Data Base for Assessing the Annoyance of the Noise of Small Arms.

摘要

The levels in this guide are not generally useful for defining the occupational noise exposure of persons using military or commercial small arms. The reason is that all levels have been normalized to the 7.62 mm NATO rifle and the center of the noise source which is the muzzle. In contrast, an assessment of an occupational noise exposure must be based on the noise level at the ear of the firer. Given that the current guide addresses weapons with gun tubes as short as 2 inches and longer than 6 feet, variation at the firer's ear will be considerable. Some of the noise studies referenced in this guide do not contain enough noise measurements to constitute an adequate statistical sample of the weapon being studied. These studies were used because they were the best available. As better studies become available, the assigned levels will be revised. The purpose of this guide is to provide a data base for use in the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency small arms range noise annoyance assessment procedure. That procedure is addressed in this current guide. In the current guide, users are provided with an explanation of why specific weapons have been assigned specific noise levels.