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Acoustique -
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board vessels
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STANDARD

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INTERNATIONAL

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Acoustics - Measurement

Mesurage du bruit 2 bord des bateaux

of noise on
2923

Reference number
IS0

I SO 2923: 1996(E)
Second edition
1996-l 2-01
IS0 2923: 1996(E)

Foreword
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national standards bodies (IS0 member bodies). The work of
preparing International Standards is normally carried out through IS0
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which
a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented
on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. IS0
collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

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Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
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circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
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Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting

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a vote.
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International Standard IS0 2923 was prepared by Technical Committee

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ISOmC 43, Acoustics, Subcommittee SC 1, Noise.

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This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (IS0 2923:1975),
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which has been technically revised.

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Annex A of this International Standard is for information only.

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0 IS0 1996
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including protocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case postale 56 l CH-1211 Geneve 20 l Switzerland
Internet: central @ isocs.iso.ch
x.400: c=ch; a=400net; p=iso; o=isocs; s=central
Printed in Switzerland

ii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD o Iso IS0 2923: 1996(E)

Acoustics - Measurement of noise on board vessels

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies techniques and conditions for the measurement of noise on board vessels,
both inland and seagoing, in order to obtain reproducible and comparable measurements. The results may be used,
for example, for the following:

- to compare various vessels;

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- in delivery and acceptance tests for comparison with national or international legislation and owner’s

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specifications;

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- in monitoring tests; 92 st
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- as a basis for further investigations and noise-abatement measures;

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- as a basis to assess the noise exposure and the effects of the noise to which seafarers are exposed;
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- to assess speech intelligibility;

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- to assess the audibility of acoustical alarms.

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The uncertainty of measurements on board vessels depends on several factors, for example, measurement
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techniques and environmental conditions. Measurements made in conformity with this International Standard with
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few exceptions result in standard deviations of reproducibility of the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound
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pressure level equal to or less than I,5 dB.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this
International Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to
revision, and parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below. Members of IEC and IS0 maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.

IEC 651 :I 979, Sound level meters, and Amendment 1 :I 993.

IEC 804: 1985, Integrating-averaging sound /eve/ meters, and Amendment 1 :I 989, and Amendment 2: 1993.

IEC 942: 1988, Sound calibrators.

I EC 1260: 1995, Electroacoustics - Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters.

IS0 2923: 1996(E)

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the following definitions apply.

3.1 accommodation spaces: Cabins, offices (for carrying out ship’s business), hospitals, mess rooms and
recreation rooms.

3.2 duty stations: Those spaces in which the main navigating equipment, the ship’s radio or the emergency
source of power are located, or where the fire-recording or fire-control equipment is centralized, and also those
spaces used for galleys, main pantries, laundries, stores (except isolated pantries and lockers), mail and specie
rooms, machinery and equipment control rooms, workshops other than those forming part of the machinery spaces,
and similar such spaces.

3.3 machinery spaces: All spaces containing propulsion machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, motors and engines,
generators and major electrical machinery, cargo machinery spaces, fuel filling, purifying and pumping stations,
refrigerating, stabilizing, ventilation and air-conditioning machinery and similar spaces, and trunking leading to such
spaces.

34.
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delivery a nd accepta nce tests: Tests pe norm ed to verify that the vessel after completion or after substantial

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repai r complies with noise s peci fications.

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35. . moni toring tests: Tests performed in order to assess impact of changes made since the acceptance
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dell very or after modification, as applicable.

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3.6 sound pressure level, L],: The level, expressed in decibels, of a sound or noise given by the following
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equation:
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P is the sound pressure, in pascals;

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PO is the reference sound pressure (= 20 PPa).

The A-weighted sound pressure level LpA, in decibels, is obtained by using the frequency weighting A defined in
IEC 651 in the measurement of the sound pressure level.

3.7 equivalent continuous sound pressure level, Ll?es T : Sound pressure level of a continuous steady sound
that, within a measurement time interval, T, has the same mean square sound pressure as a sound under
consideration which varies with time. It is expressed in decibels and is given by the following equation:

where (t2 - t,) is the period T over which the average is taken, starting at tl and ending at t2.

NOTE - The subscript “T” may be omitted.

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@ IS0 IS0 2923: 1996(E)

3.8 impulsive noise: Noise of less than one second duration which occurs as an isolated event or as one of a
series of events with a repetition rate of less than 15 times per second. The presence of impulsive noise shall be
determined by obtaining the difference between the equivalent continuous sound pressure level measured with time
weighting I and F. If the difference is more than 2 dB, the presence of impulsive noise may be assumed.

