I.        NOISE SHALL BE PERMITTED UP TO THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION

A.         Sound Levels/Comparisons.

1.       Sound levels are in decibels re: twenty (20) micro Pascal’s measured on the A-weighting network of a sound-level meter meeting the standards referenced in the section entitled "Measurement of Noise".

2.        A sound level of sixty (60) compares to normal conversational speech heard from a distance of three (3) feet.  Sound levels of sixty-five (65) to seventy (70) approximate the sound of a passing freight train heard from a distance of one hundred (100) feet.

TABLE 1 

Maximum Permissible A-weighted Sound Level 

II.  MEASUREMENT OF NOISE.

A.      The measurement of sound or noise shall be made with a sound-level meter meeting the standards prescribed by ANSI S1.4-1971, Type 1 or Type 2, and IEC 179 or the most recent version of these standards.  The instrument shall be maintained in calibration and good working order.  A calibration check shall be made of the system both before and after the time of any noise measurement. Measurements recorded shall be taken so as to provide a proper representation of the noise source.  The microphone, during measurement, shall be positioned so as not to create any unnatural enhancement or diminution of the measured noise.  A windscreen for the microphone shall be used when required.  Traffic, aircraft and other transportation noise sources and other background noises shall not be considered in taking measurements, except where such background noise interferes with the primary noise being measured.

B.       The slow meter response of the sound-level meter shall be used in order to best determine that the amplitude has not exceeded the limiting noise levels set forth in Table I.

C.       The measurement shall be made at the location the noise is perceived by the complainant, or upon a public way; at a level of five (5) feet above the floor or ground.

III.    EXEMPTIONS:

A.      Noise resulting from emergency vehicles, from emergency public maintenance or from other special short-term activities permitted by the Selectmen shall be exempt from these limits.

B.       Sound generated by Motor Vehicles, Trucks, and Buses operated on streets, highways, and private roads (and while entering from or exiting to a parking place or garage), Aircraft, Trains and other Public Transport. (All Motor Vehicles, Trucks, and Buses must have mufflers in good operating condition to be eligible for this exemption)