Colonial Hall
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

ACOUSTICS AND NOISE CONTROL BOOKS

Prout, J., & Bienvenue, G., Acoustics for You, Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, FL, 1990. About $30. Primarily for students of speech and hearing sciences who do not have an engineering mathematics background.

Kinsler, L., Frey, A., Coppens, A., & Sanders, J., Fundamentals of Acoustics, Wiley, New York, 1999. About $90. Probably the most widely used book to introduce engineering graduate students or advanced undergraduates to acoustics.

Pierce, A., Acoustics, An Introduction to Its Physical Principles and Applications, Acoustical Society of America, Woodbury, New York, 1989. About $40. Originally published by McGraw Hill in 1981. Widely used graduate text.

Morse, P., & Ingard, K., Theoretical Acoustics, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1986. Originally published by McGraw Hill in 1968. About $50 in paperback. A classic advanced theoretical work.

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ACOUSTICAL CONSULTING PRACTICE

Salter, Charles M. & Associates, Inc., Acoustics: Architecture-Engineering-The Environment, William Stout Publishers, San Francisco, 1998. About $75. Prepared by a major acoustical consulting firm, this book describes the work of a modern acoustical consulting firm in architecture, noise control, and litigation with numerous case history examples as well as basic guidance in acoustical matters.

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GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS

Mehta, M., Johnson, J., & Rocafort, J., Architectural Acoustics Principles and Design, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 1999. About $80. Prepared by an architectural engineering professor, a practicing acoustical consultant, and a professor specialized in audio systems, possibly the best reference for architects, though it has some omissions like the design of dining and social spaces.

Egan, M. D., Architectural Acoustics, McGraw Hill, New York, 1988. About $100. Very graphical treatment has probably been used more than any other book in teaching acoustics to architects.

Irvine, L., & Richards, R., Acoustics and Noise Control Handbook for Architects and Builders, Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, FL, 1998. About $45. By two acoustical consultants, concisely presents much useful information, including some discussion of community noise and industrial noise control.

Cavanaugh, W., & Wilkes, J., Architectural Acoustics Principles and Practice, Wiley, New York, 1999. About $80. Contributions from several consultants cover basic principles, materials, building noise control, room acoustics, sound reinforcement, and recent innovations. Easy to read to get the idea what acousticians do, but other books provide more detail.

Apfel, R., Deaf Architects & Blind Acousticians? A Guide to the Principles of Sound Design, Acoustical Society of America, about $25 paperback. 100 pages. Prepared by an engineering professor to teach architects, introduces basic principles but not a comprehensive text.

Knudsen, V. & Harris, C., Acoustical Designing in Architecture, Acoustical Society of America, Woodbury, NY, 1978. (Originally published in 1950) About $26 paperback. Classic early work on architectural acoustics by pioneers in the field.

Harris, C., Noise Control In Buildings - A Guide for Architects and Engineers, McGraw- Hill, Inc. 1994, republished by Institute of Noise Control Engineering, Poughkeepsie, NY, 199X. Edited by a pioneer in architectural acoustics, includes discussions of building materials, structures, and mechanical systems noise control.

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SPECIFIC TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL SPACES

Beranek, L., Concert and Opera Halls - How They Sound, Acoustical Society of America, 1996. Out of print, New edition due in 2003. Exceptional value at any price, but a bargain since Dr. Beranek is not taking a royalty. Very well made hardcover book with photographs and drawings of major halls of the world and discussions written to be understood by architects and musicians as well as acousticians.

Barron, M., Auditorium Acoustics and Architectural Design, E & FN Spon, London, 1993. About $140. Excellent reference on auditorium acoustics.

Geerdes, H., Music Facilities: Building, Equipping, and Renovating, Music Educators National Conference, Reston, VA, 1987. About $40.

The following four paperback books published by the Acoustical Society of America contain numerous examples of projects by acoustical consultants working with architects as well as some basic guidance on the types of spaces covered. Each is about $26.

