The acoustical consultant frequently finds himself on both sides of the problem in situations concerned with community noise. In either case, he must develop a criterion to evaluate the particular problem area—considering not only the physical control measures that are practical relative to the type source, but also the probable noise reduction requirements to achieve the subjective approval of the receiver. Each situation is likely to be complex regardless of whether the objective is to prevent a complaint or to correct one that already exists. There is a tendency on the part of municipal governments and other regulating agencies to establish noise limits on a basis which is too generalized or oversimplified to handle the broad range of individual situations encountered. An example is the ordinance of Coral Gables, Florida, which limits the noise level of residential air conditioning equipment installed outdoors. A comparison is made between this ordinance and noise data obtained on a large number of units operating, without complaint, in that city during the summer of 1966. General comments are made in connection with this survey which bear on the more fundamental problems faced in developing objective criteria for control of community noise.

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