Annoying noise is context-dependent, so good regulations cap decibel increase over existing levels

Evidence

In this chapter, we treat sound production by several mechanisms. There is no absolute threshold in decibels for what is considered annoying. In a perfectly reasonable office environment, a whisper at 3 feet might go unnoticed or even be inaudible, but the same whisper might be very annoying during a quiet scene in a theater. Good noise regulations state the maximum allowable decibel increase due to a new source of noise. If your business generates lots of noise, make sure to locate it in a region that is already noisy. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1276

Categorization

• CANDY: ‘Locate your noisy business where it’s already noisy’ is a light, counterintuitive one-liner about noise regulation.