As the noises derived from such public places as libraries and hospitals/clinics are increasingly concerned about by the public, in order to ensure the rights of the public to enjoy a tranquil living environment, it is necessary to control the noises derived from libraries and hospitals/clinics, protect the health of the public in public areas, enhance the noise quality in such public places as libraries and hospitals/clinics, and demand improvements through self-management. The objectives of this Project include: 1) developing measuring indicators and methods for indoor noises in public places suitable for our country and formulating norms or recommended values for indoor noise control in public places suitable for our country; 2) formulating supporting measures for indoor noise control suitable for our country and providing the technical manual for indoor noise control, so as to reduce the indoor noises in public places; and 3) establishing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for dealing with various petitions against indoor noises in public places for local environmental protection authorities, so as to increase the public satisfaction. After implementation, this Project has completed the following objectives: 1) conducting indoor noise determination for libraries and hospitals/clinics at 15 locations each (making over 68 measurements, including spectrum investigations) and performing statistical analysis of the results; 2) collecting measuring indicators and methods for indoor noises in public places adopted in Europe, the US and Japan; 3) collecting data on the effect of indoor noises on the human body, conducting indoor noise determination and interviews (1115 person-time), and analyzing the results of those measurements and interviews – based on the above results, the recommended values of indoor noises for the library in our country are under 50dB(A) (inc.), which are similar to those of foreign countries, or divided into three classes (second class: above 50dB(A) (inc.); first class: 45dB(A) (inc.)~50dB(A) (exc.); premium class: under 45dB(A) (exc.)). On the other hand, the recommended values of indoor noises for the hospital are under 60dB(A) (inc.), which are 10dB(A) different from those of foreign countries, or divided into three classes (second class: 60dB(A) (inc.); first class: 50dB(A) (inc.)~60dB(A) (exc.); premium class: under 50dB(A) (exc.)); 4) collecting supporting measures for noise control in public places adopted home and abroad and analyzing their pros and cons as well as feasibility; 5) holding 3 consultative meetings to deliberate techniques and recommended values for noise control in public places; 6) recommending supporting measures for indoor noise control suitable for our country and formulating the technical manual for indoor noise control; 7) collecting data on types of petitions against noises at various public places in the country – from 2002 to the end of 2006, there were 637 petitions against noises derived from hospitals/clinics and 2,681 petitions against noises derived from schools. For petitions against schools, the noises were mainly derived from activities at the gym, student activity center and auditorium (loud speakers, parties, concerts, contests, cheering-ups, roaring, etc.), classrooms where microphones were used by teachers during class and music classrooms neighboring the residence area. For petitions against hospitals/clinics, the noises were mainly derived from barks of dogs at pet hospitals. So far, there has been no petition against noises derived from crowds or indoor equipment at schools, libraries and hospitals/clinics; 8) formulating procedures for handling petitions against noises derived from public places, which will be handed over to libraries and hospitals/clinics for self-management in the future.

Indoor,Noise