These standards describe the limiting levels of sound established on the basis of present knowledge for the preservation of public health and welfare. These standards are consistent with speech, sleep, annoyance, and hearing conservation requirements for receivers within areas grouped according to land activities by the
Area Classification system established in subpart (b). However, these standards do not, by themselves, identify the limiting levels of
needed for the preservation of public health and welfare.
standards in subpart (a) apply to all sources.
(a)
standards.
Area Classification | ||||
1 | 60 | 65 | 50 | 55 |
2 | 65 | 70 | 65 | 70 |
3 | 75 | 80 | 75 | 80 |
(b)
Area Classification. The Area Classification and the activities in each classification are listed below:
Area Classification | Land Use Activities |
Area Classification | Land Use Activities |
1 | Household Units (includes farm houses) |
Hotels, motels, or other overnight lodging | |
Mobile home parks or courts | |
Other residential units | |
Motion picture production | |
Medical and other health services | |
Correctional institutions | |
Educational services | |
Religious activities | |
Cultural activities and nature exhibitions | |
Entertainment assembly | |
Camping and picnicking areas (designated) | |
Resorts and group camps | |
Other cultural, entertainment, and recreational activities. | |
2 | Railroad terminals (passenger and freight) |
Rapid rail transit and street railway passenger terminals | |
Bus passenger terminals (intercity and local) | |
Other transportation | |
Airport and flying field terminals (passenger and freight) | |
Marine terminals (passenger and freight) | |
Automobile parking | |
Transportation services and arrangements | |
Wholesale trade | |
Retail trade, including restaurants and bars | |
Finance, insurance, and real estate services | |
Personal services | |
Business, legal, or other professional services | |
Repair services | |
Contract construction services | |
Governmental services (except correctional institutions) | |
Miscellaneous services (except religious activities) | |
Public assembly (except entertainment assembly and race tracks) | |
Amusements (except fairgrounds and amusement parks) | |
Recreational activities (except designated camping and picnicking areas) | |
Parks | |
3 | Manufacturing |
Transportation (except passenger terminals) | |
and street right-of-way | |
Communication | |
Utilities | |
Race tracks | |
Fairgrounds and amusement parks | |
Agricultural and related activities | |
Forestry activities and related services (including commercial forest land, timber production, and other related activities) | |
Fishing activities and related services | |
Mining activities and related services | |
Other resource production and extraction | |
All other activities not otherwise listed. | |
4 | Undeveloped and unused land area |
Noncommercial forest development | |
Water areas | |
Vacant floor area | |
Under construction | |
(c) Measurement. Measurement of sound must be made at or within the applicable
Area Classification at the point of human activity which is nearest to the
source. All measurements shall be made outdoors.
(d) Exceptions. The
Area Classification for a land use may be changed in the following ways if the applicable conditions are met.
(1) The
standards for Area Classification 1 shall be applied to Area Classification 1 during the
if the land use activity does not include overnight lodging.
(2) The standards for a building in a Area Classification 2 shall be applied to a building in a Area Classification 1 if the following conditions are met:
(i) the building is constructed in such a way that the exterior to interior
attenuation is at least 30
;
(ii) the building has year-round climate control; and
(iii) the building has no areas or accommodations that are intended for outdoor activities.
(3) The standards for a building in a Area Classification 3 shall be applied to a building in a Area Classification 1 if the following conditions are met:
(i) the building is constructed in such a way that the exterior to interior
attenuation is at least 40
;
(ii) the building has year-round climate control; and
(iii) the building has no areas or accommodations that are intended for outdoor activities.
(4) The standards for a building in a Area Classification 3 shall be applied to a building in a Area Classification 2 if the following conditions are met:
(i) the building is constructed in such a way that the exterior to interior
attenuation is at least 30
;
(ii) the building has year-round climate control; and
(iii) the building has no areas or accommodations that are intended for outdoor activities.