Acoustics (Environmental Noise): LAFmax vs Shot Noise Level?

[Fiochra]

Hello, new poster,

I am trying to do a fairly simple, but non-standard, environmental noise model run for a shooting range.

The standard against which noise from the shooting range is to be compared is the Shot Noise Level (SNL). SNL is defined as the logarithmic average of the 25 highest LAeq(Fast) shot levels over a 30 minute measurement period.

Unfortunately, the modelling software only models for LAeq and LAmax.

Given that, in the model, all shot sound levels at the receptor locations would be at the same level, would the LAmax be equivalent to the SNL?
I believe that they are, but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

 

[eljose79]

Hello, thank you for your post. It sounds like you are working on a challenging project. I am happy to provide some guidance.

Firstly, I want to clarify that LAeq and LAmax are different measures of noise. LAeq is the equivalent continuous sound level, which is an average of the sound levels over a period of time. LAmax, on the other hand, is the maximum sound level during a specific time period. Therefore, they are not equivalent.

In terms of your specific question, the LAmax would not be equivalent to the SNL. The SNL is a logarithmic average of the 25 highest shot levels over a 30 minute measurement period, while the LAmax is just the maximum sound level during that time period. So, while the LAmax may provide some information about the maximum noise level at a specific moment, it does not take into account the overall noise exposure over the 30 minute period.

I would recommend looking into other modelling software that can accurately model for the SNL, or consulting with an expert in environmental noise modelling to ensure that your results are accurate and comparable to the standard SNL. I hope this helps and good luck with your project.