Acoustical Evaluation of Combat Arms Firing Range, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Abstract

An acoustical assessment was performed on the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) firing range facilities at Malmstrom AFB in May 2013. The noise characterization of the M240 CATM range Bldg 1892, as well as Bldg 1893 during the M4 and M870 class, meets the definition of impulse noise IAW AFOSH Standard 48-20. CATM instructors and students are still potentially exposed to peak sound pressure levels that exceed the allowable limits of AFOSH Standard 48-20. Therefore, it was recommended that hearing protection, either single or double, be worn during weapons live-fire training. The average noise decay times for the M4, M9, and M870 were each greater than 1 second, with peak SPLs greater than 115 dB; therefore, the noise is classified as continuous. According to AFOSH Standard 48-20, Table 3, there is no allowed exposure time above 115 dBA.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 22, 2013
Accession Number
ADA594441

Entities

People

  • Andrew T. Wells
  • Eric J. Sawvel
  • Gene F. Moll
  • Jerimiah M. Jackson

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Force
  • Engineering
  • Hearing Protection
  • Impulse Noise
  • Instructors
  • Materials
  • Microphones
  • Noise
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Protective Equipment
  • Pulse Analyzers
  • Sound Pressure
  • Standards
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training

Readers

  • Acoustics.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Proposed Air Force Base Actions.