepted that occupied spaces should have a ``balanced'' noise spectrum, individual units of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other building systems equipment do not. Of the three commonly used systems of rating interior noise---noise criteria, room criteria, and noise criteria--balanced curves---only noise criteria lends itself to specifying a maximum noise level for equipment. How can the need for a ``balanced'' noise environment for people be reconciled with the fact that radiated noise from a fan-powered variable air volume box is predominately in the 125- and 250-Hz octave bands with little sound energy at 1000 Hz and higher? A discussion of the need for a clear standard that is easily understandable to specifiers, clients, manufacturers, and users is undertaken, with suggestions of how to resolve the differing needs of these interacting communities. [See NOISE-CON Proceedings for full paper.]