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 Lexington
 Code of Ordinances
 Title IX. GENERAL REGULATIONS
 Chapter 94. NOISE

  § 94.02. DEFINITIONS.  

Latest version.

  • For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

    "ANSI." The American National Standards Institute or its successor bodies.

    "COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION." Construction requiring an IBC Permit.

    "db(A)." The "A" means weighted sound level measured by a sound level meeting ANSI S-I 4.1972 meter weighted for the "A" scale frequency response.

    "DAYTIME HOURS." The hours from seven (7:00) a.m. to nine (9:00) p.m., local time.

    "DECIBEL (db)". A measure on a logarithmic scale of the magnitude of a particular quantity, such as sound pressure with respect to a standard reference value.

    "EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE." Any gong, siren, whistle, horn or similar device that is designed to be used, and is actually used, to warn of the exposure of any human being or property to imminent danger.

    "FAST METER RESPONSE." The meter ballistics of meter dynamic characteristics as specified by American National Standards SI. 4.1972, or subsequent revisions.

    "HIGHWAY." Streets, roads or public ways.

    "MICROBAR." A unit of pressure commonly used in acoustics and is equal to one dyne per square centimeter.

    "NIGHTTIME HOURS." The hours from nine (9:00) p.m. to seven (7:00) a.m. local time.

    "NOISE." Sounds in the environment including, but not limited to, those sounds generated by man, his mechanical devices, domestic animals or pets.

    "OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE." Any traffic light, stop or yield sign, official or policeman.

    "PURE TONE." A sound sensation characterized by its singleness of pitch.

    "RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION." Constructing requiring an IRC Permit.

    "SOUND." An oscillation in air pressure, which evokes an auditory sensation.

    (1)

    Sound is impulsive if it exhibits distinct peaks in amplitude separated by a second or more in time and varying in amplitude at a rate of ten (10) decibels per second or more.

    (2)

    Sound is continuous if its intensity remains at a measurable level, which may vary, without interruption over an indefinite period of time.

    (3)

    Sound is discrete if it contains one or more prominent pure tones.

    "SOUND LEVEL." A frequency weighted sound pressure level, obtained by the use of metering characteristics and the weightings A, B or C as specified in ANSI Specifications for Sound Level Meters, SI. 4.1971 or latest revision. The sound level meter shall conform to either Type 1 or Type 2. The weighting employed must always be stated.

    "SOUND-LEVEL METER." An instrument including a microphone, amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of noise and sound levels in a specified manner.

    "SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL." In decibels, of a sound is twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of this sound to the reference pressure of twenty (20) micro-newtons per square meter (2x10 -4 microbar) per American National Standard SI. 4.1971.

    In formula: SPL = 20 log 10 (p/p o )

    Where: SPL is the sound pressure level, p is the effective (root mean square) sound pressure level, and p o is the reference pressure.

    "STREET." Any roadway in business, residential or urban areas.

(Ord. 176, passed 10-18-93; Ord. 2016-28 , § 1, passed 9-6-16)