(a) Terminology: All terminology used in this article and not defined below shall conform with applicable publications and standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and other applicable industry standards.
(1) A-weight sound level: The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated db(A).
(2) Classification of use occupancies: For the purpose of defining the "use occupancy," all premises containing habitually occupied sleeping quarters shall be considered in residential use. All premises containing transient commercial sleeping quarters shall be considered commercial use. All premises containing business where sales, professional or another commercial use is legally permitted shall be considered commercial use. All premises where manufacturing is legally permitted shall be considered manufacturing use. In case of multiple use, the more restrictive use category shall prevail. Hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries and church uses shall be considered residential uses. Any area not otherwise classified shall conform to commercial standards.
(3) Decibel (db): A unit for describing the amplitude of sound, equal to twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter.
(4) Emergency work: Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an existing or imminent peril.
(5) Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): The value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single motor vehicle. In cases where trailers and tractors are separable, the gross combination weight rating (GCWR), which is the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of the combination vehicle, shall be used.
(6) Motor vehicle: Any vehicle which is propelled or drawn on land by a motor, such as, but not limited to, passenger cars, trucks, truck-trailers, semitrailers, campers, go-carts, amphibious craft on land, dune buggies, or racing vehicles, but not including motorcycles.
(7) Noise control officer or NCO: The city codes enforcement officer or person(s) designated by the city manager, shall be the noise control officer (NCO).
(8) Noise-sensitive zone: See section 8-44(8).
(9) Person: Any individual, association, partnership or corporation and includes any officer, employee, department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, the state or any political subdivision thereof.
(10) Sound level: The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI s1.4-1971, Type 2 or the latest approved version thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
(11) Sound level meter: An instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, response dampening circuit, output meter, and weighting network used to measure sound pressure levels.
(12) Sound pressure level: Twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to the reference of twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter. RMS sound pressure means the square root of the time averaged square of the sound pressure.
(13) Unreasonably loud, harsh, or excessive noise: Any manufactured noise plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from its point of origination or emanation.
(b) Measurement Standards: Standards, instrumentation, personnel, measurement procedures, and reporting procedures to be used in the measurement of sound as provided for in this section shall be consistent with accepted and sound principles of noise measurement in accord with the standards of the American National Standards Institute, or its successor body, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or other applicable industry standards.
(Ord. No. 1454, § 2, 2-11-91; Ord. No. 1778, § 1, 10-25-10)