75
0030/0014/1966 PERFORMANCE-STANDARDS FOR EDMONTON. PLANNING
RESEARCH REPORT
WORKING PAPER NO. 1 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
for INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 2310a .E3 E373 1966
EDMONTON, ALBERTA
000/06
c•E-
Plcutning Department
LIbRAR Us City of Edmonton
City of Edmonton Planning Department Research Section
WORKING
PAPER
No. 1 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS for INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
January 1966. Research by W. Walchdk.
PERFORMANCE STA.NDARDS
Table of Contents Page
AUTHORITY OF LEGISLATION City Act The Public Health Act City of Edmonton
1 1 1 2
SMOKE - DEFINITIONS
3
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - SMOKE
4
Chicago Minneapolis Summary for Smoke Ordinances for Chicago, Minneapolis, Edmontoh Suggested Performance Standards for Edmonton • • • •
5 6 7-8 9-10 11
SMOKE DUST
12
NOISE
14
Stony Point, New York Noise Ordinance for Edmonton Outline of Cause of Action re: Noise . Ordinance GLARE OR HEAT Chicago Columbia, Ohio Minneapolis FIRE AND EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS Chicago Minneapolis VIBRATION EVALUATION OF WEATHER EFFECTS AND AIR POLLUTION HANDBOOK (Section 5)
16 17 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 24 25
PERFORMANCE SL'INDARDS
Authority of Legislation Under the City Act, Section 280, Council may pass by-laws (e) requiring the owner, lessee, tenat, agent, manager or occupant of any premises in connecton with which a fire is burning and every person who operates, uses 02 causes or permits to be used any furnace or fire, to prevent the emission to the atmosphere from such fire of opaque or dense smoke, (i) for a period of more than six minutes in any one hour (f) for the purpose of eliminating or mitigating within the City (iv) the emission into the atmosphere of opaque or dense dust. (g) for the purpose of prohibiting, eliminating or abating noise. City Act Section 331 The council, subject to The Public Health Act and any other Act affecting the public health and any regulations made thereunder, may pass by-lam:. (c) regulating and controlling the use of wells, springs and other source: of supply of water for the City anE preventing the contamination of ti-2,7, same or of any stream of water flowing through or past the City.
The Public Health Act (1) The Provincial Board may, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, make and issue orders, rules and regulations for the prevention, mitigation and suppression of disease, and may alter or repeal them, and in particular but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it may make and isue orders, rules and regu1atio7,in respect of the following matters:
(t) the prevention of the pollution, defilement, discoloration or fouling of all lakes, streams, pools, springs or waters, the ensuring of their sanitary condition, and the regul Uon of the cutting and storage of ice therefrom; (u) the prevention of the pollution, defilement or fouling of the atmosphere and ..c,.he regulation of plants, industries and pipelines discharg chemical or other waste matter into the atmosphere; (ul) the regulation and prohibition of the construction of any class or tyr. of plant5 industry or .Pipeline in any location where it is likely to create a problem through pollution of the atmosphere or water or both
CITY OF EDMONTON Performance Standards as set out in the Zoning Bylaw Presently, the performance standards for industrial areas in the City Edmonton as set out in the Zoning Bylaw Sections 28 (1), 29 (1) and 30 (1), Subject to all other provisions of this Bylaw on any site, in any district defined, designated or described in this By-Law as an M-1 Industrial District, a person will be issucd a permit only for the uses more particularly described in Subsection (3) of this section, and only if the use and operation will not cause nor permit any external objectionable or dangerous condition apparent beyond any building housing processes wherein such effects may be produced, including but without limiting the generalities thereof, the following objectionable features, namely: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
noise vibration smoke, dust and other kinds of particulate matter odour
3(v) toxic and noxious matters (vi) radiation hazards (vii) fi2e and explosive hazards (viii) heat, humidity and glare For on M-2 district the underlined section in the above quotation reads; "the boundary of a site" For an M-3 industrial district the underlined section reads: "the boundary of the M-3 Industrial District wherein the site is located" This type of ordinance is representative of the early attempts to limit control the emission of dangerous and objectionable elements. Recent 1 lation adopted has attempted to provide more objective standards throv.gl: which such an ordinance might be enforced. The purpose of this paper is to discuss performance standards logir- fdon of other cities. The areas in which it would be beneficial for City of Edmonton to adopt certain legislation will be pointed out. Smoke - Definitions The density of an air contaminant that is approximately black shr'1 determined by means of a chart commonly known as the Pingelmann Chart. Micro-Ringelmann Chart or by a comparable chart having black dots or upon a white background, or by a glass comparator, so as to produce: No. 1 Density - approximately 20% black with approximately 80% of the background white; No, 2 Density - approximately 40% black with approximately 60% of the background white; No. 3 Density - approximately 60% black with approximately 40% of the background white; No. 4 Density - approximately 80% black with approximately 20% of the background white; No. 5 Density - approximately 100% black.
