Acoustics

Introduction
Whatissound? Howdowemeasuresound? Soundpowervs.soundpressure Soundquality AHRI880/885 NCvs.RC Installationeffects
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TheSoundRoom
Productsaretestedinaqualified reverberantchamber(perAHRI 220) Reverberantchambersareusedfor quietproducts Anechoicchambersareusedfor noisyproducts Thereverberantfieldeliminatesall directionalityfromasoundsource Soundlevelswithinthereverberant fieldareequalatallpoints
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TheComparisonMethod
Determinethesoundpower(Lw)bycomparisontoa knownreferencesoundsource(RSS) Measurethesoundpressure(Lp)oftheRSSinorder todeterminetheroomattenuation Lp=Lw roomattenuation Lw=Lp+roomattenuation IfweknowthattheRSScreatesLw=80dBinthefirst octaveband(63Hz),butwereadonlyLp=70dB,we knowthatwehave10dBofroomattenuationinthat octaveband Roomattentionisconstant Allsoundmetersmeasuresoundpressure(Lp)
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TheDecibel(dB)
Becauseofthegreatdifferencesinenergy(or pressure)available,thelogoftheactual valueisused Referencepoweris1012watts Referencepressureis0.0002microbars dBismeasuredvs.frequency Aninfinitenumberoffrequencies,sotheyare averagedintobands,typicallycalledOctaveBands

OctaveBands
Octavebandsarecenteredabout increasinglywiderfrequencyranges, startingwith63cycles/second(Hz) Eachbanddoublesinfrequency Bandsaretraditionallynumbered, inourindustry,asshown
Octave Band Designations
Center Frequency Band Designation 63 1 125 2 250 3 500 4 1000 5 2000 6 4000 7 8000 8

OctaveBands
Fanpoweredproductsusuallycreatetheirhighest soundlevelsinoctaveband2(125Hz),butsometimes octaveband3(250Hz) Grilles,registersanddiffuserscreatetheirhighest soundlevelsinoctavebands4(500Hz),5(1000Hz)or 6(2000Hz) Octavebands46areknownasthespeech interferencebands Itsindustryconventiontoreportsounddatafor octavebands27only Soundroomsizeanddesigncancauseproblemswith readingsinoctavebands1and8
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DecibelAdditionExample
To add two decibel values:

80 dB + 74 dB

DecibelAdditionExample
To add two decibel values:

80 dB + 74 dB
154 dB (Incorrect)

DecibelAdditionExample
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Correction To Be Added To Higher Value (dB)

To add two decibel values:

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 2 4 6 8 10

80 dB - 74 dB = 6 dB
Difference in Values: 6 dB From Chart: Add 1.0 dB to higher Value

80 dB + 1 dB

Difference In Decibels Between Two Values Being Added (dB)

81 dB (Correct)
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GoodToKnow
Anysoundsource10dBlowerthanbackground levelwillnotbeheard Add3dB(or3NC)todoubleasoundsource
TwoNC40terminalunitsoveranofficewould probablycreateanNC43soundlevel TwoNC20diffusersinaroomwouldcreateaworst casesoundlevelofNC23(iftheyareclosetogether) Donttrytoaddupdissimilarproductsinthismanner

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SoundPowerChanges
Equationforsoundpowerchanges=10logn
1Fanon 1Fanon 1Fanon 1Fanon 50Fanson vs.2Fanson vs.4Fanson vs.10Fanson n=2 n=4 n=10 n=10 vs.100Fanson 0 vs.100Fanson n=2 Add3dB Add6dB Add10dB Add20dB Add3dB
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ProximityToSoundSources
Wouldyoureallyexpecttohear100fansrunningat thesametime? Properlyselecteddiffusersshouldntbeheardfrom morethan10feetaway Althoughtheremaybemultiplediffusersinaspace, itsunlikelythatmorethanoneortwoarewithin10 feetofanoccupant Wewouldonlyexpecttobeabletoheara10foot sectionofcontinuouslineardiffuserfromanysingle location
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ForHighFrequencies
1dB 3dB 5dB 10dB 20dB notnoticeable justperceptible noticeable twiceasloud fourtimesasloud
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ForLowFrequencies
3dB 5dB 10dB noticeable twiceasloud fourtimesasloud