39. tonal sound: Sound which contains easily audible tones.

4 Instrumentation
The instrumentation system, including the microphone, cable and recording devices shall meet the requirements for
a type 1 instrument specified in IEC 651 or, in the case of integrating-averaging sound level meters, the
requirements of IEC 804.

NOTE - If the noise fluctuates less than 5 dB maximum to minimum, a no n-integrati ng-averaging sound level meter with the
time-weig hting S can be used and the level estimated by averaging the level indication visually during at least IO S.

The microphone shall be calibrated to have an essentially flat frequency response in a diffuse sound field.

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Octave- or one-third-octave-band filters shall comply with the requirements of IEC 1260.

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The wind screen, if used, shall not affect the measured A-weighted sound pressure level by more than 0,5 dB when

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there is no wind.

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Before and after each series of measurements, a sound calibrator with an accuracy of + 0,3 dB (class 1 according
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to IEC 942) shall be applied to the microphone for verifying the calibration of the entire measuring system at one or
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more frequencies over the range of interest.

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The compliance of the calibrator with the requirements of IEC 942 shall be verified at least once a year. The
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compliance of the instrumentation system with the requirements of IEC 651 or, in the case of integrating-averaging
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systems, with the requirements of IEC 804 shall be verified at least every 2 years.
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The date of the last verification and confirmation of the compliance with the relevant IEC standards shall be
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recorded.
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5 Test environment
5.1 General
The depth of water under the vessel, if less than five times draught, and the presence of large reflecting areas in its
vicinity shall be mentioned in the test report.

NOTE 1 On inland waterways, the condition of five times draught often cannot be fulfilled.

The meteorological conditions such as wind and rai n, as well as sea state, shall be such that they do not infl uence
the measurements. The weather conditions shall be reported.

NOTE 2 If practicable, measurements should not be taken when wind force 4 wave height 1 m are exceeded.

5.2 Criterion for noise from extraneous sound sources

No lise fro m extraneous soun d sources (such as people 8, constr uction work, wind, waves, rain, etc.) shall not
infl uence the sound pres sure Ievel at the position of measu rement.
IS0 2923: 1996(E)

6 Quantities to be measured
The basic quantities to be measured are:

- the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level;

- the C-weighted peak sound pressure level when there is a risk that it may exceed 130 dB;

- the equivalent continuous sound pressure levels in octave bands from 31,5 Hz to 8 000 Hz, if required;

- the presence of impulsive noise (to be determined from the definition);

- the presence of tonal sound (to be determined subjectively).

7 Operating conditions for the vessel

7.1 Operating conditions at sea

The vessel shall be loaded or in ballast condition. The condition shall be reported.
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The course of the vessel shall be as straight as possible. Vessels being tested on inland waterways shall be run
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either against the stress or tide or in slack water.

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The propulsion machinery shall be run at normal service speed and at no less than 80 % of the maximum
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continuous rating (MCR). The main engines of inland vessels shall be run at least 95 % of MCR. Controllable pitch
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and Voith-Schneider propellers shall be in position for nominal speed and nominal power.
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All auxiliary machinery, navigatio n instruments and radar sets, etc. , normall Y or Iikely to be in use at any one tim e,
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shall operate throughout the mea surement peri od. The co mmunicat ion radio sha .II be turn ed on but not operating.
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Measurements in spaces containing emergency diesel engine driven generators, fire pumps or other emergency
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equipment that would normally be run only in emergency, or for test purposes, shall be taken with the equipment
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operating. Adjoining spaces need not to be measured with such equipment operating, unless it is likely that the
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equipment will be operated for periods other than those mentioned above.
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Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning equipment shall be in normal operation, taking into account that the
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capacity shall be in accordance with the design conditions.

Doors and windows shall be shut, unless they are kept open in normal use, as for example the door on the lee side
of the navigating bridge.

Spaces shall be furnished with all necessary equipment. No corrections are allowed if measurements are made with
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no soft furnis hrng .

7.2 Operating conditions in port

The vessel’s cargo-handling equipment shall be in operation during measurements in areas and accommodation
spaces affected by its operation. Where the vessel is a vehicle carrier or a Ro/Ro ship and noise during loading and
discharging originates from vehicles, the noise level in cargo spaces and the duration of the exposure shall be
measured.
0 IS0 IS0 2923: 1996(E)

8 Test procedure
8.1 General
Measure with the microphone at a height between I,2 m (seated persons) and I,6 m (standing persons) from the
deck. No microphone position shall be closer than 0,5 m from the boundary surface of a space. During the
measurement, only seafarers necessary for the operation of the vessel and persons measuring shall be present in
the space concerned. The measurement time shall be long enough to enable the measurement of the equivalent
continuous A-weighted sound pressure level for any specified time interval within stated limits of overall
measurement uncertainty. The measurement time shall be at least IO s.

