Noise complaints continue to be the number one quality of life issue for New York City residents. Sound Seal products are specified and listed in New York City’s “products and vendor guidance sheet” for the new noise code adopted in July 2007.
Section 28 of the New York City Noise Code calls out requirements for reducing noise levels for construction projects that include perimeter barriers and fencing utilizing Sound Seal Model BBC-13-2″ sound curtain panels.
New York City Noise Control Code:
Sections 28-101
g. When DOB regulations require a perimeter barrier or “construction fence”, and the site is within 200 feet of a receptor or a receiving property as defined in sec.28-109 of this chapter, perimeter noise barriers shall be fabricated in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision e of sec.28-107 of this chapter and lined with material set forth in subdivisions c and e of sec.28-107 of this chapter. Further, the responsible party shall fill in any gaps and holes in adjacent panels of noise barriers with noise attenuation material, so as to maximize the effectiveness of such barriers. Such noise attenuation material shall include noise curtain material, additional plywood, or similar material. When viewing ports are required in the curtain material, they shall be filled in with clear plastic attached to the curtain.
Sections 28-102
iii Portable noise enclosures
a. Portable noise enclosures (so-called “noise tents”) made of steel frames wrapped with noise curtain material, such as SoundSeal model BBC-13-2, or equivalently rated material, may be built to surround the jackhammer (on the top and 3 sides) and the operator. A properly constructed enclosure, using curtain material with a Sound Transmission Class rating of STC 30 or greater, generally provides a 5 dBA insertion loss. Such barrier shall meet OSHA standards for worker exposure to particulate matter.
C. Noise Pathway Controls: Noise Barriers and Curtains
iii. Portable noise shields made of steel frames wrapped with noise curtain material, such as SoundSeal 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 vac-truck. Noise curtains are typically made out of a 1/4-inch thick heavy vinyl material, often with a noise absorptive quilt attached to one side. These 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.
iii. A noise shroud enclosure shall be wrapped around the head (i.e. chisel) of the hoe ram whenever working within 200 feet of a receptor. Shrouds may be selected from various manufacturers such as Krupp Industries, Allied Hi-Ram, Montabert, or Rammer Inc. with steel shrouds to attach to the hoe ram head. Alternatively, a shroud may be fabricated on-site by wrapping the chisel head with a heavy vinyl noise curtain material, such as SoundSeal BBC-13-2, or equivalently rated material, and securing it with a tie wire.
iii. Noise curtain material, such as SoundSeal 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 auger drill rig. Noise curtains are typically made out of a 1/4-inch thick heavy vinyl material, often with a noise absorptive quilt attached to one side. These 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.
iii. Portable noise enclosures made of steel frames wrapped with noise curtain material, such as SoundSeal model BBC-13-2, or equivalently rated material, shall be built to surround (top and 3 sides) the concrete saw and the operator. A well made enclosure, using curtain material with a Sound Transmission Class rating of STC 30 or greater, can generally provide a 5 dBA insertion loss providing there are no gaps in the enclosure. Noise tents may be reused at other sites with proper care and maintenance.
Sections 28-106
O. Perimeter noise barriers shall be used as set forth in sec. 28-101(g) of this chapter.
All gaps and spaces in the semi-permanent or temporary barriers shall be filled with noise attenuation material, and such barriers shall be placed as close as possible to the noise source to promote greater noise attenuation.
Sections 28-107
3. Alternative barriers may be utilized in accordance with site-specific conditions. For example, shipping container (Conex) boxes are likely already available to the responsible party. For example, where work site space permits, these container boxes or truck trailers may be positioned along the edge of the work site to form a semi-permanent noise barrier. These containers are typically 8 feet wide by 8 feet tall and can be double-stacked to form a noise barrier 16 feet in height. The gaps between and/or under container boxes shall be filled-in to avoid having noise flanck around or under the container boxes.
Sections 28-108
c. Construction of temporary barrier. Noise barriers shall be made of noise-resistant material sufficient to achieve a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of STC 30 or greater, based on sound transmission loss data taken according to ASTM Test Method E90. Such a barrier may provide as much as a 10 dBA insertion loss, provided it is positioned as close as possible to the noise source or to the receptors. To be at all effective, the barrier must be long and tall enough to completely block the line-of-sight between the noise source and the receptors. The gaps between adjacent panels must be filled-in to avoid having noise penetrate directly through the barrier.
d. Noise curtains. Noise curtain material may be mounted or hung over perimeter chain link fences, or draped over small noise sources, to form a flexible nose barrier. The chain link fences can also be attached to the top of jersey bases.
Sections 28-108
b. Where construction projects are of shorter duration than 15 days and within the property line and do not require a perimeter barriers and are within 75 feet of a residential receptor, a temporary or portable (i.e. unanchored) noise barrier shall be made in accordance with this section.
c. Construction of temporary barrier. Noise barriers shall be made of noise-resistant material sufficient to achieve a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of STC 30 or greater, based on sound transmission loss data taken according to ASTM Test Method E90. Such a barrier may provide as much as a 10 dBA insertion loss, provided it is positioned as close as possible to the noise source or to the receptors. To be at all effective, the barrier must be long and tall enough to completely block the line-of-sight between the noise source and the receptors. The gaps between adjacent panels must be filled-in to avoid having noise penetrate directly through the barrier.
