HSE

Health & Safety

Executive
Noise and vibration
OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY REPORT
2001/068
HSE
Health & Safety
Executive
Noise and vibration
Edited under the HSE Technical Support Agreement by BOMEL Ltd
Ledger House
Forest Green Road
Fifield
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 2NR
HSE BOOKS
ii
Crown copyright 2002
Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to:
Copyright Unit, Her Majestys Stationery Office,
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First published 2002
ISBN 0 7176 2522 2
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This report is made available by the Health and Safety
Executive as part of a series of reports of work which has
been supported by funds provided by the Executive.
Neither the Executive, nor the contractors concerned
assume any liability for the reports nor do they
necessarily reflect the views or policy of the Executive.
iii
CONTENTS

Page No

FOREWORD v

1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE 1

2 MINIMISING NOISE AND VIBRATION 3
2.1 Equipment Selection 3
2.2 Noise Control Measures 3
2.3 Vibration Control Measures 4
2.4 Fog Horns 4

3 NOISE 5
3.1 Terminology 5
3.2 Application of Criteria 5
3.3 Maximum Permissible Noise Levels (Overriding Limits) 5
3.4 General Work Area Nose Limits 5
3.5 Specific Work Area Noise Limits 5
3.6 Sleeping / Recreation Area Noise Limits 6
3.7 Relaxation of Noise Limits in the General Work Area 6

4 VIBRATION 9
4.1 Terminology 9
4.2 Relevant Surfaces for Application of Criteria 9
4.3 Vibration Limits for Human Exposure 9
4.4 Relaxation of Vibration Limits 13

5 REFERENCES 15






iv























































v
FOREWORD
This document provides technical information previously contained in the Fourth Edition of the Health
and Safety Executives Offshore Installations: Guidance on Design, Construction and Certification
(1990 edition plus amendments)
(1)
. The Guidance was originally published in support of the
certification regime under SI289, the Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations
1974
(2)
. However, SI289 was revoked by the Offshore Installations (Design and Construction, etc)
Regulations, 1996, which also introduced the verification provisions into the Offshore Installations
(Safety Case) Regulations, 1992. The Guidance was formally withdrawn in its entirety on 30 June
1998 (see HSE OSD Operations Notice 27
(3)
).
The withdrawal of the Guidance was not a reflection of the soundness (or otherwise) of the technical
information it contained; some sections (or part of sections) of the Guidance are currently referred to
by the offshore industry. For this reason, after consultation with industry, relevant sections are now
published as separate documents in the HSE Offshore Technology (OT) Report series.
It should be noted that the technical content of the Guidance has not been updated as part of the re-
formatting for OTO publication, although prescriptive requirements and reference to the former
regulatory regime have been removed. The user of this document must therefore assess the
appropriateness and currency of the technical information for any specific application.
Additionally, the user should be aware that published sections may cease to be applicable in time
and should check with Operations Notice 27, which can be viewed at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/hid/osd/notices/on_index.htm, for their current status.
vi

1
1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE


This Offshore Technology (OT) Report provides technical information on the way in which noise and
vibration, as affecting human exposure, should be taken into account in the design and construction of
Offshore Installations. It details suggested maximum levels for all areas of the Installation and
provides basic information that may be followed when designing and laying out an Installation to
minimise potential noise and vibration problems. It is based on guidance previously contained in
Section 52 of the Fourth Edition of the Health and Safety Executives Offshore Installations:
Guidance on Design, Construction and Certification
(1)
which was withdrawn in 1998. As discussed in
the Foreword, whilst the text has been re-formatted for Offshore Technology publication, the technical
content has not been updated. The appropriateness and currency of the information contained in this
document must therefore be assessed by the user for any specific application.

This document does not attempt to provide a comprehensive design guide since each Installation will
clearly present particular problems, depending upon its size and function. It is important that
consideration of noise and vibration should form an integral part of the platform design from the
inception of the project, when, for instance, major changes in platform layout can be made, to reduce
potential problems. Where necessary, specialist advice should be obtained.

For acoustic design purposes all calculations should be performed in the eight octave bands centred
between 63 Hz and 8kHz (see BS 2475
(4)
). The noise rating curve (ISO 1996
(5, 6, 7)
and Kosten and
Van Os
(8)
), numerically 5dB less than the dBA criterion, may be used as an approximate limit for the
frequency spectrum of the noise. The overriding requirement, however, is that the dBA level would
need to be met. The octave band values of the appropriate noise rating curves are given in Table 1
below.


