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UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAMDEPARTMENT OF FACILmES PLANNING

FACiliTIES STANDARDNAME: Building Indoor Sound LevelNUMBER: 15999

ORIGINAL DATE: 28-Jun-2006REVISION DATE: None

PURPOSE:

1. The general purpose of each Facilities Standard is to provide minimal criteria for constructionmaterials at University facilities regarding code compliance, warranty, approved products,execution and uniformity.

2. To protect the health and safety of patients, visitors, students, faculty and staff, in addition toprotecting non-project UAB property, all construction must be in accordance with NFPA 241safeguarding construction, alteration and demolition operations; Standard Building Code,Chapter 33, regarding site work, demolition, and construction; NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

3. Construction safety is the responsibility of the contractor in accordance with the regulationsand codes of the agency having jurisdiction, and according to the guidelines adapted byOSHA.

4. The BuildinGIndoor Sound LevelStandard establishes a series of guidelines for specifyingthe occupied space maximum allowable sound levels on any construction project at theUniversity. This Facilities Standard is not to be regarded as a specification.

5. The purpose of this Standard is three-fold:

a) Provide a reference to the current guidelines regarding sound levels in indoor spaces,and set guidelines for the Engineer of Record in producing the Sound Level jobspecification.

b) Provide for an environment free of objectionable noise in work, educational,performing arts, and healthcaresettings.

c) Provide a means to assess and address sound problems that may be perceived asabove that allowed by this standard or adopted by code.

GENERAL:

1. Each new building, building expansiDn,or special application shall have the sound levels, ofspaces expected to be occupied, calculated by the Job Design Engineer/Job DesignEngineer's acoustical consultant. The calculations will be made during Design Developmentusing the construction layout specified by the Job Architect. The calculationswill estimate theexpected sound levels of the space in the state of "Beneficial Occupancy".

DEVELOPED BY AND INTENDED FOR UAB USE ONLYNOT FOR OUTSIDE DISTRIBUTION

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NAME: Building Indoor Sound LevelNUMBER: 15999


"Beneficial Occupancy" for the purposes of this standard will be defined as the completedcondition of the space, for the purpose intended, with an allowance for the expected quantityof furnishings, carpets, and equipment. The sound level of the space at the point of"Beneficial Occupancy" will not include the sounds produced by the occupants themselves.The calculation method will follow the procedure for determining the ASHRAE RC Mark IIrating. The source soundswill be approximatedand combined according to standard practice.

2. If, during Design Development, the Design Engineer calculates that a space is estimated tohave sound levels above that provided by this standard, or adopted by code, the DesignEngineer will bring it to the attention of the Job Architect and UAB. At that time, the DesignEngineer will present proposed corrective measures and estimated costs associated withbringing the sound levels to acceptable levels.

3. If the Design Engineer determines that a space will have sound levels that exceed therequirements of this standard (and UAB approves the cost associated with bringing thesound levels to acceptable levels), the Design Engineer will provide sufficient sound sourceinformation to the Job Architect. The Architect in conjunction with the Design Engineer willthen specify building materials with sufficient STC ratings, and configurations, required toreduce the sound to an acceptable level.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB SPECIFICATION:

Reference documents, which can be used by the Design Engineer in developing the job designspecifications and drawings, are included in, but are not limited to, the following:

Chapter 47 of the 2003 ASHRAE Handbook HVAC-Applications, ANSIIASA S12.60, Chapter 7 ofthe ASHRAE 1997 Fundamentals Handbook, OSHA 1910, National Research Council "Guide forthe Care and Use of Laboratorv Animals", ARI 885, ANSI S1.11, ANSI S1.4, ANSI S1.43, ANSIS12.2, IEC 1260, IEC 60651, ISO 1996, "A Practical Guide to Noise and Vibration Control forHVAC Svstems" by Mark Schaffer, and NIST.

The Design Engineer will include the following items in the job specification, which will be used inassessing whether the sound levels in the space in the state of "Beneficial Occupancy" meet therequirements of this Standard or those adopted by code:

1. The type sound levels that will be measured.

2. Where and how the sound levels will be measured.

3. What instruments will be used to make the sound measurements.

4. How the instruments used for the sound measurements will be calibrated.

5. How the sound measurement results will be interpreted.


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GUIDELINE CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE OVERALL SOUND LEVELS:

The goal of the Design Specifications and Design Drawings is to result in a space at the point of"BeneficialOccupancy" that has an overall combined sound level that does not exceed that shownin Table 34 of Chapter 47 of the 2003 ASHRAE Handbook-HVACApplications and its includedQAI. The table is shown below for reference.

