Conclusion
Environmental noise measurements were
undertaken to characterize and quantify the
existing ambient and background noise level
at six points inside the Heritage
condominium within 7 consecutive days.
The selected area of this study is located
nearby of the busy street and high way with
intensive traffic so the main sources of noise
is road traffic noise. However, existence of
restaurants and swimming pool inside the
condominium are negative factors which
causes residents to close their windows. The
results obtained in this survey conclude that
at all of the points equivalent continuous
sound pressure level (LAeq,T) exceeded the
55 dB(A) limit for day time and 45 dB (A)
for the night time. The best correlation
between general noise annoyance and sleep
interference corresponds to the night-day
equivalent sound level LAeq measured on
working and non-working days. The results
conclude that environmental noise is an
important problem in the residential areas.
At the same time a survey carried out in five
blocks of the Heritage building, proved that
noise annoyance is a serious problem for
many residents. In particular, residence of
this site have sleep disturbance due to
environmental noise. This level of noise
pollution may result hearing loss of residents
in a long term.
Glossary
“Background noise”
It means any noise recorded at the
measuring points which are not generated by
the sound source.
“Equivalent A-weighted sound level
(LAeq)”
It means the constant sound level that, in a
given situation and time period, conveys the
same sound energy as the actual timevarying
A-weighted sound.
“Equivalent continuous sound pressure
level”
Ten times the logarithm to the base ten of
the ratio of the time-mean-square
instantaneous sound pressure, during a
stated time interval (T), to the square of the
standard reference sound pressure (ANSI
1994).
“Impulsive sound”
It means sound of short duration, usually
less than one second, with an abrupt onset
and rapid decay. Without prejudice to the
foregoing, examples of sources of impulsive
sound shall include but not limited to pile
drivers, drop hammer or driven impacts and
explosions.
“Sound pressure”
It means the instantaneous difference
between the actual pressure and the average
or barometric pressure at a given point in
space, as produced by sound energy.
“Sound pressure level”
It means 20 times the logarithm to the base
10 of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to
the reference pressure of 20 micropascals.
The sound pressure level is denoted Lp or
SPL, and is expressed in decibels.
“Sound source”
It means the machine, equipment,
installation including its subcomponents,
sound reinforcement systems including
loudspeakers, and other sources from which
sound originates.