Noise level analysis and evaluation of spaces in public buildings: The case of Trabzon Ortahisar municipality

Working conditions with high noise levels have a detrimental impact on employee health and productivity. Maintaining healthy working conditions in public buildings is critical to the long-term viability of the employee-visitor connection. The noise levels of internal and external spaces at the Ortahisar Municipality Building in Trabzon were examined and assessed as part of this study.The study consists of four parts. The General Information section contains information regarding the physical properties of sound, noise, and its factors, as well as studies on the subject. In the Methodology part, first of all, the current situation analyzes of the building were carried out in terms of noise sources for indoor and outdoor spaces. Then, the measurement points were decided on the floor plans of the building, taking into account the on-site observations. The Environmental Noise Measurement and Evaluation Guide was used to determine 30 measurement points in the Building. Noise level measurements were taken at the designated measurement places between the hours of 10:00 and 11:00 when the working hours are the busiest (4 measurements each 15 minutes apart). The acquired noise level values are compared with the limit values in the international standards and and relevant regulations accepted for the study areas and evaluations were made in the Findings and Evaluations part. The comparable noise level values and frequency-dependent levels in the selected sample building have been judged to be over the permitted values for the research locations. As a consequence of the measurement levels achieved, were given architectural-scale proposals for noise reduction and management in the Results and Suggestions part.