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WhatWeHear
Ourearscanbefooledbyfrequency
Bothtonessoundequallyloud

65 dB 63 HZ

40 dB
1000 HZ

A Difference of 25 dB

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AcousticQuality
Nottooquiet Nottooloud Nottoo annoying Nottobefelt Dontdestroyacousticprivacy Avoidhearingdamage Dontinterferewithspeech Norumble,nohiss Noidentifiablemachinerysounds Notimemodulation Nonoticeablewallvibration
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NCCurves
OCTAVE BAND LEVEL _ dB RE 0.0002 MICROBAR

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 63 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K 8K

MID - FREQUENCY, HZ
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APPROXIMATE THRESHOLD OF HUMAN HEARING

NC-70

NC-60 NC-50

NC-40 NC-30

NC-20

TypicalNCLevels
ConferenceRooms< NC30 Privateoffices< NC35 Openoffices=NC40 Hallways,utilityrooms,restrooms< NC45 NCshouldmatchpurposeofroom DifficulttoachievelessthanNC30 SelectdiffusersforNC2025
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SoundPowerVs.SoundPressure
Soundpower(Lw)cannotbemeasureddirectly Soundpressure(Lp)ismeasuredwithaveryfast pressuretransducer(i.e.amicrophone) Calculatesoundpower(Lw)bycorrectingsound pressure(Lp)readingsinareverberantchambertoa knownpowersource
ReferenceSoundSource(RSS)

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ReferenceSoundSource
Correctiondevicefora reverbroomistheRSS(per AHRI250)
Calibratedinananechoic chambertosimulateafree fieldcondition Usedinareverberantfield, sothereisaknownerror calledtheEnvironmental Effect
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InaReverbRoom
Soundpower(Lw)iscalculatedfrommeasured soundpressure(Lp)andcorrectedforbackground Productsoundshouldbe10dBabovebackground RSSisusedtocalibrate theroom Dataisrecordedperoctaveband(or1/3octave bandifpuretonesareanticipated),foreach operatingcondition
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CatalogData
Soundpressuredataiscollectedbya frequencyanalyzerthatsamplesmicrophones viaamultiplexer Dataiscollectedandsoundpowerrecorded Spreadsheetsareusedtocheckthelinearity ofdatasets Catalogdataispreparedfromactualsound powerdatasheetsusingacceptedregression techniques
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DiffuserTesting
Currentteststandardfor diffusers
ASHRAE702006

Nosignificantchangesin manyyears

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TerminalUnitTesting
Currentteststandardfor terminalunits
ASHRAE1302008

ASHRAE130iscurrently underreview
SPC130 Itwillbeupdatedtoinclude moreproductsincluding exhaustboxes
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SoundTests
Dischargesound,VAVterminals
Unitmountedoutsideroom Dischargingintoreverbroom

Radiatedsound,VAVterminals
Unitmountedinsideroom Dischargingoutsidereverbroom Allductworklaggedtoprevent breakout

Diffusersupply/returnsound
Unitmountedflushtoinsidethe reverbroomwall
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PerformanceRating
Currentratingstandardfor terminalsunit
AHRI8802011(effective Jan1,2012) Increasesdischargesound levelsduetoendreflection Thisaffectsallpublished dataandselectionsoftware Theboxeswillstillsound thesame,butnowthe acousticalconsultantswill behappier
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SoundPathDetermination
Currentstandardfor estimatingsoundlevelsin rooms
AHRI8852008 Providessoundpathdata fromASHRAEresearch Attenuationfactorsforduct lining,ceilingtiles,room volume,elbows,flexduct, etc

