Acoustical comfort in building interior during musical production in town residential area of locality

Abstract

This article highlights the negative consequences of the provisional musical performance in the cities, particularly at the places that are not adjusted for this kind of performances. In the article, there is an appeal made to the need for a comprehensive solution in the form of noise studies and also an algorithm of solution is presented. It is important to achieve the permissible values of noise level in front of house facades for obtaining acoustical comfort in interior of buildings. This article presents the solution of the negative consequences of the provisional musical performance in the cities, particularly at the places that are not adjusted for this kind of performances. The solution for practice is the creation of algorithm for solving music performance in the cities.

Keywords

Acoustical comfort building interior noise studies noise level

Introduction

Nowadays, the manufacture became a destination for the construction industry.¹ Construction industry is considered to be a key program for promoting the economy growth in both developing and developed countries.² The construction technology has experienced various challenges, and new methods have emerged to replace the conventional ones.³

An effort to the renewal of city centers together with opening of the culture to the wide public brings new organizational forms for culture.⁴ The critical season is summertime when most of the musical performances are moving from concert halls that are inside buildings to outside places like amphitheater, outdoor concert stages, and so on.^5,6 If the musical performances are made in demarcated open spaces (amphitheater, airport spaces, outdoor swimming pools, etc.) that are far from residential areas, they do cause no trouble for these residential areas. However, if the musical performances are moved in residential areas of the city, it could be the source of unpleasant noises.

A good indoor environment is important to the success of any building. The efficiency of the environment depends largely on the measure of the acoustic conditions and physical characteristics of the buildings.⁷ Noise pollution has become a global burden that has caused many environmental issues to human and wildlife.⁸ The bad effects result from the constantly hearing and listening to the noise.⁹ The main purpose of a building is to provide a comfortable environment that neither spoils the health nor performance of its occupants.¹⁰

The objective of this article is to point out negative consequences of musical noise and also necessity to search for an optimal solution. In these temporary premises, it is important to ensure both quality of the musical performance in terms of their listening and permissible noise levels in front of facade and for interior premises of protected buildings that are in surroundings.

Negative perception of the musical performance—musical noise

Organizing musical performances for various events (e.g. festivals, holidays, and anniversary) in the cities centers is directly or indirectly video performance. The purpose and the shapes of the surrounding buildings are not adapted for outdoor musical performances, so usually it is just a provisional solution.¹¹ It is often that even noise study is not prepared demonstrating the suitability of the additional musical performance location in the cities centers. Implementing a new element—source of the noise into the external environment and his perception depends on various factors:¹²

The type of music production (classical music—bowed, brass, chamber, or modern music—jay, rock, heavy metal, etc.).

The nature of music (orchestral music and music with singing).

The area where the music is performed (open areas—exterior and interior—closed).

The time when the music is performed (day, evening, or night time).

The frequency of musical noise occurrence (temporary, intermittent, and permanent).

The location of noise sources (located in the streets, squares, etc.).

The shape of the stage, surfaces, and materials from which the surfaces are made.

The sound system and location of noise sources—speakers.

From the surrounding buildings (house location and copies of their surfaces—reflective and absorptive surfaces).

Insulation of peripheral constructions of houses located in the area of frequent musical performances.

The location of the recipient listening musical output in relation to the source.

The man—his perception of the music output: negative, neutral, or positive.

The musical noise can be characterized as forcing an unwanted music to human.¹³ The very negative perception of the music by residents can be in following layer:

Deterioration of communication in music zone or inside the surrounding houses, where the noise is dominant and it masks the other noise sources;

Deterioration of communication when music is background noise;

Harassment (discomfort and annoyance) and distractions;

Harassment by unwanted type of music for passive inhabitants—unwanted listener;

Interference during sleep at night time;

Deterioration in the perception of warning signals in the area (traffic).

A subjective perception of the specific (identified) noise relates to the nature of time, frequency spectrum, and duration. It is significantly influenced by health status of complainants and emotional relationship with the noise source.¹⁴ Tone of the music can create an unpleasant environment for the surrounding fauna.

Diagram for musical noise optimization in the cities

Optimization possibilities are determined by applications of various software tools.¹⁵ Solving a musical noise in terms of its elimination can be done with use of simulation models, for example, Hluk+ 8 Profi, for various alternatives of locating noise sources in model environmental and their parameters. A solution algorithm is depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Sequence of solving music performance in the cities.

