Community Noise Survey of AF37/T-10 Hush Houses, Langley AFB, Virginia

This report provides results of the survey of the AF37T-10 Hush Houses at Langley AFB performed on 27-31 Jan 89 by AFOEHL. The base Bioenvironmental Engineering Service, 1 Medical GroupSGPB, requested this noise study to confirm their tentative conclusion that T-10 hush house operations are the cause of complaints of a civilian. The civilian contends hush house operations are vibrating his house and thus disturbing him and his wife as well as causing damage to his house. The condition of the two T-10 hush houses, as well as the background of problems with their installation, is discussed. The results of noise measurements taken at selected points 250 feet from each hush house under various operating conditions show the hush houses did not meet the design noise criteria. Measurements taken at the complainants property and at another house in the community showed the wind is causing the low frequency energy to be directed downwind to produce an intermittent problem in the community. Recommendations are made to operate in the short term under wind conditions which do not create community problems. The long term solution is to repair the hush houses.