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IndustryStandardization
AHRI8852008contains AppendixE
Recommendsstandard attenuationstobeusedby allmanufacturersfor catalogdata FirstpresentedinARI885 98 Makescomparingcatalog NClevelsmuchlessrisky

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AHRI8852008CatalogAssumptions
RadiatedSound EnvironmentalEffect Ceiling/SpaceEffect TotaldBAttenuation DischargeSound EnvironmentalEffect DuctLining EndReflection FlexDuct SpaceEffect TotaldBAttenuation 2 2 16 18 2 2 3 9 6 5 25 3 1 18 19 3 1 6 5 10 6 28 OctaveBand 4 5 0 0 20 26 20 26 OctaveBand 4 5 0 0 12 25 2 0 18 20 7 8 30 53 6 0 31 31 6 0 29 0 21 9 59 7 0 36 36 7 0 18 0 12 10 40
mineral fiber tile 5/8 in thick 20 lb/ ft3 density

5 ft, 1 in fiberglass lining 8 in flex duct to diffuser 2500 ft3 room volume 5 ft from source

The following dB adjustments are used for the calculation of NC above 300 CFM

300 700CFM Over700CFM

2 2 4

OctaveBand 3 4 5 6 1 1 2 5 3 2 2 7

7 1 1

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CertifiedPerformanceData
AHRIProgram
DirectoryofCertified ProductPerformance www.ahrinet.org Randomsamplessubjected toannualthirdpartylab testing Verifiesthatperformanceis withinestablishedtest tolerances Failuresresultinpenalties Voluntaryprogram
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AHRISource Path ReceiverConcept

Source
DB(SNDPOWER)

Path
DBPATHLOSS =

Receiver
DB(SNDPRESSURE)

AHRI 880
Air Terminals

AHRI 885
Attn Factors

NC or RC
Sound Pressure Level

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NCSpecifying
SpecifyingandunqualifiedNCvalueisan open specification SpecifyinganNCwithspecificpath attenuationelementscouldresultin acceptablesoundquality Itisfarpreferabletosetmaximumallowable soundpowerlevelsthantospecifyNC

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ReverbRoomInstallations
Testsareunderidealconditions Boxeshaveonlytheunitexposedtotheroom Diffusershavewonderful inletconditions Actualconditionswillalwaysbelouder thanreverbroomtestsindicate
CoveredbyAHRI8852008

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SingleNumberRatings
Anumberofsinglenumberratingschemes havebeendevelopedtodealwithaspectrum ofsound Theseinclude:
NC,NRandRC dBA(Ascale,BscaleandCscale) Sones,Bels STC,NRC
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ThedBAScale
Usedforoutdoornoiseevaluation Alsousedforhearingconservationmeasurements Basisofmostnonterminalsoundratings

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Example
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Octave Band Level_ dB RE 0.0002 Microbar

70 60 50 40

NC rating given is NC-30 since this is highest point tangent to an NC curve Sound Power

NC-70

NC-60 Sound Power less 10 db in each band NC-50

NC-40

30 20 10 63 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K

Approximate threshold of human hearing

NC-30

NC-20

8K

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MID - Frequency, HZ

Example

90

80

NC rating given is NC-45 since this is highest point tangent to an NC curve NC-70

70

60

NC-60

Octave Band Level dB RE 0.0002 Microbar

50

NC-50

40

NC-40

30

NC-30
20

Approximate threshold 10 of human hearing

63 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K

NC-20
8K

MID - FREQUENCY, HZ

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Example
Octave Band Level_ dB RE 0.0002 Microbar

90 80
NC-70

Both noise spectrums would be rated NC-35, However, they would subjectively be very different!