-
The density of an air contaminant to which the above section does Lo', apply shall be determined as to its opacity by means of visual inspectio:a thereof and shall be related to the density of an air contaminant under t. above section that has approximately the same degree of opacity. "Smoke unit" shall be defined as the number obtained by multiplying density number by the time of emission in minut:as,
Performance Standards - Smoke Section 14-3-4 of the Province of Alberta Board of Health regulaticr :- ; for the control of air pollution reads: 14-3-4 Except as provided in Sections 14-3-5 and 14-3-6, the emission of smoke in excess of the following schedule of amounts shall be deemed an offence: PurL1 Area
Urban Areas over 50,000 population
Urban Areas Under 50,000 population
No. 1 Density
No restrictions
No restrictions
No restrictic..-
No, 2 Density
20 smoke units in any one hour
No restrictions
No restrictL:-
No, 3 Density
10 smoke units in any one hnur
40 smoke units in any one hour
No restrict::
No, 4 Density
Not permitted
40 smoke units in any one hour
80 smoke units any one hour
No. 5 Density
Not permitted
Not permitted
75 smoke units any one hour
14-3-5 Section 14-3-4 shall not apply when building new fires, banking cleaning fires, soot blowing or process purging provided any sucTi special operation does not take place more than once during consecutive hours. During such special operation the emission smoke in excess of the following schedule of amounts shall be de[:J an offence:
Rural Areas
Urban Areas Over 50,000 Population
Urban Areas Under 50,000 Population
No. 1 Density
No restrictions
No restrictions
No restrictions
No. 2 Density
40 smoke units in any one hour
No restrictions
No restrictions
No. 3 Density
20 smoke units in any one hour
80
No restrictions
No. 4 Density
Not Permitted
8o
160
No. 5 Density
Not _Permitted
Not Permitted
150
The regulations for cities over 50,000 population approximate those suggested by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (See Ap-)endix A) Performance standards are used in zoning for industrial land use. For example, in Chicago performance standards re: smoke, in an M-1 District state M-1: The emission of more than 15 smoke units per hour per stack is prohibited. However, during any 1 hour period in each 24 hour day, each stack may emit up to 30 smoke units when blowing soot or cleaning fires. Only during fire cleaning periods, however, shall smoke of a density of up to Ringelmann No. 3 be permitted and then not for more than 4 minutes. M-2: The emission of more than 30 smoke units per hour per stack is prohibited, including smoke of a density in excess of a Ringelmann No. 2. However, during 4 one hour periods in each 24 hour day, each stack may emit up to 45 smoke units, twice for blowing of soot, and twice for cleaning fires. Only during fire cleaning periods smoke of a density up to Ringelmann No. 3 shall be permitted and then for not more than
4 minutes per period. M-3: The emission of more than 42 smoke units per hour per stack is prohibited. However, during fire cleaning periods each stack shall emit not
6 more than nor
4 minutes of smoke of a density in excess of Ringelmann No. 3
8 minutes of smoke of a density in excess of Ringelmann No. 2 and
during soot blowing periods not more than density in excess of Ringelmann No.
8 minutes of smoke of r
2,,
The proposed text on performance standards for Minneapolis reads M-1:..the emission of more than six (6) smoke units per stack in any thirty (30) minute period is prohibited including smoke in excess of Ringelmann No. 2. However, once during any six (6) hour period, each stack shall be permitted up to twelve (12) smoke units (not to exceed Ringelmann No. 2) in a fifteen (15) minute period for soot blowing and fire cleaning. Only during fire cleaning shall smoke of Ringelmann No
3 be permitted, and then for not more than four
(4) minutes. M-2:The emission of more than nine (9) smoke units per stack in any thirty (30) minute period is prohibited, including smoke in excess of Ringelmann No, 2. However, once during any three hour period, each stack shall be permitted up to eighteen (18) smoke units (not to exceed Ringelmann No. 2) in thirty (30) minutes for soot blowing and fire cleaning. Only during fire cleaning shall smoke of Ringelmann No.
