AS 1055.1-1997 Acoustics - Description and measurement of environmental noise - General procedures

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AS 1055.1—1997

Australian Standard^®

Acoustics—Description and measurement of environmental noise

Part 1: General procedures

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee AV/5, Acoustics, Community Noise. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 20 June 1997 and published on 5 August 1997.

The following interests are represented on Committee AV/5:

• AirServices Australia
• The Association of Consulting Engineers, Australia
• Australian Acoustical Society
• Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council
• AUSTROADS
• Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
• Council of The City of Sydney
• CSIRO—Division of Building, Construction & Engineering
• Department of Defence
• Ministry of Health, New Zealand
• National Acoustic Laboratories
• Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Royal Australian Planning Institute
• The Institute of Marine Engineers Australia/New Zealand Division
• University of Sydney

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition, and any amendments thereto.

Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine 'The Australian Standard', which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.

Suggestions for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head office of Standards Australia, are welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 95366.

AS 1055.1—1997
Australian Standard®

Acoustics—Description and measurement of environmental noise
Part 1: General procedures

Originated as part of AS 1055—1973.
Previous edition AS 1055.1—1989.
Third edition 1997.
PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA
(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7337 1276 2

AS 1055.1 — 1997

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PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee AV/5 on Acoustics, Community Noise, to supersede AS 1055.1—1989, Acoustics—Description and measurement of environmental noise, Part 1: General procedures. This Standard is based on ISO 1996-1:1982, Acoustic—Description and measurement of environmental noise—Part 1: Basic quantities and procedures. This Standard is a result of a consensus among representatives on the Joint Committee to produce it as an Australian Standard. New Zealand has proceeded with a separate review of its environmental noise Standard NZS 6802:1991.

It is Part 1 in a series of Standards on the measurement and assessment of environmental noise. The objective of this Part is to serve as a general guide for the evaluation of environmental noise in order to meet the needs of public bodies and persons interested in its control. It applies primarily to noise emitted from industrial, commercial and residential premises, and is intended for use in the evaluation of existing problems, as well as for planning purposes. It may be used for noises which include impulsive components, but it is not suitable for noise which consists solely of discrete impulses, e.g. shooting, blasting.

The objective of this revision is to reflect the rapid technological advances in acoustical measurement techniques. Although a sound level meter set on A-weighting and ‘F’ response may be used to make a quick assessment of a possible community noise problem, more sophisticated instrumentation is now readily available and should be used for the purposes of the AS 1055 series. A choice may be made between the time average A-weighted sound pressure level or other descriptor(s) such as the percent exceedance A-weighted sound pressure level as the basic quantity, or other quantities as specified by the relevant regulatory authority.

This Standard is not a regulatory document and users should ascertain, from the relevant regulatory authority, details of specific requirements laid down in each State or Territory.

Extensive research concerning the way in which human beings are affected by noise from a single kind of source such as rail or road vehicles, aircraft or industrial plants, has led to a variety of descriptors for assessment of different kinds of noise, many of which are in common use. Conversion from one descriptor to another is often beset with significant uncertainty.

If an acoustical environment were always dominated by a single kind of noise, the confusion caused by the existence of different descriptors would not be so serious. But often environmental noise is a composite of sounds from many sources, and the distribution of the different kinds of noise is likely to change from moment to moment. The methods and procedures described in this Standard are intended to be applicable to sounds from all sources, individually and in combination, which contribute to the total noise at a site. For certain types of sources more detailed procedures may be used, e.g. reference is made to AS 1269, Acoustics—Hearing conservation, for situations where the noise may cause hearing impairment. Specific measurements for road traffic, aircraft and ship noise are dealt with in AS 2702 Acoustics—Methods for the measurement of road traffic noise, AS 2021 Acoustics—Aircraft noise intrusion—Building siting and construction and AS 1949 Acoustics—Measurement of airborne noise emitted by vessels in waterways, ports and harbours respectively.

This Standard aims at providing authorities with material for the description of noise in community environments. Based on the principles described in this Standard, acceptable limits of noise can be specified and compliance with these limits can be controlled.

It has been assumed that the user of this Standard is adequately trained in the science of acoustics and thoroughly experienced in noise measurement and assessment, but to familiarize the user with some of the special terms introduced in this Standard, an example of its application is included (see Appendix A). For further information see also AS 2659 Guide to the use of sound measuring equipment, Parts 1 and 2.

The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

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