The following words, phrases and terms as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
DECIBEL. A unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
HOSPITAL. Any building or portion thereof used for the accommodation and medical care of sick, injured or infirm persons including rest homes and nursing homes.
NOISE DISTURBANCE. Any sound which violates the standards set forth in this chapter.
SCHOOL. Public or private institutions conducting regular academic instruction at preschool, kindergarten, elementary, secondary or collegiate levels.
SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT. Any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound. SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT shall not include standard automobile radios or tape players when heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the automobile radio is installed. SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT as used in this chapter shall not include warning devices in authorized emergency vehicles, or horns or other warning devices in any vehicle, which are used only for traffic safety purposes.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighted networks for the measurement of sound levels which satisfy the pertinent specifications published by the American National Standards Institute, New York, New York, in “American Standard Sound Level Meters for the measurement of noise and Other Sounds,” S1.41971, or the most recent revision thereof.
WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL. The sound level in decibels as measured with a sound level meter using the A:P weighted network (scale) at slow meter response. This scale provides an average of sound levels over the whole audible spectrum and reports an overall sound pressure level. The unit of measurement is referred to as A-weighted decibels or dBA.
(Ord. 11-08, passed 8-16-2011)