3 be permitted, and then for not more than six (6) minutes.
M-3:The emission of more than fifteen (15) smoke units per stack in any thirty (30 minute period is prohibited, including smoke in excess of Ringelmann No. 2. However, once during any two (2) hour period, each stack shall be permitted up to 24 smoke units (not to exceed Ringelmann No. 2) in 30 minutes for soot blowing and cleaning fires. Only during fire cleaning shall smoke of Ringelmann No, mitted, and then for not more than
8 minutes.
3 be per-
-77The following table summarizes smoke ordinances for M-1, M-2 and M=3 industrial districts for Chicago and Minneapolis and a suagested smAke allowance for industry in Edmonton. Possible Schedule of Smoke Regulations in M-1, M-2 and M-3 Industrial Districts in Edmonton To review Alberta regulations: Basic No. 1 No Restrictions No, 2 20 s. u. / hr. (or 10 minutes of No. 2) No. 3 10 s. u. / hr. (or 3 1/3) minutes of No. 3) No. 4
Not Permitted
No, 5
Not Permitted
For Fire Cleaning & Building. — Once durinp7 6 consecutive hours. No. 1 N o Restrictions No. 2
40 s. u. / hr. (or 20 minutes of No. 2)
No. 3
20 s. u. / hr. (or 6 2/3 minutes of No. 3)
No. 4
Not Permitted
No. 5
Not Permitted
The discharge of smoke in excess of the above amounts is an offence. Thus the upper limit could be adopted for industry in M-3 Industrial Districts. For industry in M-1 and M-2 areas the requirements or upper limits would be more stringent.
-8 Edmonton
Minneapolis
Chicagn
SugT;ected
-1 asic
Nn.1 No Restrictions No.2 12 S. U. / Hr. 'NoA3 'NA PA Nt.4 N. P. No.5 N. P.
-1
No.1 No.2 lire lean- No.3 No.4 ng' Ito. No.5 M-2 Basic
No.1 Nc.2 No.3 N6.4 No.5
N. 20 12 N. N.
N. 15 N. N. N.
R. S. P. / Hr. P. P. P.
N. R. R. S. U. / Hr.)should ' be 30 S. U. / Hr. S. U. /,Hr.)onceor12 S. U. / Hr. twice a day. N. P. P. N. P. P.
N. R. 18 S. U. / Hr. N. P. N. P. N. P.
N. 30 N. N. N.
R. S. U. / Hr. P. P. P.
N. R. 6 S. U. / 30 Min. • 1J. P. N. I): N. P. .N.-R. 12 S. U. / 30 Min. ) 4 Times a day. 12.S. U. /. 30 Min. ) N. P.. N. P. N. R. 9 S. U. / Hr. N. P. N. P. N. P. _
N-2
No.1 No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5
N. 30 16 N.
,,-.3
No.1 No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5
N. 20 10 N.
Basic
No.1 Clean- No.2 ing, Etc. No.3 M-3
No.4 No.5
R. 4 times S. U. / Hr.) a S. U. / Hr.) day P. N. P.
N. 45 12 N. N.
P. 4 times "R. S. U. / Hr.) a 18 S. U. / 30 Min.) 8 times S. U. / Hr.) daY.18 S. U. / 30 Min.) a day. N. P. P. , N. P. P. . _.
R. (30 S. U. T. R. 42 S. P. S. U. / Hr.) or hour) S. U. / Hr.) N.P. P. N. P. N. P. N. P4
N. R. 4 times 40 S. U. / Hr.) per day 20 S. U. / Hr.) N. P. N. P.
.