RoomResidences, Apartments, CondominiumsHotelslMotels

Individual rooms or suitesMeetinglbanquet roomsCorridors, lobbiesService/support areas

Office BuildingsExecutive and private officesConference roomsTeleconference roomsOpen-plan officesCorridors and lobbies

Hospitals and ClinicsPrivate roomsWardsOperating roomsCorridors and public areas

Performing Arts SpacesDrama theatersConcert and recital hallscMusic teaching studiosMusic practice rooms

Laboratories (witb fume boods)Testing/research, minimalSpeech communicationResearch, extensive telephone use, speech communicationGroup teaching

Cburch, Mosque, SynagogueGeneral assembly with critical music programsc

ScboolsdClassroomsLarge lecture rooms (without speech amplification)

Table 34 Desi2D Guidelines for HVAC-Related Bac!!£.....25to35

25 to 3525 to 3535 to 4535 to 45

25 to 3525 to 3525 (max)30 to 4040 to 45

25 to 3530 to 4025 to 3530 to 40

25

2530 to 35

45 to 5540 to 5035 to 45

25 to 35

25 to 3025 to 302530 to 40

LibrariesCourtrooms

Unamplified speechAmplified speech

Indoor Stadiums, GymnasiumsGymnasiums and natatoriumseLarge seating-capacity spaces with speech amplificatione

25 to 3530 to 40

40 to 5045 to 55

DEVELOPED BY AND INTENDEDFOR UAB USE ONLYNOT FOR OUTSIDE DISTRIBUTION

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aValues and ranges are based on judgment and experience. not on quantitative evaluations of human reactions. They represent generallimits of acceptability for typical building occupancies. Higher or lower values may be appropriate and should be based on a carefulanalysis of economics, space usage, and user needs.twhen quality of sound in the space is important, specifYcriteria in terms ofRC(N). If quality of sound in the space is of secondaryconcern. the criteria may be specified in terms ofNC or NCB levels of similar magnitude.cAn experienced acoustical consultant should be retained for guidance on acoustically critical spaces (below RC 30) and for all

~erforming arts spaces.Some educators and others believe that HVAC-related sound criteria for schools, as listed in previous editions of this table, are too

high and impede learning for affected groups of all ages. See ANSI Standard SI2.60-2002 for classroom acoustics and ajustificationfor lower sound criteria in schools. The HVAC component oftotaI noise meets the background noise requirement of that standard ifHV AC-related back-ground sound =RC 25(N).

~C orNC criteriafor thesespacesneedonlybeselectedforthedesiredspeechandhearingconditions.

@(2003), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (www.ashrae.org).Reprinted by permission from ASHRAE, 2003 ASHRAE Handbook-HVAC Applications, Chapter 47, February,2006. This material may not be copied nor distributed in either paper or digital form without ASHRAE'spermission.

Table 34 refers specifically to HVAC-related background sound. The overall combined sound levelwill include sound due to HVAC background noise, all other building equipment, and outdoor noise.It will be the Design EngineersJ and Architects' responsibility to inform UAB during DesignDevelopment when problems are encountered in designing the occupied space to meet therequirements of Table 34.

If the requirements of other adopted codes or the requirements of the Americans with DisabilitiesAct are more stringent, then those requirements will be met.

Reverberation time and signal to noise ratio will be taken into account as required by code or law.

When the sound levels within Mechanical or Electrical equipment rooms will exceed 75 decibels,the Design Engineer shall recommend appropriate signage that indicates if hearing protection isrequired.

The sound levels within animal areas at the point of "Beneficial Occupancy" shall meet therequirements of National Research Council "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:

Sound levels for spaces used in the performing arts will be discussed individually with the UABperson in responsible charge of those performances and areas.

END OF STANDARD

Prepared by:Reviewed and

Recommended by:Hope Hammonds

Director, Design Build Services

Reviewed and

Recommended by: Approved by:

(;L / ..-~~/K 1q'7~(

Brooks H. Baker IIIAssociate Vice President - Facilities


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