Shooting Ranges and Sound

Shooting Ranges and Sound

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................................IV LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................V ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT..............................................................................................VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................VII 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 8

1.1 PHYSICS OF SOUND ........................................................................................ 8 1.1.1 Sound Waves .............................................................................................. 8 1.1.2 Frequency....................................................................................................8 1.1.3 Sound Pressure........................................................................................... 9 1.1.4 Sound Pressure Levels, Decibels................................................................ 9 1.1.5 Directivity ..................................................................................................... 9

1.2 MECHANISMS OF NOISE GENERATION AND SHOOTING NOISE GENERATION ............................................................................................................... 9

1.2.1 Shock Wave ................................................................................................ 9 1.2.2 Vibrating Surfaces ..................................................................................... 10 1.3 SOUND CHARACTERISTICS OF FIREARMS ................................................ 10 1.4 SOUND PROPAGATION ................................................................................. 12 1.4.1 Distance.....................................................................................................12 1.4.2 Ground Effect ............................................................................................ 12 1.4.3 Air Absorption ............................................................................................ 12 1.4.4 Weather, Wind and Temperature Inversion............................................... 13 1.5 HUMAN SENSITIVITY...................................................................................... 13 1.6 SOUND MEASUREMENT ................................................................................ 13 1.6.1 Constant Sounds ....................................................................................... 13 1.6.2 Time-Varying Sounds ................................................................................ 16 1.6.3 Impulsive Sounds ...................................................................................... 17 1.6.4 Measuring Sound Levels From Firearms .................................................. 18 2 SOUND LEVEL ASSESSMENT .............................................................................. 19 2.1 PHILOSOPHY OF CRITERION SOUND LEVEL DEVELOPMENT ................. 19 2.1.1 Fixed Criterion Sound Levels .................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Background Sound Levels as Criteria ....................................................... 20 2.1.3 Hybrid Sound Level Criteria....................................................................... 20 2.2 POINT OF RECEPTION SELECTION ............................................................. 22

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Table of Contents

3 SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENTS ........................................................................ 23 3.1 SOUND LEVEL METER REQUIREMENTS ..................................................... 23 3.1.1 Sound Level Meter Types.......................................................................... 23 3.1.2 Sound Level Meter Calibration .................................................................. 23 3.1.3 Accessories Required for Sound Level Meters ......................................... 23 3.2 SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES ......................................... 24 3.2.1 Calibration ................................................................................................. 24 3.2.2 Weather Conditions ................................................................................... 24 3.2.3 Recording .................................................................................................. 24 3.3 SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENT PERSONNEL ............................................ 25

4 RANGE CONSTRUCTION PLANNING ADVICE .................................................... 26 4.1 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUTDOOR AND INDOOR RANGES ...... 26 4.1.1 Design Considerations ? Outdoor Ranges ................................................ 26 4.1.2 Design Considerations ? Indoor Ranges ................................................... 29 4.2 PLANNING FOR SHOOTING RANGES .......................................................... 30 4.2.1 Outdoor Ranges ........................................................................................ 30 4.2.2 Indoor Ranges ........................................................................................... 32

5 ABATEMENT TECHNIQUES .................................................................................. 33 5.1 NOISE ABATEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR OUTDOOR SHOOTING RANGES 33 5.1.1 Natural Hill ................................................................................................. 33 5.1.2 Barriers at Sides ........................................................................................ 34 5.1.3 Barrier Behind Shooter .............................................................................. 35 5.2 NOISE ABATEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR INDOOR SHOOTING RANGES... 36 5.2.1 Walls..........................................................................................................36 5.3 PRACTICAL MEASURES OF NOISE CONTROL............................................ 36 5.3.1 Outdoor Shooting Ranges ......................................................................... 36 5.3.2 Indoor Shooting Ranges ............................................................................ 37

6 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................. 38 7 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 41

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0BLIST OF TABLES

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Sound Pressure Levels of Firearms Being Measured at 10 m from the Muzzle (Downrange) ................................................................................................................... 11 Table 2: Typical Sound Pressure Level Encountered in Daily Life ................................. 15 Table 3: Sound Levels, dBAl, 100m from Indoor Range (Sound Pressure of the Handgun Being Measured is 160 dBAl at 600 mm)........................................................................ 36

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1BList of Figures

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Directivity of a Typical Rifle at 10 m ................................................................. 11 Figure 2: Directivity of a Typical Shotgun at 10 m........................................................... 12 Figure 3: Frequency Characteristics of A-Weighting and C-Weighting ........................... 14 Figure 4: Attenuation Over Distance ? No Ground Effect ............................................... 26 Figure 5: Attenuation over Distance with Ground Effect ................................................. 27 Figure 6: Attenuation Over Distance With and Without Berm ......................................... 28 Figure 7: Noise Reduction Across the Wall..................................................................... 29 Figure 8: Attenuation Over Distance With and Without Hill............................................. 33 Figure 9: Attenuation Over Distance With and Without Side Barriers ............................. 34 Figure 10: Attenuation Over Distance With and Without Barrier Behind Shooter ........... 35

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