For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(a) "Acceleration" means the time rate of change of velocity.
(b) "Ambient noise" means the all encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds from many sources.
(c) "ANSI" means American National Standards Institute or its successor bodies.
(d) "Critical construction equipment" means construction equipment required to operate twenty-four hours a day to protect the health and safety of the public and the workmen.
(e) "dbA" means the A weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of metering characteristics in the A weighting network specified in ANSI S1.4 or a later approved revision thereof.
(f) "Decibel (db)" means a unit of measure, on a logarithmic scale to the base ten, of the ratio of the magnitude of a particular sound pressure to a standard reference pressure, which for the purposes of this Code, shall be twenty micro-newtons per square meter (MN/m²).
(g) "Displacement" means the magnitude of the motion.
(h) "Emergency work" means work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity or work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility services or protecting them from imminent danger.
(i) "Fixed source" means a machine or device capable of creating a noise level at the property upon which it is regularly located, including, but not limited to: air conditioning and refrigeration apparatus, industrial and commercial process and production machinery, motorized fans and equipment, and other similar mechanical devices and apparatus.
(j) "Impulsive sound" means a noise characterized by brief excursions of sound pressure, significantly exceeding the ambient noise, the duration of a single impulse of which is less than one second and which requires for accurate measurements a specific designed instrumentation.
(k) "Impulsive vibration" means vibration resulting from an impact source, for example, blasting or pile driving.
(l) "Motor vehicle" includes but is not limited to automobiles, recreational vehicles, trucks with or without trailers, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, go-carts, snowmobiles, locomotives and watercraft.
(m) "Noise" means any undesired sound.
(n) "Noise level". For the purposes of this chapter, "noise level" and "sound level" where used are synonymous.
(o) "Particle velocity" means the time rate of change of displacement.
(p) "Person" means any person, person's firm, association, copartnership, joint venture, corporation or any entity, public or private.
(q) "Real property boundary" means an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person, but not including intrabuilding real property divisions.
(r) "Residential area" means one-family, two-family, multi-family, and apartment districts, or any combination thereof.
(s) "Sound" means an oscillation in pressure in air.
(t) "Sound analyzer" means a device for measuring a specific band pressure level or pressure spectrum level of a sound as a function of frequency.
(u) "Sound level" means in decibels, a weighted sound pressure level, measured by the use of metering characteristics and frequency weightings specified in ANSI S1.4- 1971 "Specifications for Sound Level Meters".
(v) "Sound level meter" means an instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of noise and sound levels in a specified manner. The meter shall satisfy the applicable requirements for a type 2 sound level meter as defined in ANSI S1.4-1971 or the most recent revision.
(w) "Loud and excessive and/or unnecessary, excessive or offensive noise" means any sound or noise, offensive or otherwise which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others which is defined as a noise level which exceeds the fixed source noise level for the zone by 10dba or more, when measured at the property line of the property or person affected, except where different sound levels are specifically imposed elsewhere in this chapter.
(x) "Disturbing noise/sound" means a noise which does not violate the fixed source noise level for the zone but that is clearly audible by persons on neighboring properties and is so intrusive and continuous that it clearly adversely affects the peace and quiet of the neighborhood and the health, well-being, comfort and repose of all persons living on properties bordering or near the property from which the noise is coming.
(Ord. 1-91. Passed 8-26-91.)