Systems must be engineered and the use of sound attenuation

provided as required to achieve specified sound levels.

* When evaluating the noise levels which should be provided

in research animal housing areas, it is necessary to consider
both the people and the animals in these spaces. For
reasonable speech communication in these spaces, a
maximum noise level of NC-45 should be maintained.
Specific requirements for vivarium areas shall be determined
by the acoustical consultant with the project officer and
research staff.

Both the Project Engineer and the building owner should be aware
of the costs and benefits related to the choice of noise criteria or
room criteria curves. Studies have shown RC curves to have a more
desirable spectrum for background noise. However, RC curves
may require more noise reduction in lower-octave bands than
would be required for an NC curve. This noise reduction may entail
significant costs in equipment and operations. For spaces at about
NC-30 or NC-40, the duct silencers will be 1-1/2 to 2 times longer
and pressure drop will increase 10% to 20%. If architectural
constructions are used for noise control, they will also be more
massive and elaborate. In general, NC curves provide a more
reasonable fit between costs and benefits and shall be utilized for
NIH buildings.

D.8.3 Scientific Equipment Noise

The design team should be aware that there are many noise sources
in health care and research facilities which are not related to the
building mechanical system. NIH buildings are often equipped with
refrigerators, centrifuges, and other scientific equipment that
contribute significantly to the ambient noise level. In some cases,
this equipment will be located in service corridors and adjacent to
occupied spaces.

Scientific equipment includes a great variety of sources. Most of

this equipment operates intermittently and is often under the control
of the user. Since the types of equipment vary greatly, it is not
possible to prescribe a single means of noise control. We
recommend that equipment which produces significant amounts of
noise be considered during the design stage. Any equipment that
either produces noise levels in excess of 50 dB(A)) at a distance of
7/28/00
Mechanical D-17