N. P. Number of times not stipulatei 8 min. in excess of No. 2 4 min, in excess of No. 3
N. 15 N. N. N.
R. S. U. / Hr. P. P. P.
N. R. 24 s. U. / 30 Min.) 12 times a day. 24 S. U. / 30 Min.) N. P, N. P.
Zdmonton - Suggested Performance Starclards for M-1, M-2, and M-3 Industrial Districts. N-1 Basic No. 1 No Restrictions No. 2 12 S. U. / Hr. No, 3 Not Permitted No, 4 N. P. No. 5 N, P. Fire Cleaning & Building No. 1. No Restrictions No. 2 20 S. U. / Hr. No, 3 12 S. U. / Hr. No. 4 N. P. No. 5 N. P. M-2 Basic No. 1 N. R. No, 2 18 S. U. / Hr. No. 3 Not Permitted No, 4 N. P. No. 5 N. P. Cleaning & Building No. 1 N. R. No. 2 30 S. U. / Hr. No. 3 16 S. U. / Hr. No. 4 N. .P. No. .5 N. P. M-3 Basic No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 Cleaning etc.
N. 20 10 N. N.
R. S. U. / Hr.) S. U. / Hr.) P. P.
Once A Day or ?
4 Times Per Day
Or change might be made to allow 30 S. U. of No. 2 and No. 3 not permitted. 2 Times Per Day
Gont. M-3 Basic No. No. No. No,
1 2 3 4
N. R. 40 S. U. / Hr. 20 S. U. / Hr. N. P.
No, 5 N. P.
-11-
APPENDIX A Smoke Summary of ordinances Definition of Ordinance Classifications Based on the Measurement of Smoke Density, Class I:
Ordinances which al1,7m only Ringelmann No, 1 smoke: A.
ith no exceptions stated
(2)
B. Except for stated periods when cleaning or building fires or for other reason Class II:
(16)
Ordinances which allow liort periods of No. 2 smoke: A. But may not exceed No. 3 for stated periods for fire cleaning or building (11) (including Model Law of American Society of Mechanical Engineers). B. And may exceed No. 3 for stated periods for fire cleaning or building (7)
Class III:
Ordinances which allow No. 2 smoke at all times: A.But may not exceed No. 2 at any time
(2)
B. But may not exceed No, 3 for fire cleaning or building C. And may exceed No, Class IV:
Ordinances which allow short periods of No.
3 smoke:
A.But may not exceed No. 3 at any time
(1)
B. And may exceed No. Class V:
3 for fire cleaning and building
(4)
(8)
3 for fire cleaning and building (7)
Ordinances which allow No. 3 smoke at all times: A. But may not No.
3 at any time
(1)
B. And allow periods in excess of No. 3 without specifying or in addition to fire cleaning or building.
(12)
C. And may exceed No. 3 for fire cleaning or building. (3)
-12Ordinances which define smoke density using the Umbrascope
Class VI:
and not in terms of the Ringelmann chart. Class VII:
(4)
Ordinances which do not, or only loosely define the smoke density prohibited.
(6)
Dust Defined: "minute solid particles released into the air by natural forces or by mechanical processes such as crushing, grinding, milling, drilling, demolishing, shoveling, conveying, bagging, sweeping, etc."* The ordinances passed to date take one of two forms (1) Allowable dust limits are based on size of parcel of land on which the industry is located, the zoning for the area (M-1, M-2, or M-3), the height of the stack and the velocity and temperature of emission. The Chicago ordinance (appended) is of this type. (The Minneapolis ordinance is this type but no allowances are made for velocity or temperature of emission) (2) The second type of ordinance stipulates the maximum allowable dust loading (expressed in pounds of dust per 1,000 pounds of gas). The American Society of Mechanical Engineers' model ordinance provides that the dust loading of stack gases adjusted to 50 percent excess air f( for fuel burning equipment. * Air Pollution Handbook, P. L. Magill, F. R. Holden and C. Ackley, editors. (New York, McGraw-Hill Company Inc. 1956) p. 14-15 & 14-19.