Table 1 Noise rating numbers and corresponding octave band sound pressure levels
approximating to dBA noise criteria
Octave band centre frequency (Hz) Noise
Criteria
dBA
Design
Noise
rating
63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k
90
88
70
60
55
50
45
NR 85
NR 83
NR 65
NR 55
NR 50
NR 45
NR 40
103
101
87
79
75
71
67
96
94
70
70
66
61
57
91
89
72
63
59
54
49
88
86
68
58
54
49
44
85
83
65
55
50
45
40
83
81
63
52
47
42
37
81
79
61
50
45
40
35
80
78
59
49
44
38
33
Note: Where alternative dBA noise criteria are specified the appropriate NR values should be selected

2


3
2. MINIMISING NOISE AND VIBRATION


Consideration should be given to limiting noise levels throughout the Installation in order to:

a) Minimise the risk of hearing damage to personnel in work areas.
b) Ensure that warning signals are audible.
c) Allow adequate speech, telephone and radio communication.
d) Maintain working efficiency.
e) Provide an acceptable sleep and recreation environment in accommodation areas.

In a similar manner consideration should be given to limiting vibration levels in order to:

a) Prevent a health hazard to personnel.
b) Maintain prof iciency of personnel in performing designated tasks.
c) Provide an acceptable sleep and recreation environment in accommodation areas.


2.1 EQUIPMENT SELECTION

The need for noise and vibration control should be taken into account when deciding which of
different production methods or processes are to be used.

Noise limits for individual items or machinery would need to be included as part of the general
equipment specification issued to vendors. These individual limits would need to be set taking into
account the location of all equipment in a particular area and its acoustic environment such that, in
total, the relevant area noise criteria will be achieved. Sound absorptive materials do not necessarily
affect the sound output of equipment and may become ineffective. It is preferable to specify low noise
equipment though, if noise levels are still too high, reduction by absorptive materials is likely to be
acceptable. All vendors would need to supply documentary evidence of the noise levels expected to
be created by their equipment. Noise tests may conveniently be included as part of the normal
mechanical acceptance testing of equipment.

In a similar manner vendors would need to supply all available vibration test data for their equipment,
together with mounting and foundation details.


2.2 NOISE CONTROL MEASURES

Noise control equipment should be designed to cause minimum interference with routine inspection
and maintenance of equipment. Suitable access doors and observation windows should be provided
and where necessary the control equipment should be easily removable.

4
It is suggested that personal hearing protection should not be proposed as a substitute for effective
noise control. Personal hearing protection should only be considered for use where engineering
methods of noise control have been shown not to be reasonably practicable.


2.3 VIBRATION CONTROL MEASURES

The selection of suitable isolators, where fitted, would need to take into account structural design
loads and environmental conditions.


2.4 FOG HORNS

Consideration should be given to the choice and location of fog horns in order to minimise potential
annoyance to personnel within accommodation areas.

5
3. NOISE


3.1 TERMINOLOGY

Interpretation of the terminology used in this section should be in accordance with BS 4727 Part 3
(9)

Group 08. All noise limits in this section are quoted as 'A' weighted sound pressure levels (dBA) with
the exception of the overriding limits given in Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 of this document. In all
cases the reference sound pressure is 2 x 10
-5
N/m
2
.


3.2 APPLICATION OF CRITERIA

Consideration should be given to meeting the noise criteria in full at any spatial location within a
designated area to which personnel may have access, except for work areas and other areas housing
noisy equipment where, for design purposes, the criteria would need to generally apply at a minimum
distance of 1 metre from operational equipment. If personnel are normally required to work closer
than a distance of 1 metre to equipment then it is suggested that the noise criteria should also apply at
these locations.


3.3 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE NOISE LEVELS (OVERRIDING LIMITS)

Notwithstanding the criteria for the designated areas, it is suggested that under no operation design
condition should the unprotected ear be exposed to sound pressure levels exceeding 135 dBA (linear).


3.4 GENERAL WORK AREA NOISE LIMITS

All areas, other than those stated in Sections 3.5 and 3.6, would need to meet the general work area
noise level limit of 88 dBA for a 12-hour working day. This limit is based on hearing damage risk
considerations and is derived from the requirements of the HSE Code of Practice
(10)
. If shift lengths
are less than 12 hours then the noise limit of 90 dBA will be applicable for an eight-hour shift. These
limits generally apply for broad band noise. Where a noise exhibits dominant tonal characteristics,
then it may be desirable to suppress such characteristics (Hawkins & Stevens
(11)
).


3.5 SPECIFIC WORK AREA NOISE LIMITS

Where reliable speech, telephone or radio communication is required, or demanding mental tasks must
be performed, then the noise limits for these areas would need to be considerably less than the limit for
general work areas. Suggested noise limits for particular work areas such as control rooms etc. are
given in Table 2. Any tonal characteristic would need to be suppressed so as not to give rise to
annoyance. These limits refer to background noise, including ventilation and external noise sources,
but not to manually controlled operations involving inherently noisy equipment, e.g. drilling, mixing
etc. for which general work area noise limits are applicable. This does not include the
radio/communications room in which noisy office equipment, e.g. telex machines, would either not be
installed or would be suitably quietened.

