Decibel Test 6.17.2023

To measure and manage sound levels at Seawall Park we have installed industrial decibel meters to monitor decibel levels at the property. We commit to managing sound levels to not exceed the 80-decibel threshold mandated in the Stratford town noise ordinance.

But we also had to understand what 80 decibels actually sounds like.

So, at 11am on Saturday June 17, 2023, we used the installed industrial decibel meters to test the sound levels of an amplified acoustic guitarist performing at the Seawall Park. This industrial decibel meter tracks sound from all directions and renders a reading of the average decibel levels for a 25-foot circumference.

Here's what we found out.

THE DECIBEL TEST

The Professional Musician

Our guest artist played an amplified electric guitar in the proposed spot for an amplified electric guitarist at a volume 1.5 times higher than what would be a typical performance volume level in that environment. In other words, he set up where he would typically set up, played what he would typically play, but he turned the volume of his amplified electric guitar up 50% higher than he would actually play in that setting.

The Tests

We then tested sound levels at the perimeter of the lot.

Site A: Uni directional decibel readings at the southeast corner of the Seawall Park lot at 40 Beach Drive and the neighboring business at 14 Beach Drive averaged 65 decibels. It’s important to note that the guitarist, while playing at 1.5 times the normal volume, was not audible during this reading and this reading was ambient noise at that measuring spot*.

Site B: Uni directional decibel readings at the Northeast Corner of the Seawall Park lot at 24 Washington Parkway adjacent to the properties at 44 Washington at 1 First Avenue and 11 First Avenue also averaged 65 Decibels. The guitarist was slightly audible at site B, but not the primary source of sound. We ascertain that this average decibel reading was primarily due to ambient mechanical noise at that measuring spot*.

DECIBEL TEST MAP

Sound Source

2 Testing Locations

Property Lines

Ambient Noise

*Based on subsequent readings taken on site, the ambient noise readings at testing Site A and testing Site B may be caused by mechanical equipment operating at neighboring properties. When the equipment in question was decibel tested at the property line, the decibel readings were 90+ decibels, supporting our findings that the primary source of ambient noise in the area was mechanical equipment operating at neighboring properties. This situation may warrant further testing and investigation by the proper departments and the eventual repair/relocation of commercial equipment at that location.