-13Exceptions to this are: an efficiency of more than 85 per cent is not required for collectors installed subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance, and not more than 75 per cent efficiency is required for collectors before the effeCtive date. The Province of Alberta regulations for the control of air pollution require that: The concentration of dust in air effluents resulting from combustion, or a processing or manufacturing operation shall not exceed 0.85 lbs. per 1,000 lbs. of air effluent, adjusting to 50% excess air, and of this amount not more than 0.4 lbs. shall be retained on a 325 mesh screen (6.0017 in. diameter). The amount of solids in the gases shall be determined according to the Test Code for Dust Separation Apparatus of the American •
Society of Mechanical Engineers. Every operation shall be conducted in keeping with good dust control practices to avoid the release or escape of excessive dust. A dust fall in the surrounding area of 15 tons per square mile per month in residential areas or 45 tons per square mile per month in industrial or commercial areas shall be deemed to be excessive, except that due allowance shall bemade for a normal background level of dust fall.
In the Chicago type ordinance performance standards varied according to the zoning (M-1, M-2 or M-3) or the area. I have not seen any dust ordinances of the Alberta type which discriminate between M-1, M-2 and M-3 industrial districts. It would seem that some sort of differentiation between thece industrial districts in terms of dust loading would be benificial.
Noise - Example Ordinances 1.
Noise is usually defined as any undesired sound. The loudness of any noise reflects the sound pressure expressed in microbars. The minimum audible level of sound pressure for a young male is about 0.0002 microbars (of a sound at about 1,000 cycles per second). The sound pressure near a powerful engine may exceed 200 microbars. For ease in handling this wide variation in sound pressure it has become customary to deal with sound pressure level instead of sound pressure. The unit expressing this level is the decibel: 0.0002 microbars equals 0 decibels, 200 microbars equals 120 decibles. The second property of noise which c.n be separated is the pitch or tone expressed in cycles per second. The higher the pitch the greater the frequency of vibration as measured in cycles per second. The average person can hear tones in the frequency range from about 20 to 16,000-20,000 cycles per second. The zero decibel point represents the minimum audible frequency of a tone near 1,000 cycles per second.
s frequency changes so does the ability
to hear that tone. Thus the minimum audible frequency
as et function of frequency
can be expressed graphically.
Frequency in Cycles per Second Source: A. P. Peterson and E. E. Gross, Jr., Handbook of Noise Control (West Concord, Mass., General Radio Company, 1963) p. 13
-15-
The recent ordinances on noise have used the measures of sound pressure level and frequency of noise. The section on noise on performance standards in Chicago reads as follows: Any use established in a Manufacturing District after the effective date of this ordinance shall be operated as to comply with the maximum performance standards governing noise set forth hereinafter for the district in which such use shall be located. No use already established on the effective date of this ordinance shall be so altered or modified as to exceed, or if already exceeding so as to further exceed, the maximum performance standards governing noises established hereinafter for the district in which such use is located. Objectionalbe sounds of an intermittent nature shall be controlled so as not to become a nuisance to adjacent uses. Sound levels shall be measured with a sound level meter and associated octave band filter manufactered according to standards prescribed by the American Standards Association. At no point on the boundary of a Residence or Business District shall the sound pressure level of any operation conducted in the M1-1 to M1-5 Districts (other than the operation of motor vehicles or other transportation facilities) exceed the decibel levels in the designated octave bands shown below for the districts indicated:
-16Octave band in Cycles per second
Along Residence District Boundaries - Maximum Permitted Sound Level in Decibels
o to 75 75 to 150 150 to 300
72
2400 to 4800
67 59 52 46 4o 34
Above 4800
32
300 to 600 600 to 1200 1200 to 2400
Along Business District Boundaries - Maximum Permitted Sound Level in Decibels
79 74 66 59 53 47 41 39
Identical performance standards governing noise apply to M2 and M3 industrial districts. The proposed text for the Zoning Law for Minneapolis, Minnesota included a table on noise levels allowed identical to the one used by Chicago.* The performance standards governing noise in two New York communities attempted to allow for the time of day in which the noise was present, the duration and the character of the noise. Stony Point, New York TABLT1 I Maximum Permissible Sound Pressure Levels at Specified Points of Measurement For Noise Radiated Continuously From A Facility at Night Time Frequency Band Cycles per second
75 75- 150 150 - 300 300 - 600 600 - 1,200 20-
1,200 - 2,400 2,400 - 4,800 4,800 -10,000
Sound Pressure Level db re 00002 microbar 69 54 (37): 38 (34)a 38 (31)a 38 (28)
38
*Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis, City Planning Commission 1959) p. 157.
