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If the ordinance is volume or sound magnitude limiting, sound meter readings turn out to
be unreliable when taken by an untrained individual, which leads to disputes. Catching
violators usually depends on receiving complaints and by the time the police arrive, the
violator is nowhere to be found. And then there is priority. Should the police respond to
a noise complaint or a domestic disturbance? What if there is a traffic accident, one with
injury? And what about the cost of enforcement?
If there must be an ordinance, here’s one that works. Require landscapers and
homeowners to use only “Quiet” leaf blowers. What is a “Quiet” blower? It’s one that is
at least 70 dB(A) or less according to the ANSI Standard, B-175.2. Sixty-five is better,
but really not necessary in most cases since the whine generated by the fan is no longer
an issue. This type of ordinance is easy to enforce and therefore complied with
voluntarily by landscapers. Why? Because the manufacturer marks “Quiet” leaf
blowers with its sound level per the industry Standard. This allows the police to
simply stop and look at the product at any time convenient to them, in order to catch
violators. No need to wait for a complaint. No need to rush across town to catch a
violator in the act.
Leaf blower improvements:
Echo Incorporated has taken the lead in the industry and has not been sitting by idly
while anti-blower advocates complain about blower “noise”. Engineers met with these
activists to understand the problems created by leaf blowers and have been working to
improve sound levels and sound quality to a point that is no longer perceived as an
irritation. An innovative approach to leaf blower noise has resulted in the quietest leaf
blower products in the industry. Sound levels have been systematically lowered from 77
dB(A) per the ANSI B175.2 Standard, to 65 dB(A) for a 75% reduction in sound
intensity.
Typical changes include adding silencers to the air intake, modifying mufflers,
incorporating special vibration resistant materials, changing the shape of the fan and fan
housing, adding sound barriers and absorbing foams and improving vibration isolation.
Note: For every 6 dB(A) reduction in sound, the sound intensity is reduced by 50 %
or half.
Echo is the
leader in the production of quiet blowers. Even their largest blower, the PB-
751 is three dB(A) quieter than older designs.