In large cargo holds, use at least three microphone positions. In other spaces not containing machinery, measure at
distances not smaller than 2 m and not greater that 7 m throughout the space, including positions of maximum noise
level and in the proximity of other types of noise sources (e.g. inlets and outlets of air-circulation systems).

Measure at the positions where the personnel work, including communication stations.

Bow thrusters, stabilizers, cargo hold ventilation, etc. may produce high levels of noise when in operation. Measure
at positions around such machinery when in operation and in adjacent accommodation spaces and duty stations.

Measure, if required, the noise exposure of seafarers, or the exposure time in order to make it possible to calculate

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Use a microph one wind screen when measu ring outside (e.g. on navigating bridge wings or on an open deck) and

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below deck wh ere there is any s u bsta ntial air movement.

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Assess and record

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- the presence of impulsive noise (to be determined from the definition), and
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the presence of tonal sound (to be determined subjectively).

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8.2 Accommodation spaces

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Measure in all accommodation spaces. Carry out octave-band measurements in at least one cabin with the highest
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noise level on each deck.

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In cabins and hospitals, measure in the middle of the cabin. Additional measurements shall be performed at other
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positions if appreciable differences in the level of the noise inside the room occur, especially near the position of the
head of sitting or lying persons.

8.3 Machinery spaces

Measure at the principal workplaces and at locations which would be visited during routine inspections, adjustment
and maintenance and at positions on all normally used access routes. Pay special attention to telephone locations
and to positions where voice communication and audible signals are important. Measure, in addition, at a distance
of approximately 1 m from propulsion machinery and any particularly noisy machines or equipment. If practicable,
do not measure closer than 1 m from operating machinery, air inlets, or from decks, bulkheads or other large
surfaces. Where this is not possible, measure at a position midway between the machinery and an adjacent
reflecting surface.

Make octave-band mea .su reme nts at a minimum of two of the positions with the hig hest measured A-weigh ted
sound pressure levels.

In order to avoid an unnecessarily large and impractical number of measurements and recordings in the case of
large engines and of machinery spaces where the measured A-weighted sound pressure levels at the intervals
given above do not vary significantly, it is not necessary to record each position. Full measurements at

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IS0 2923: 1996(E) @ IS0

representative positions and at the positions of maximum sound pressure level shall, however, be made and
recorded. At least four measurements shall be recorded at each deck.

8.4 Duty stations

Measure in places where speech communication and signal audibility is of importance and on both navigating
bridge wings but only when that navigating bridge wing is on the lee side of the vessel.

If, inside these spaces, appreciable differences in the noise levels occur, make additional measurements at the
points of interest where the differences exist. Make additional measurements at all points where work normally is
performed (e.g. cargo holds and open deck areas).

Measure in all locations where people can be exposed to high levels of noise.

Measure in octave bands in locations where speech intelligibility is essentia .I for navigation or safety.

8.5 Open recreation areas

Measure in any areas provided for the purpose of recreation and, addition n ally, where a preliminary survey shows
high levels of noise.
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9 Test report 92 st
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Report all results of the measurements and include a reference to this International Standard and all relevant details
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concerning the following:

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the nature of the tests;

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b) the vessel, its main engines, the engine and shaft speeds during test, and the setting of controllable pitch or
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Voith-Schneider propellers;
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C> the auxiliary engines and equipment and their operating conditions;
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d) the loading of the vessel;

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the test site, depth of water under the vessel and meteorological conditions, wind and sea state;

the measuring equipment;

names and addresses of those carrying out the measurements;

the microphone positions;

the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level;

. the peak C-weighted sound pressure level, if appropriate;
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k) the noise spectrum;

1) measu rement results and calculations of the noise exposure, e.g. the 24 h equivalent continuous sound
pressu re level, if requested;

m) the presence of tonal sound or noise of an impulsive character;

indications of those windows and doors that are open;

indications concerning the probable noise sources in the vessel;

P) the main noise-abatement measures applied on board the vessel.

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Annex A

Bibliography
(informative)

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IMO Resolution 468 (XII), Code on Noise Levels On Board Ships.

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