For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AMBIENT SOUND LEVEL. The A-weighted sound level of all sound associated with a given environment, exceeded 90% of the time measured and being a composite of sounds from many sources during the period of observation while the sound from the noise source of interest is not present.
ANSI. The American National Standards Institute.
ANSI S SERIES STANDARDS. Those ANSI standards relevant to sound, acoustics, shock, vibration and bioacoustics.
A-WEIGHTED SOUND PRESSURE. The sound pressure level as measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The standard notation is dB(A) or dBA.
COMMERCIAL POWER EQUIPMENT. Any equipment or device rated at more than five horsepower and used for building repairs or property maintenance excluding snow removal equipment.
COMMERCIAL PREMISES. Any land parcel with buildings where the use of less than 50% of the gross floor area meets the definition of residential premises. Includes locations of various scale operating as retail, automotive use, restaurant, governmental, financial, entertainment and cultural and shopping centers as identified pursuant to the Manchester Zoning Ordinance.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. Any device or mechanical apparatus operated by fuel, electric, or pneumatic power in the excavation, construction, repair, or demolition of any building, structure, land parcel, street, alley, waterway, or appurtenance thereto.
DECIBEL. A logarithmic unit of measure often used in measuring magnitudes of sound. The symbol is dB.
DOMESTIC POWER EQUIPMENT. Any equipment or device rated at five horsepower or less and used for building repairs or grounds maintenance excluding snow removal equipment.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE. An authorized motor vehicle that has sound warning devices such as whistles, sirens and bells which can lawfully be used when responding to an emergency, during a police activity or which is required by state or federal regulations (i.e., reverse alarms).
EMERGENCY WORK. An activity made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity or work required to protect persons or property from exposure to imminent danger. It includes work by private or public entities for providing or restoring immediately necessary service as well as all situations deemed necessary by the city.
EMERGENCY POWER GENERATOR. The equipment used to generate electrical power in the event of an interruption, malfunction or failure of the electrical power supplied by the service provider.
GROSS FLOOR AREA. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.
INDUSTRIAL PREMISES. Any premise where the production of goods, materials or knowledge takes place. May include locations for manufacturing, warehousing, research and development, distribution or other selected offices as identified pursuant to the Manchester Zoning Ordinance.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Any vehicle that is self-propelled, used primarily for transporting persons or property upon public roadways and required to be licensed according to motor vehicle registration laws. The term motor vehicle shall not include: aircraft, watercraft, motor vehicles operated on private property for recreational or amusement purposes, vehicles used exclusively on stationary rails, or specialized utility vehicles normally used only on private property in the daily course of business such as forklifts, and pallet movers.
NOISE. Any sound that exceeds the standards set forth in this chapter, annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensibilities, or causes or tends to cause any adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.
NOISE VARIANCE. Specific relief from the terms of this chapter as granted by the Noise Variance Board.
PERSON. An individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization or similar entity.
PREMISES. Any building, structure, land, utility or portion thereof, including all appurtenances, and shall also include yards, lots, courts, inner yards and real properties without buildings or improvements, owned or controlled by a person.
PROPERTY LINE. The real or imaginary line and its vertical extension which separates real property owned or controlled by any person from contiguous real property owned or controlled by another person. The vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit in a multi-dwelling unit building, condominium, or townhouse complex shall not be considered property lines separating one property from another.
PUBLIC PREMISES. All real property including appurtenances thereon which is owned or controlled by any governmental entity and shall include streets, alleys, parks and waterways.
RECEPTOR PREMISES. The premises (residential, commercial, industrial, or public) as listed in § 94.10, Table A which is receiving noise emitted from the source premises after crossing one or more property lines. Also referred to as the receiving premise.
RESIDENTIAL PREMISES. Any premises where single or multiple dwelling units exist and shall include primary schools, churches, nursing homes and similar institutional facilities including any commercial premises where the use of more than 50% of the gross floor area meets this definition of residential premise.
SOUND. An oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement and particle velocity which induces auditory sensation.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An apparatus for the measurement of sound levels. The sound level meter shall be of a design and have the characteristics of a Type 2 or better instrument
as established by the American National Standards Institute, publication S1.4 entitled Specification for Sound Level Meters.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. Twenty times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the pressure of a sound to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (20 X 10-6 Newtons/meter2) and is expressed in decibels (dB).
SOURCE PREMISES. The premises (residential, commercial, industrial, or public) as listed in § 94.10, Table A that is emitting noise that is crossing one or more property lines and impacting the receptor premises.
SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT. Any equipment used for removing snow from land or building surfaces and shall include snowplows, snow blowers, snow sweepers, and snow shovels.
TABLE A. The reference table contained in § 94.10 that details the maximum allowable noise levels for all premises in the city, including a time of day allowance. Measurements of noise levels are made at the property line of the receiving premises.
TABLE B. The reference table contained in § 94.12 that details the maximum allowable noise levels for all motor vehicles operating in the city during any time of the day or night. Measurements of noise levels are made 25 feet from the source motor vehicle.
TREE MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT. Any equipment used in trimming or removing trees only and shall not be limited to chainsaws, chippers and stump removers.
(Ord. passed 9-5-06)