     Talaske, R., Wetherill, E., & Cavanaugh, W., Halls for Music Performance- Two Decades of Experience: 1962-1982, 1982.

    Lubman, D., & Wetherill, E., Acoustics of Worship Spaces, 1983.

     Talaske, R., & Boner, R., Theatres for Drama Performance: Recent Experiences in Acoustical Design, 1985.

     McCue, E., & Talaske, R., Acoustical Design of Music Education Facilities, 1990.

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HVAC NOISE AND VIBRATION CONTROL

Schaffer, M., A Practical Guide to Noise and Vibration Control for HVAC Systems, ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA, 1991. About $65. A very good non-mathematical guide.

Ebbing, C. & Blazier, W., Application of Manufacturers’ Sound Data, ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA, 1998. About $45. Essential discussions of the source, use, and reliability of available data.

ASHRAE, HVAC Applications Handbook, Chapter 47 - Sound and Vibration Control, 2003. Chapter can be downloaded here for $49. Most of the methodology needed to analyze and develop controls for HVAC systems.

ARI Standard 885, Procedure for Estimating Occupied Space Sound Levels in the Application of Air Terminals and Air Outlets, American Refrigeration Institute, Arlington, VA, 1990. Free at this link. Methodology to analyze and develop controls for variable volume air distribution systems.

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NOISE AND ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENTS HANDBOOK

Harris, C. (Editor), Handbook of Acoustical Measurements and Noise Control, Third Edition, Acoustical Society of America, Melville, NY, 1998. (Originally published in 1991 by McGraw Hill.) About $70. Over 1000 pages and 54 chapters covering everything from basic acoustics and noise control, to many types of measurements, standards, regulations, and noise sources.

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NOISE CONTROL TEXTBOOK

Lord, H., Gatley, W., & Evensen, H., Noise Control for Engineers, Krieger Publishing Company, Melbourne, FL, 1980, reprinted 1987. About $55. Good text and reference on noise control.

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Bell, L., & Bell, D., Industrial Noise Control - Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd Edition, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1993. About $180. Good coverage of industrial noise control with many examples.

Bies, D., & Hansen, C., Engineering Noise Control Theory and Practice, Second Edition, E & FN Spon, London, 1996. About $75 in paperback. Theory and practical noise control including many special calculation techniques and methods of estimating noise. Metric system units.

Beranek, L., & Ver, I., (Editors), Noise and Vibration Control Engineering Principles and Applications, Wiley Interscience, New York, 1992. About $190. Latest in a series of classic references edited by Beranek. A cross between a textbook and a handbook.

Beranek, L., (Editor), Noise and Vibration Control, Institute of Noise Control Engineering, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1988. (Originally published in 1971 by McGraw Hill) About $50. An earlier version of the book above.

Pelton, H., Noise Control Management, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1993. About $90. Includes discussions of the management and prioritization of noise control in industry as well as noise control methodology and case histories.

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HEARING CONSERVATION

Berger, E., Royster, L., Royster, J., Driscoll, D., & Layne, M. (Editors), The Noise Manual, Fifth Edition, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Akron, OH, 2000. About $75. A comprehensive manual for hearing conservation in industry including some guidance on noise control.

Royster, L, & Royster, J., Hearing Conservation Programs: Practical Guidelines for Success, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, 1990. About $90.

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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY

Kopec, John W., The Sabines at Riverbank, Acoustical Society of America, 1997. About $25. The history of Riverbank Laboratories and the role of the Sabines (Wallace Clement, Paul Earls and Hale Johnson) in the science of architectural acoustics. 210 pp hardcover

Thompson, Emily, The Soundscape of Modernity, Architectural Acoustics and the Culture of Listening in America, 1900-1933, MIT Press, 1999.  ($25 to $45)  The story of the strong changes in acoustics and acoustical expectations during this period.  Review

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Ft. Defiance High School Library