Deficiency of the Massachusetts Pure Tone Noise Regulation.

Abstract

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) noise regulation has two parts. The first part involves overall A‐weighted noise and requires that no source of sound be greater than 10 dB above the background noise. A second part states that no pure tones are allowed. A pure tone condition is defined by the MADEP as any octave band that is greater than the adjacent bands by 3 dB. The author was involved in community noise investigation that showed the deficiency of the pure tone requirement. A suburban community complained of bothersome noise from an industrial abutter. Noise measurements were taken by other consultants which did not register as a pure tone. The author was hired by the community group to conduct measurements on their behalf. Similar octave band measurements were taken with similar results. However, measurements with finer one‐third octave band showed significant tonal activity. When compared to commercial standards for pure tones the tonal criterion was met. Further examination of narrowband data showed why the original octave band measurements were not registering pure tone conditions. The author will present his suggestion for changes to the MADEP regulation and welcomes input from others dealing with similar tonal requirements.