Establishing music noise levels for music performance in urban areas can be done by predictive way as mentioned above, or by measuring noise levels in music performance itself, or by combination of both these approaches. Optimization solution lies in determining terms and conditions for running a music performance (even if it was temporary) in order to ensure hygiene rules¹⁶ and the parameters set in the legislation of Slovak Republic:¹⁷

Permissible value of the determinative noise quantity from music output in communal premises, in places of human presence is L_Aeq,4h,p = 95 dB for the 4-h reference time interval. For children under 15 years, permissible value of the determinative noise quantity for electronically amplified music is set on L_Aeq,2h,p = 85 dB for the 2-h reference time interval.

Permissible noise value in external environment for noise from other sources 2 m in front of facade given from Supplement of the Decree 549/2007 is L_Aeq,p = 45–50 dB by category of the area and reference period of time.

Permissible value of noise level inside of residential buildings from sources in the exterior is at the level L_Aeq,p = 30–40 dB depending on day reference period of time.

These requirements are determined for outdoor premises where live music is organized. Problems with music noise are also present in residential buildings—loud music from next-door flats, or discos, where it is necessary to ensure permissible values of noise level. Complainers often complain about exceeded noise level in night reference period of time.

Musical noise solution in the cities environment

In real life, we may encounter the following problems of musical noise sources solution:

Location of leisure activities—musical performance stages in the outdoors—outdoor noise propagation and subsequent penetration into the interior (Figure 2).

Concert halls with the compound circumferential surface—the music noise penetration into the exterior windows or external noise interference contrast into the interior rooms (Figure 3).

Shops with music in contact with a protected area—the penetration of noise through walls, ceilings, or windows.

Combination of previous solutions.

Multifunctional built-up areas and the nature of noise changing (e.g. underground open car park, sports facilities, concert, and disco) (Figure 4).

The issue of the quality of sound production in the exterior needs special attention.¹⁸

Figure 2.

Prediction of the noise levels of musical production in premises of the cultural center in Kosice during concerts when the Kosice was European Capital of Culture 2015 (Hluk+ 8 Profi—noise software).¹⁹

Figure 3.

Simulation of the musical performance on the square in Kosice (Hluk+ 8 Profi—noise software).¹⁹

Figure 4.

Area of calculating risk in compilation of noise study.

Results and discussion—risks for noise simulation in noise study

Simulation of urban environment with musical sound sources in noise study is marked by some uncertainty of results’ accuracy. It emerges the hazard of uncertainty at simulation of noise levels (they are known options of solution, but it is not known exactly what condition occurs). The hazard is given by following:

Inaccurate values about primary noise sources which are used in noise studies—because it often changes the type of produced music (classic, pop, etc.) or communication with spoken word. It will be suitable for the variant compilation of noise studies with different time expositions of acoustical output levels of speakers;

Inaccurate values about secondary noise sources—applause, spectators shout, singing, and so on;

Period—noise production can be prolonged for the sake of different additions from spectators;

Incorrect simulation of the environment, incorrectly defining an effect of noise sources, and working with simpler (wrong) software, because author of noise study may get confused.

From above-mentioned reasons, it is necessary to calculate with the value of such reserves (marked K_REZ) in order to cover all possible hazards and meet the desired value of noise level L_Aeq,p, or converted from exposure level L_{EX, 8h}. In assessment of suitability of the solution should be true

L_{Aeq, p} \leq L_{Aeq, x} + Δ [dB]

(1)

Δ = k_{1} + k_{T} + k_{s} + U_{M} + K_{REZ}

(2)

where

L_Aeq,p—permissible value of noise determinative quantity in environment;

L_Aeq,x—calculated value in assess point (in front of building facade);

k₁—correction (penalization) on the noise impulsiveness;

k_T—correction (penalization) on the tonal and informational content of noise spectrum;

k_s—correction (positive or negative) for some source and situation (e.g. described hazards 1–4);

U_M—measurement uncertainty which is given in accordance with metrological practice;

k_REZ—value of calculating reserve for given degree of noise study compilation;

∆—summary of corrections and measurement uncertainty.

There may be different resulting values between two neighboring degree in evaluated points L_Aeq,x, and these differences may have the following character:

Even character change—the same increases or decreases in calculating value.

