Engineering Newsletter - June, 2005

In the JUNE NEWSLETTER we will examine ways to minimize the level of noise your site receives after completed by planned noise control, see attachment. There are four major approaches to sound management: absorption of sound waves, blocking of sound waves, damping of vibrations and isolation of vibrations.

We will spend a short time discussing sound wave blocking by the use of sound absorbing berms, landscape setback areas, barriers, and building orientation.

Sound absorbing berms at the perimeter of the development site which form a grade difference between the right of way noise and the occupied building will control sound reaching the building. Evergreen trees planted on the slope will help control erosion of the berm and add to the sound reduction.

Landscape setback areas along the perimeter of the site and between occupied buildings will reduce noise transmission and provide for a visual barrier.

Sound Barriers can be installed between the source of noise and the occupied building. They can be wood, metal, concrete or some combination of these. The barrier causes diffraction of sound waves around the wall and transmission loss through the wall.

Building orientation can reduce noise in the occupied buildings by locating taller, business type structures or unoccupied parking structure between the source of noise and the occupied buildings. The occupied building can also be sited so minimum building wall is exposed to noise sources and courtyards and the like are shielded from noise areas. It is also desirable to have room with low noise level criteria on the opposite side of the building from the noise source.

WEB LINK of THE MONTH: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/6.htm Noise Barrier Aesthetics.

As always, you can count on McSteen and Associates, a multi-faceted second-generation family business that has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1970 to help you better design your project. The McSteen & Associates Engineering and Surveying Departments will design a quality product, using the experience gathered over many years of dealing with government agencies, in a manner readily accepted by the City Councils, County Engineers Office and the Recorders Office. The management team consisting of Terry Feller, President and Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor, Tim Feller, Vice President and Registered Professional Surveyor and Debbie Feller CFO and Certified Public Accountant and the 62 employees in the offices in Cuyahoga, Lake, Summit, and Franklin counties will handle your project needs. A new office in western Cuyahoga County has recently been added to allow us to provide even more effective services. Local knowledge of the area, extensive records and experience with the area governments allows McSteen & Associates to go the extra mile to protect your investment.

Whether your needs are Mortgage Location and Boundary Surveys, Elevation Certificate, Commercial and Industrial Surveys or complete Engineering Design we are well staffed to provide the professional product you need. Each project will receive the personal service associated with working with a well-established family owned and operated business.

Humor of the Month:

-King Charles VIII of France was so afraid of being poisoned that he ate very little and died of malnutrition.

-In the last scene of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , Robe