-17Source: Handbook of Noise Control, Cyril M. Harris, ed., (New York: .McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1957) p. 35 - 13. As set out in the ordinance for Clarkstown, New York.
a
If the noise is not smooth and continuous and is not radiated at night film, one or more of the following corrections should be added to or subtracted from each of the decibel levels given above in Table I: Type of Operation or Character of Noise Daytime operation only Noise Source operates less than 20% of the time If vt ft tr vt IT 5% " v? /I It ty It 1, tr ar 1% " Noise of impulsive character (hammering etc.) Noise of periodic character (hum, screech, etc.) a
Correction db
+5 +5
a +10 a +15 a
-5 -5
Apply one of these corrections only. The ordinances for the two New York communities do not allow for
differences in noise levels near residential areas as compared to commercial areas. However, the correction factors used here seem to represent a valuable addition to the ordinance. Another correction factor suggested is one which accounts for previous exposure to noise. (Peterson and
Gross,
p. 121.) To determine the level of previous exposure of industrial noise to residential and commercial areas in Edmonton it is suggested that readings be taken in various parts of the City. This information would give some hint as to the amount of action needed if a noise ordinance of the type used by the four cities mentioned was adopted here. Noise Ordinance for Edmonton The present performance standards regarding noise emanating from industrial plants and yards in Edmonton require for an Ma District - no
-18external objectionable or dangerous condition shall be apparent beyond any building housinq processes wherein such effects may be produced. M 2 District .
. the boundary of a site
M 3 District .
. the boundary of the M-3 Industrial District wherein the site is located.
Some of the noise ordinances that have been set up by various American cities place objective upper limits on the noise level emanating from any industrial plant as measured on the boundary of non-industrial land uses. This type of ordinance could result in M-1 Districts being just as noisy as the M-3 Districts for the measurements are taken along residential or commercial boundary lines. On the other hand Edmonton's regulations provide no objective basis for determining what is or what is not objectionable. The requirement on noise control for M-1 Industrial Districts in Edmonton seem to be too strict; the boundary of the site as the point of measurement would probably be sufficient. In an 14-1 Industrial District industries adjacent to plants which are the source of objectionable noises would be protected if different permissible noise levels were set up for 14-1, M-2 and M-3 districts with noise levels to be measured at the lot line of the nearest residential or commercial use.
(See table on following page).
At some pointas noise level increases in the plant area Public Health regulations (presently objective standards non-existent) might come into force. The setting up of these standards would require fairly extensive research which might possibly be undertaken either by the Alberta Research Council or the National Research Council. Any such ordinance should be administered by the City of Edmonton.
Octave Band in cycles per second
Any Industrial Any Industrial Business along District along Residence Bound- District Boundary ary - Maximum (Decibels) Permitted (Decibels)
M-2 and M-3 Industries at Boundary of M-1 District
Industry in M-1 at Boundary of Site
M-2 District at Boundary of M-2
M-3 District at Boundary of M-2 District
75
72
79
82(?)
84(?)
86(?)
75 - 150
67
74
77(?)
79(?)
81(?)
150 - 300
59
66
•
•
300 - 600
52
59
•
S
600 - 1200
46
53
1200 - 2400
4o
47
2400 - 4800
34
41
•
•
Above
32
39
43(?)
46(?)
0-
4800
•
49(?)
-20Outline of Course of Action re: Noise Ordinance 1.
Regardless of what type of noise ordinance is established some indication of the existing noise levels in the City should be available. This will require a: 1) noise level meter 2) wave band analyzer 3) calibrator 4) a tape recorder (optional but would simplify the task greatly)
2.
The City (Electrical Engineering Dept.) presently has a noise level meter and a calibrator. It does not have a wave band analyzer nor a suitable tape recorder.
3.
A complete schedule of where the readings should be taken, time of day and number of readings should be drawn up beforehand.
4.
I think that the previous objective noise ordinances I have examined have had some flaws in that the concern was only with noise readings at residential and commercial boundary lines; permissible levels in M-1, 14-2 and M-3 was neglected. The setting up of such standards would, however, require further research - research that should be undertaken by skilled technicians. There are two courses of action by which such a survey might be completed (a) The City of Edmonton could purchase a tape recorder and a wave band analyzer to complement existing equipment. (i) one of the existing members of the City staff (Research Section? Planning?) would have to be trained in the use of this equipment.* * The Industrial Health Services division of the Alberta Government has ordered some noise measuring equipment (does not include a tape recorder) They suggested that if necessary the City could possibly use the equipment. However, this division will be undertaking its own study of inplant noise conditions throughout Alberta. Therefore, the availability of this equipment to a survey undertaken by the City is questionable.