6
Table 2 Recommended noise limits for specific work areas of Offshore Installations
Specific work areas of
Offshore Installations
Noise limit, dBA
Workshops
General stores
Kitchens
Control rooms
Offices
Laboratories
Radio / Communications rooms
70
70
60
55
55
55
45


3.6 SLEEPING/RECREATION AREA NOISE LIMITS

Noise limits are suggested in Table 3 for those areas of living accommodation on Offshore
Installations where satisfactory recreation, rest and sleeping conditions are required. Any tonal
characteristics would need to be suppressed so as not to give rise to annoyance.

It is suggested that the limits presented should be regarded as maximum acceptable noise levels for
these areas. Where lower levels can be relatively easily obtained (e.g. by ventilation silencing) then it
is desirable that noise control measures should be implemented.

Table 3 Recommended noise limits for sleeping / recreation areas of living
accommodation on Offshore Installations
Specific work areas of
Offshore Installations
Noise limit, dBA
Washing facilities
Changing rooms
Toilets
Dining rooms
Recreation rooms
Theatre / meeting rooms
Television rooms
Sleeping areas
Medical rooms
Quiet rooms
60
60
60
55
50
45
45
45
45
45


3.7 RELAXATION OF NOISE LIMITS IN THE GENERAL WORK AREA

Consideration should be given to taking all reasonably practicable means to comply with the suggested
noise levels. If the limit cannot be achieved in certain areas then these would need to be treated as
restricted and appropriate warning notices posted. Personnel entering these areas should generally
be obliged to wear suitable ear protectors unless their daily unprotected noise exposure can be shown
to be within the provisions of Reference 10.
7

Examples of restricted areas could be as follows:

Normal operational conditions - within noise control enclosures large enough to admit service
personnel.
Intermittent operation conditions - on the helideck when a helicopter is present.
Design emergency conditions - near emergency safety relief valves.

8


9
4. VIBRATION


The vibration limits suggested in this section are derived from the acceptability of exposure of human
beings to vibration (BS 6841
(12)
).


4.1 TERMINOLOGY

Interpretation of the terminology used in these proposals should be in accordance with ISO 2041
(13)
.


4.2 RELEVANT SURFACES FOR APPLICATION OF CRITERIA

The suggested vibration limits should be met on surfaces designated as normal access for standing and
sitting.


4.3 VIBRATION LIMITS FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE

4.3.1 Exposure time
The vibration limits provided for general work areas are based on a 12-hour working day. It is
suggested that these limits should be taken as the design values for Offshore Installations. In certain
circumstances some relaxation of the general work area vibration limits may be considered acceptable.

4.3.2 Frequency range
The suggested criteria cover the frequency range 1-80 Hz and are not intended to be extrapolated
beyond these limits.

4.3.3 Direction of vibration
Criteria are expected for both vertical and horizontal linear motion and apply separately to the
resolved components of the vibration in these directions. Direction, a
z
, corresponds with the foot to
head axis of the human body (see BS 6841
(12)
).

4.3.4 Non-sinusoidal, random or broad band vibration
It is suggested that such vibration should be analysed using narrow band filters with a bandwidth not
exceeding one-third octave (BS 2475
(14)
). The limits are then appropriate to the centre frequency of
that band.

In cases where the crest factor (ratio of peak to rms) is greater than 3, the suggested limits would need
to be regarded as tentative.

In certain circumstances vibration components at more than one frequency, occurring simultaneously,
may interact and a weighted rms summation of the interacting components may be necessary (BS
6841
(12)
).

10
4.3.5 Criteria
The suggested vibration limits are divided into five different categories (Table 4, below) ranging from
recommended vibration limits in living accommodation (category V) to prohibited vibration levels
(greater than category I). Tables and figures showing vibration limits are given below.

Vibration limits in this section are given as rms acceleration levels in m/sec
2
.

The suggested vibration limits for human exposure in the vertical and horizontal axes respectively are
shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Table 4 Description of vibration limit categories for Offshore Installations
Category Description
I





II


III


IV

V
Restricted area (less than 4 minutes exposure) vibration limits. Short exposure to levels about
these limits may create a health hazard and cause difficulty in walking. These high levels of
vibration usually cause such alarm and discomfort that action is immediately and intuitively
taken by persons subjected to the vibration. Vibration levels above these limits should be
treated as prohibited.