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NC-60

60 50 40 30 20
NC-20 NC-50

Typical grille noise at a distance of 10FT (high-frequency) Typical fan noise from adjacent mechanical room (low-frequency)

NC-40

NC-30

10
63 12 5 25 0 50 0 1K 2K
Mid - Frequency, HZ

Approximate threshold of human hearing

4K

8K

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NCvs.RC
NCratesspeechinterference andputslimitsonloudness NCgivesnoprotectionforlowfrequency fannoiseproblems NCstopsat63Hzoctaveband RCincludesthe31.5Hzand16Hzoctaveband RCratesspeechinterferenceanddefines keyelementsofacousticalquality
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RoomCriteria (RC)Curves
Region A
Octave Band Sound Press. Level, dB

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20
Threshold of audibility

A B

High probability that noise induced vibration levels in light wall and ceiling structures will be noticeable. Rattling of lightweight light fixtures, doors and windows should be anticipated.

Region B
Moderate probability that noise-induced vibration will be noticeable In lightweight light fixtures, doors and windows.

RC 50 45 40 35 30 25
2K 4K
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10
ADAPTED FROM 2009 ASHRAE FUNDAMENTALS HANDBOOK - ATLANTA, GA

31 .5

Octave Band Center Frequency, HZ

12 5 25 0 50 0 1K

16

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TwoPartsofRC
Example RC40N Thenumberisthespeechinterferencelevel Thelettertellsyouspeechquality
(N)=neutralspectrum (R)=toomuchrumble (H)=toomuchhiss (V)=toomuchwallvibration

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RCNumberCalculation
Averageoflevelofthenoiseinthe octavebandsmostimportanttospeech
500HzOctaveband=46dB 1000HzOctaveband=40dB 2000HzOctaveband=34dB RC=(46+40+34)/3=40dB
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RCLetterDetermination
PlotroomsoundpressureonRCchart Determinerumbleroof
5dBgreaterthenlowfrequency

Determinehissroof
3dBgreaterthenhighfrequency

R roomsoundpressurecrossesrumbleroof H roomsoundpressurecrosseshissroof V roomsoundpressuregoesintovibrationzone N roomsoundpressuredoesnotcross 44

Rumbly Spectrum(R)
Octave Band Sound Press. Level, dB

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
16 31 .5 63

Measured data is outside the reference region by >5 dB, below the 500 Hz octave band, therefore the noise is likely to be interpreted as rumbly

PSIL=(38+35+29) / 3 = 34

RC-34(R)
12 5 25 0 50 0 1K 2K
Octave Band Center Frequency, HZ

4K
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Rumbly&Induced 90 Vibration(RV) 80
70
Octave Band Sound Press. Level, dB

A B

Even though the PSIL Is only 33 dB, the noise spectrum falls within regions A & B indicating a high probability of noise-induced vibration in lights, ceilings, air diffusers and return air grilles

60 50 40 30 20 PSIL= (38+32+29) / 3 = 33 10
16 63 31 .5

RC-33(RV)
12 5 25 0 50 0 1K 2K
Octave Band Center Frequency, HZ 46

4K

Neutral Spectrum(N)
Octave Band Sound Press. Level, dB

90 80 70 60 50 40 C 30 20 10
16 63 31 .5

Measured data must not lie outside the reference region by >5 dB, below the 500 Hz octave band

Measured data must not lie outside the reference region by >3 dB, above the 1000 Hz octave band

PSIL=(38+35+29) / 3 = 34

RC-34(N)
12 5 25 0 50 0 1K 2K
Octave Band Center Frequency, HZ

4K
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Hissy Spectrum(H)
Octave Band Sound Press. Level, dB

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
16 31 .5 63

Measured data is outside the reference region by >3 dB, above the 1000 Hz octave band, therefore the noise is likely to be interpreted as hissy