- 21(ii) some consultation with the Alberta Research CeNuncil would be required. (b)
The City could ask the Alberta Research Council to do the necessary research of existing noise levels and so on. The City would then purchase the necessary equipment to enforce the ordinance.
Suggested course of action: In view that the City will have to eventually purchase the equipment to enforce a noise ordinance it would seem a better course to purchase the equipment before the City undertakes its own survey. 'then and if a noise ordinance is passed, someone on the City's staff will be experienced in the use of the equipment. Approximate cost of equipment: (a) octave band analyzer
$ 850.00
(b) tape recorder
1,000.00
(c) miscellaneous
150.00 $2,000.00
Upon completion of the survey of noise levels, the need for an ordin— ance or by-law on this matter could be determined. Preliminary indications suggest that such an ordinance would be of benefit to the residents and workers of this City. There is little doubt that an ordinance on the nuisance attribute of noise from local industry is the responsibility of the local government. Glare or Heat Chicago M-1 - "Any operation producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within an enclosed building in such manner as to be completely imperceptible from any point along the lot lines."
.22In the M-2 districts the "operation producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within an enclosed building or behind a solid fence in such manner as to be completely imperceptible from any point along the lot lines." For M-3 insert "along the boundary line of any other zoning district" for "along the lot lines". Columbus, Ohio Any operation producing intense glare of heat shall be conducted within an enclosed building or with other effective screening in such a manner as to be completely imperceptible from any point along the lot lines in the Manufacturing Districts. Minneapolis In the M-1, (M-2 and M-3) Industrial Districts any operation producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within a completely enclosed building in such manner as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along lot lines. Edmonton's existing ordinance regarding glare and heat is very close to that in force in Chicago. Fire and Explosive Hazards Chicago M-1 1. The storage, utilization, or manufacture of materials or products ranging from incombustible to moderate burning - as determined by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the provisions of Section
is permitted, subject to compliance with all other
Performance Standards for the M1-1 to M1-5 Districts inclusive.
-23-
2. The storage, utilization, or manufacture of material, or products ranging from free or active burning to intense burning .... is permitted .... in the M1-1 to M1-5 Districts provided a) said materials or ,Droducts shall be stored, utilized, or produced within fully enclosed buildings or structures having exterior incombustible walls. b) all such buildings or structures shall be set hack at least 40 feet from lot lines, or, in lieu thereof, all such buildings shall be protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system. 3. Materials or products which produce flammable or explosive vapors or gases under ordinary weather temperature shall not be permitted in this district. M-2 Same as for M-1 M-3 The storage, utilization, or manufacture of materials or products rated as fast burning as determined by the Zoning Administrator or which produce flammable or explosive vapors or gases under ordinary weather temperature conditions, shall be permitted only in the M-3 District. Further, where an M-3 District adjoins another zoning district no land or building located within six hundred feet of the district boundary shall be used for such activities. The performance standards regarding fire and explosive hazards suggested for Mineapolis include the main points of the Chicago ordinance. In addition, however, Minneapolis intends to restrict the quantities and methods of storage of flammable materials. (See Zoning, Minneapolis, Proposed Text, pp. 160, 172 & 178).
