BS EN ISO 17201-3:2019

What is ISO 17201‑3 – Shooting range sound calculation about?

Sounds in our surroundings not only affect our immediate experience, but they can also have long-term effects on our hearing. ISO 17201 discusses acoustics from the perspective of noise from shooting ranges. ISO 17201‑3 is the third part of the multi-series on noise from shooting ranges, and specifies methods of predicting the sound exposure level of shooting sound for a single shot at a given reception point. Guidelines are given to calculate other acoustic indices from the sound exposure level.

The prediction is based on the angular source energy distribution of the muzzle blast as defined in ISO 17201‑1 or calculated using values from ISO 17201‑2. ISO 17201‑3 applies to weapons with calibres of less than 20 mm or explosive charges of less than 50 g TNT equivalent, at distances where peak pressures, including the contribution from projectile sound, are less than 1 kPa (154 dB).

Who is ISO 17201‑3 - Shooting range sound calculation for?

ISO 17201‑3 on shooting range sound calculation is useful for:

• Shooting ranges
• Regulatory authorities
• Law enforcement agencies
• Quality control personnel

Why should you use ISO 17201‑3 - Shooting range sound calculation?

Calculating noise levels accurately lets you measure and compare noise against different criteria. The source energy of muzzle blast is typically measured or calculated for free-field conditions and often exhibits strong directivity. In many cases, firearms are fired within a shooting range which has structures such as firing sheds, walls, or safety barriers.

ISO 17201‑3 provides guidance for sound propagation calculation of shooting sound from shooting ranges. If calculation procedures are not implied or specified by local or national guidelines, rules, and regulations, and if a more sophisticated propagation model is not available, then ISO 9613‑2 may be applied, provided that the recommendations in ISO 17201‑3 are observed. ISO 17201‑3 recommends ways in which source data can be adapted for use with ISO 9613‑2 to obtain a general survey for the sound exposure levels to be expected in the neighbourhood around shooting ranges.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN ISO 17201‑3:2019 supersedes EN ISO 17201‑3:2010.

The main changes compared to the previous version are as follows:

• Formulae (B.1) and (B.3) have been corrected by insertion of F0.
• Minor corrections have been made in Annex C