PSIL = (35+36+34) / 3 = 35

RC-35(H)
12 5 25 0 50 0 1K
Octave Band Center Frequency, HZ

2K

4K
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WhoUsesRC?
NCremainsthebestwaytomakeproduct selections RCispreferredasananalysistool Acousticalconsultantswilltypicallyreport whetherornotequipmentmeetsNCspecbut willdescribetheresultingsoundspectrumin termsofRC Youshouldcontinuetoseecatalog applicationdataintermsofNC
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TerminalUnitInstallations
Soundcharacteristics Optimalinstallation Attenuators Liners

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SoundCharacteristics
Radiatedsoundisprimaryissuewithfanpowered terminals Dischargesoundisprimaryissuewithnonfan terminals Fanpoweredsoundistypicallysetin2nd(125Hz) and3rd(250Hz)octavebands
Longsoundwaves Hardertoattenuate

Dischargesoundiseasilyattenuatedwithlined ductworkandflexduct
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IdealTerminalUnitInstallation
>3D Max velocity 2,000 FPM D Lined Sheet Metal Plenum (Max velocity 1,000 FPM)

VAV UNIT

4' Min.

Maximize Height Above Ceiling

Flexible Connectors For Fan-powered Units Ceiling

Lined Flexible Ducts To Diffusers

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Attenuators
Singleduct
Equivalenttolinedductwork

Dualduct
Providesamixingareaforunit,butnotmuch soundattenuation

Fanpowered
Linedelboworboot mayprovide2dB attenuationbyremovinglineofsighttomotor Carefullyengineeredattenuatorscanprovide additionalsoundreductions

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Liners
Differentlinersinsingleductsdonotaffectdischarge soundmuch
Unitistooshortfortheairtointeractwithliner

1"linerdoesnotsignificantly decreasesoundcomparedto" Foilfacedlinersadd68dB Fiberfreeadds46dB Doublewallisvariable

Kettledrumeffectincreasessound,butitisdirectional
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FlexDuct
Dontforgetaboutflexduct 5'offlexcanreducemidfrequencies by20dBormore Flexisbetterthanlinedductorattenuators inreducinglowfrequencies Youcanhavetoomuchofagoodthing

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DiffuserTests ASHRAEConditions
Measured Air Flow

10 equivalent Diameters, min

Pressure
Discharge Velocity
Sound 56

Inlets:3EquivalentDiameters Ideal
~1NCaddtocatalogdata
Measured Air Flow Flex Duct, 1 radius bend

3 equivalent Diameters

Pressure
Discharge Velocity
Sound

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Inlets:Long90atDiffuser
~3NCaddtocatalogdata
Measured Air Flow Flex Duct

Pressure
Discharge Velocity
Sound

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Inlets:Hard90atDiffuser
~5NCaddtocatalogdata
Flex Duct Measured Air Flow

Discharge Velocity
Sound

Pressure

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InletKinked
~79NCaddtocatalogdata
Flex Duct Measured Air Flow

2 equivalent Diameters

Pressure
Discharge Velocity
Sound

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SummaryofResults
Minimumaddforflexduct=1NC Worstcaseadd,Kinked =79NC Airdistributionpatterncanbegreatlyeffected
Plaque/Perforatedshowsmosteffect MultiCone/Louveredshowsleasteffect

Resultswerenotthesameforalldiffusertypes DontforgetthatcatalogNCsarebasedon typicaloffices(10dBacrossallbands)

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SomeDiffuserSolutions
Locatebalancingdampersatbranchtakeoff Keepflexibleductbendsasgentleaspossible
Flexductisagreatattenuatorofupstreamnoise sources

Keepductvelocitiesaslowaspossible
Butoversizingcanresultinhigherthermalloss

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AdditionalResources
ASHRAEFundamentals
Chapter8,2009Edition

ASHRAEHVACApplications
Chapter48,2011Edition

CognizantTechnical Committee
TC2.6

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Summary
NCremainsthepreferredsoundspecification RCisoftenusedafterthefact Maxsoundpowerlevelsaresafest Liningmaterialsaffectsoundlevels Carefulselection,designandinstallationare requiredtoavoidproblems

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