A Buy-Quiet Program Incorporating Career-Cycle Noise Costs

摘要

Buy-Quiet programs typically recommend or require purchase of low-noise-emission equipmentthat may have greater up-front costs than its 'high-noise' counterpart. Once the long-term costsof noise exposure (hearing loss claims, operation of hearing conservation programs, hearing aids,batteries and personal protective equipment) are considered, a low-noise equipment purchaseusually turns out to be the most economical course of action. A Buy-Quiet Process Roadmap hasbeen developed for NASA that incorporates a stringent noise specification with field verificationrequirements, as well as the cost of noise exposure over a career, and provides links to extensiveonline databases documenting typical noise emission for a wide variety of equipment types. Ahigh degree of flexibility is achieved by adjusting equipment prices for the net present value ofthe equipment’s noise emission prior to awarding the contract.