Uneven character change—not the same increases or decreases or the value will not.

Conclusion

In the every manufacturing and non-manufacturing plant, it is necessary to determinate the noise.²⁰ Determination of the musical noise is important in noise studies that have strictly to be done before very realization of the new musical performances, because these performances introduce source of new noises that intrudes into the environment. In this respect, teamwork is in great demand among operator and investor, architect and civil engineer, and specialist in acoustics construction and electro-acoustic engineer. The main focus of this project team is to achieve permissible levels of musical noise in front of facade of residential building and inside houses as well. Output of noise study should be with regard to “∆” value with allowing for corrections and measurement uncertainty.

Footnotes

Declaration of conflicting interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

References

Setyowati

Satyapratama

Atmadja

et al . Manufacture of acoustical one side-waffle panel made of natural resources with hydraulic hot press machine. J Teknol 2016; 78(5): 289–293.

Sarzynski

Public participation, civic capacity, and climate change adaptation in cities. Urban Clim 2015; 14(1): 52–67.

Faghirinejadfard

Mahdiyar

Marsono

et al . Economic comparison of industrialized building system and conventional construction system using building information modeling. J Teknol 2015; 78(1): 195–207.

Moravec

Monitorovanie hluku v mestských aglomeráciách v súčinnosti s programom inteligentných miest. Fyzikálne faktory prostr 2015; 2: 70–73.

Poráčová

Fazekašová

Jakubíková

Teleprojekty s environmentálnou tematikou. Bigeche: odborno-metodický občasník pre učiteľov biológie, geografie a chémie na základnej a strednej škole 2001; 1(2): 9–14.

Argalášová Ľ. Problematika sociálnej expozície hluku vo vulnerabilnej populácií. Fyzikálne faktory prostr 2016; 6(2): 9–13.

John

Thampuran

Premlet

Objective and subjective evaluation of acoustic comfort in classrooms: a comparative investigation of vernacular and modern school classroom in Kerala. Appl Acoust 2016; 104: 33–41.

Haron

Han

Darus

et al . A preliminary study of environmental noise in public university. J Teknol 2015; 77(16): 145–151.

Rahmat

Hamid

AHA

. Study of noise produced by construction activities in academic area. J Teknol 2015; 75(5): 107–111.

10.

Zannin

PHT

Zwirtes

DPZ

. Evaluation of the acoustic performance of classrooms in public schools. Appl Acoust 2007; 70: 626–635.

11.

Vilčeková

Budaiová

Kvalita vnútorného prostredia budov a výkonnosť ich užívateľov. Fyzikálne faktory prostr 2016; 6(2): 116–120.

12.

Flimel

Determination of musical noise in town residential area of locality. In: Proceedings 6th international conference on material acoustics place, Zvolen: Technical University in Zvolen, 12–14 September 2011, pp.1–4.

13.

Ziaran

. Measurements and criteria of evaluation for noise environment in new millennium. In: Proceedings of heating, 20–22 february, Bratislava: SSTP, Stará Ľubovňa, 2000.

14.

Drahos

. Subjective perception of traffic noise, http://www.d2r.sk/texty/subjektivne_vnimanie_hluku_z_dopravy.pdf

15.

Semanco

Fedak

Rimar

Simulation study of two alternative workstations for pressure die-casting process. Adv Mech Mater 2012; 110–116: 660–664.

16.

Guide: health protection against noise in the music and entertainment industry, 2008, http://www.uvzsr.sk/docs/info/ppl/prirucka_ochrana_pred_hlukom_v_hud_priemysle.pdf

17.

Decree of the Ministry of Health of Slovak Republic No. 549/2007.

18.

Danihelova

. Modern methods for the acoustic evaluation of places. In: Tvorivý učiteľ fyziky: Kongresové centrum SAV, Smolenice, 22–25 June 2008, Bratislava: Slovenská fyzikálna spoločnosť, pp.116–121.

19.

Eristavi

. The study multipurpose utilization of underground car parks. Kulturpark Košice, atelier Zerozero Prešov, 2011.

20.

Čuma

Duplák

Hatala

et al . New ways in manufacturing technologies 2012. In: Proceedings of 11th international scientific conference, Prešov, 21–23 June 2012, Košice: TU, pp.337.