ISO/TC 43/SC 1/WG 51 - Noise from shooting ranges

This document specifies methods for recording the time history of the sound pressure produced either by shooting with calibres of less than 20Â mm, or by detonation of explosive charges of less than 50Â g TNT equivalent, within the shooting range at locations of interest, regarding the exposure to sound of the shooter, or any other person within the shooting range. The time history of the sound pressure can be the basis for further analyses of this type of sound at the locations of interest.

This document specifies methods of predicting the sound exposure level of shooting sound for a single shot at a given reception point. Guidelines are given to calculate other acoustic indices from the sound exposure level. The prediction is based on the angular source energy distribution of the muzzle blast as defined in ISO 17201-1 or calculated using values from ISO 17201-2. This document applies to weapons with calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent, at distances where peak pressures, including the contribution from projectile sound, are less than 1 kPa (154 dB). NOTE National or other regulations, which could be more stringent, can apply.

This document specifies a method to determine the acoustic source energy of the muzzle blast for calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent. It is applicable at distances where peak pressures less than 1 kPa (equivalent to a peak sound pressure level of 154 dB) are observed. The source energy, directivity of the source and their spectral structure determined by this procedure can be used as input data to sound propagation programmes, enabling the prediction of shooting noise in the neighbourhood of shooting ranges. Additionally, the data can be used to compare sound emission from different types of guns or different types of ammunition used with the same gun. This document is applicable to guns used in civil shooting ranges but it can also be applied to military guns. It is not applicable to the assessment of hearing damage or sound levels in the non-linear region. Suppressors and silencers are not taken into consideration in this document.

ISO 17201-5:2010 gives guidelines for noise management of shooting activity at shooting ranges. The control of the noise received outside shooting ranges at specified reception points based either on measured or calculated sound exposure levels is specified. ISO 17201-5:2010 can also be used in the planning of new or reconstruction of existing ranges. It is intended to comply with all relevant local rules and regulations which imply a conversion of sound exposure level to other indicators as given in ISO 17201-3. ISO 17201-5:2010 applies to weapons with calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent and pressures of less than 1 kPa at the reception point. NOTE National or other regulations, which could be more stringent, can apply.

ISO 17201-2:2006 specifies methods for estimating the acoustic source data of muzzle blast and explosions and the source data of projectile sound on the basis of non-acoustic data for firearms with calibres less than 20 mm and explosions less than 50 g TNT equivalent. It addresses those cases where no source measurements exist, or where the data necessary to calculate projectile sound according to ISO 17201-4 are unknown. An example of this situation would be measuring projectile sound from shot gun pellets. It can also be used as an interpolation method between measurements of muzzle blast. It is not applicable to the prediction of sound levels for the assessment of hearing damage and cannot be used to predict sound pressure levels or sound exposure levels below a specific distance where linear acoustics does not apply.

ISO 17201-4:2006 provides a computational model for determining the acoustical source level of projectile sound and its one-third-octave-band spectrum, expressed as the sound exposure level for nominal mid-band frequencies from 12,5 Hz to 10 kHz. It also gives guidance on how to use this source level to calculate the sound exposure level at a receiver position. ISO 17201-4:2006 is intended for calibres of less than 20 mm, but can also be applied for large calibres. Additionally, the data can be used to compare sound emission from different types of ammunition used with the same weapon. This part of ISO 17201 is meant for weapons used in civil shooting ranges, but is also applicable to military weapons.

ISO 17201-3:2010 specifies methods of predicting sound exposure levels of shooting sound for a single shot at a given reception point. Guidelines are given to calculate other acoustic indices from the sound exposure level. The prediction is based on the angular source energy distribution of the muzzle blast as defined in ISO 17201-1 or calculated using values from ISO 17201-2. ISO 17201-3:2010 applies to weapons with calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent, including the projectile sound, and is applicable at distances where peak pressures are less than 1 kPa (154 dB). NOTE National or other regulations, which could be more stringent, can apply.

ISO 17201-1:2005 specifies a method to determine the acoustic source energy of the muzzle blast for calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent. It is applicable at distances where peak pressures less than 1 kPa (equivalent to a peak sound pressure level of 154 dB) are observed. The source energy, directivity of the source and their spectral structure determined by this procedure can be used as input data to sound propagation programmes, enabling prediction of shooting noise in the neighbourhood of shooting ranges. Additionally, the data can be used to compare sound emission from different types of guns or different types of ammunition used with the same gun. ISO 17201-1:2005 is applicable to guns used in civil shooting ranges but it can also be applied to military guns. It is not applicable to the assessment of hearing damage or sound levels in the non-linear region.