-24Vibration The present zoning bylaw on performance standards governing vibration requires that in an M-1 district no external objectionable or dangerous condition apparent beyond any building housing processes wherein such effects may be produced. In an M-2 district the area of concern is the boundary of the site; in an 1vi-3 district the boundary line of concern is that of the M-3 district. The ordinance in Chicago requires that "any use creating earth shaking vibration shall be set back at least five hundred feet from the lot line on all sides, except for lot lines adjoining an M-3 district where such setback shall not be required, but in no case shall any such vibration be perceptible along the boundary line of any other zoning district except M-3. The performance standards governing vibration in the M1-1 to M1-5 Districts inclusive shall apply to all uses located in the M2-1 to M2-5 Districts inclusive. Any use creating intense earth shaking vibrations (in an M-3 district) shall be set back at least five hundred feet from the boundary of a Residence, Business, Commercial, M-1 or M-2 District, but in no case shall any such vibration be perceptible along the boundary of any other zoning district. The proposed text for the Zoning Code for Minneapolis governing vibration reads: In the M1-1 to M1-4 Districts (these regulations also govern M-2 and M-3 Districts) no industrial operation or activity (except those not under the direct control of the manufacturer) shall cause at any time ground transmitted vibrations in excess of the limits set forth below. Vibration shall be measured at any point along a Residence District boundary line with a three component measuring instrument approved by the Zoning Administrator and shall be expressed as displacement in inches.
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Frequency (cycles per second)
Maximum Permitted Displacement Along Residence District Boundaries (Inches)
O to lo lo to 20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40 and over
.0008 .0005 .0002 .0002 .0001
The Zoning Code of Columbus, Ohio governing vibration reads: "Every use shall be so orerated that the ground vibration inherently and recurrently generated by said use is not perceptible without instruments, at any point along any property line of the lot on which the use is located." It is suggested that the regulations for M-1 Industrial Districts in Edmonton be altered from "beyond any building housing processes where such effects might be produced" to "beyond the lot line". The same stipulation should be made of industries in an M-3 district, i.e., not perceptible without instruments, at any point along any property line of the lot on which the use is located. Evaluation of .7eather Effects - Air Pollution Handbook (Section 5) Frontal zones and low pressure areas are often regions of bad weather. High-pressure are,..s are usually regions of light winds, clear skies and good weather - atmospheric stability - hieler degrees of atmospheric pollution than low pressure areas. Textiary circulations - small scale phenomena e.g. circulation characteristic of valleys From the viewpoint of air pollution, the bottom of a valley or a low-lying area is an undesirable location for an industrial plant discharging critical quantities of atmospheric pollutants. Under adverse weather conditions the pollutants become trapped in the valley area, and if the discharge
-26continues, the pollutant concentration increases to an objectionable level. IT!hen the prevailing wind speed in a valley area is low, the valley circulation is primarily the result of lc,oal cooling or heating. The socalled "drainage" winds result when nocturnal radiation causes cold air to form on the highlands and slopes and then move into the valleys and the low points of the terrain. This gravitational drainage of cold, dense air down even the gentlest slopes is a common occurrence on clear nights with light winds. The accumulation of cold air in valleys produces a very unfavourable dispersion condition. The valley breeze, caused by solar heating of slopes, is the daytime conterpart of the drainage winds. Air is heated in contact with the slopes; this results in an updraft along the valley walls. The resulting instability and vertical currents tend to dissipate atmospheric pollution. Aside from the circulations produced by local heating and cooling, large atmospheric eddies may be a predominant feature of the local circulation. Eddies on the downwind side of topographic obstructions, such as mountains, hills or other features, may result in high level pollution being carried to the ground in a local area, Micro climatology - detailed study of the climate over a small area - (the nature of the earth's surface, i.e. rough, smooth, bare of vegetation, grass, short crops, forest cover, etc.) is of particular importance in determining the local vertical distribution of wind and temperature. Instruments could be mounted on towers - or a captive balloon system could be used. Temperature inversion: Normally temperature decreases with elevation. If condition exists where temperature increases with elevation, a condition of temperature
-27inversion exists. Inversions occur more frequently and last longer in winter on account of the longer nights and consequently greater time for heat loss by radiation. In United States and English cities, the daily pellution maximum usually occurs between 6:30 and 9:00 A,M,. and suggests that the cause may be the increase in turbulence and the resulting fumigation at this time. Knowledge of air pollution climatology is of particular value in site selection and in arriving at a satisfactory and economical solution for control problems. An adequate site survey should include information ot the following: 1. air pollution history of the region - a survey of vegetation is a useful and rapid method of assessing existing conditions. 2. relationship of site to populated areas, agricultural land and other critical areas. - topography, prevailing winds. 3. regional climatology - mean pressure maps, wind roses?, frequency of calms and different ranges of wind speeds, and feg frequency and duration, inversion probability on the basis of wind direction.
4,
micro climate of site - air flow around hills with different wind conditions.