Model site noise using realistic equipment, duty cycles, and distances today easily. See combined levels, exposure risk, and simple mitigation steps for crews onsite.
Enter up to five sources. Leave unused rows blank.
Example inputs for a typical work zone scenario.
| Equipment | Level@1 m (dBA) | Qty | Distance (m) | Duty (%) | Hours | Barrier (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavator | 92 | 1 | 60 | 70 | 6 | 6 |
| Dump truck pass-bys | 88 | 1 | 40 | 30 | 8 | 0 |
| Concrete saw | 98 | 1 | 80 | 20 | 4 | 10 |
These equations support fast planning estimates.
Tip: Lowering a single dominant source often reduces the total most.
Construction noise affects workers, neighbors, and schedule reliability overall. Screening estimates help you choose methods that reduce complaints, avoid stop-work notices, and protect hearing. This calculator converts equipment levels into receptor levels using distance, shielding, and operating patterns so you can compare against a chosen limit.
For each source, enter the A-weighted level at one meter, the number of identical units, and the distance to a boundary or sensitive receptor. Add duty cycle and operating hours to represent how often the source is active. Barrier loss covers temporary walls or site hoarding, while extra attenuation can represent enclosure or quieter tooling.
Assume an excavator at 92 dBA, 60 m away, running 70% of a 6-hour task with a 6 dB barrier. Add truck pass-bys at 88 dBA, 40 m away, 30% duty over 8 hours, and a concrete saw at 98 dBA, 80 m away, 20% duty over 4 hours behind a 10 dB shield. Use background at 45 dBA and an 8-hour analysis period.
The instantaneous total assumes all sources operate together, useful for peak planning. The time-weighted Leq blends each source energy by its on-time fraction, producing a shift-average number. Dose compares each source on-time to allowable exposure at the selected criterion and exchange rate; values above 100% indicate elevated exposure risk.
If Leq exceeds your target, start with the loudest adjusted source. Increasing distance is often the fastest control: doubling distance typically reduces about 6 dB for point-like sources. Next, add barrier height and continuity, reduce simultaneous operations, or change hours to avoid sensitive periods. Document assumptions, then verify with measurements and update the plan.
Leq is an energy-average sound level over the analysis period. It blends each source by its on-time fraction and adds background for the remaining time.
Yes. Enter the quantity for that source. The calculator adds 10·log10(N) to represent combined sound energy from identical sources.
Barrier loss is insertion loss from hoarding, acoustic screens, or terrain shielding. Use conservative values unless you have measured or manufacturer-supported data.
Use your contract requirement, local guidance, or community agreement. If you are unsure, set a conservative target and refine it with project stakeholders.
If you assign long hours and high duty to many sources, summed on-time fractions can exceed 100%. The calculator caps time-weighting, but you should revisit schedules for realism.
Dose estimates exposure relative to a chosen criterion level, duration, and exchange rate. It helps screen hearing risk and supports decisions on controls and rotation.
They are best for planning and scenario comparisons. For compliance, confirm assumptions, perform site measurements, and follow the applicable standard or authority guidance.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.