Just acceptable locally to equipment, although vibration limits for machinery may be more
restrictive than these levels. Annoyance and discomfort may be experienced.

Recommended design vibration limits for all general work areas. Vibration levels are easily
detectable but not uncomfortable.

Recommended design vibration limits for office, control rooms and similar areas.

Recommended design vibration limits for sleeping, recreation and similar areas in living
accommodation. These vibration levels are just detectable.



Table 5 Restricted exposure periods to high vibration levels
a
t
/ a
I
Allowable exposure time
1.00
0.92
0.76
0.59
0.42
0.29
0.18
0.11
0.08

1-4 minutes
8 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
1 hour
2 hours
4 hours
8 hours
12 hours

Note: t is the allowable exposure time for vibration level a
t

a
I
is the restricted area vibration limit (category I) for 1-4 minutes' exposure.


11



Figure 1 Vibration limits for Offshore Installations: Horizontal axes (a
x
,a
y
)
12



Figure 2 Vibration limits for Offshore Installations: Vertical axis (a
z
)








13
4.4 RELAXATION OF VIBRATION LIMITS

All reasonably practicable means should be taken in the design of Offshore Installations to achieve
vibration levels in general work areas equal to or less than the limits given in category III. Higher
levels than those given in category II may, however, be tolerated for shorter exposure periods than 12
hours without a serious hazard to health, although some fatigue and decreased working proficiency
may occur. The maximum allowable exposure period for levels of vibration greater than those given
in category II may be calculated from Table 5. Note that the existence of these higher levels is not
recommended and every effort should be made to limit the levels to those given in category III.
Where exposure occurs to varying levels of high vibration over the period of the working day, then an
equivalent exposure ratio may be calculated in accordance with the method given in BS 6841
(12)
with
reference to the maximum levels given in category I. If the equivalent exposure ratio exceeds unity
then it is suggested the exposure should be classified as prohibited.

No relaxation of vibration limits is suggested for categories IV and V.

14


15
5. REFERENCES


1. Department of Energy. Offshore Installations: Guidance on Design, Construction and
Certification, 4
th
Edition. HMSO, Consolidated Edition, 1993 (plus Amendment No. 3, 1995).
[Withdrawn 1998 by Operations Notice 27].

2. SI 1974 / 289 The Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974,
HMSO, 1974. [Revoked and has been replaced by SI 1996 / 913 The Offshore Installations
and Wells (Design and Construction etc.) Regulations, 1996 ISBN: 0 110 54451 X].

3. Health and Safety Executive. Status of Technical Guidance on Design, Construction and
Certification. Operations Notice 27. Revised and Reissued, August 1998.

4. British Standards Institution. BS 2475 Octave and One Third Octave Band Pass Filters.
[Superseded and replaced by BS EN 61260 Electroacoustics Octave Band and Fractional
Octave Band Filters. 1996.]

5. International Organisation for Standardisation. ISO 1996 Acoustics Description and
Measurement of Environmental Noise. Part 1 Basic Quantities and Procedures, 1982.

6. International Organisation for Standardisation. ISO 1996 Acoustics Description and
Measurement of Environmental Noise. Part 2 Acquisition of Data Pertinent to Land Use,
1987.

7. International Organisation for Standardisation. ISO 1996 Acoustics Description and
Measurement of Environmental Noise. Part 3 Application to Noise Limits, 1987.

8. Kosten and Van Os. Community Reaction Criteria for External Noises. National Physical
Laboratory Symposium No. 12. HMSO, 1962.

9. British Standards Institution. BS 4727 Glossary of Electrotechnical, Power,
Telecommunications, Electronics, Lighting and Colour Terms. Part 3 Terms Particular to
Telecommunications and Electronics.

10. Health and Safety Executive. Code of Practice for Reducing the Exposure of Employed Persons
to Noise. HMSO. 1972. [This has been superseded by SI 1989 / 1790 The Noise at Work
Regulations. HMSO. 1989. Plus associated guidance Guidance on the Noise at Work
Regulations. L108. HSE. 1998.]

11. Hawkins and Stevens. Masking of Pure Tones and Speech by White Noise. Journal of the
Acoustic Society of America. 1950.

12. British Standards Institution. BS 6841 Guide to Measurement and Evaluation of Human
Exposure to Whole Body Mechanical Vibration and Repeated Shock. 1987.

16
13. International Organisation for Standardisation. ISO 2041 Vibration and Shock Vocabulary.
1990. [This is identical to BS 3015 Glossary of Terms Relating to Mechanical Vibration and
Shock. 1991.]

vi























































Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive
C0.50 07/02
OTO 2001/068
10.00 9 780717 625222
ISBN 0-7176-2522-2