Weapons against Noise

The struggle against noise will be a long one, requiring legislation and its enforcement, as well as a change in culture whereby people no longer tolerate noise makers. The success of the anti-smoking movement offers inspiration and a campaign model.
But in the short term we require weapons for personal protection and to promote the struggle.

Defensive weapons
We can protect our ears from immediate noise damage by wearing ear plugs or ear muffs. Ear plugs come in various forms. The simplest are the foam earplugs often distributed on airplanes. They consist of a soft foam which relaxes its shape slowly. It can be squeezed into a thin roll and placed in the ear channel where it expands to close off the access for sound. Another type consists of waxed cones of cotton which can be introduced to the ear channel and gently squeezed to fill the opening. I have used these devices on planes or to shut off the noise of an occasional all-night party. They are on sale in Bangkok pharmacies but carry no specifications of effectiveness. I have read one suggestion that they cut down noise by 15 to 20 decibels. Even a reduction of 10 decibels, which represents a reduction in noise power by a factor of ten, is often enough to move one out of the danger zone of loud noise. Another type of ear plug is a shaped plastic type probably designed for swimmers and is available on the internet. It claims to reduce noise by about 25 decibels.
Next come ear muffs primarily designed for workers in industrial sites or airports. They are like large earphones which cover the whole ear and can give 25 to 30 decibels of protection. They are worn by workers on noisy location for the entire day but are not really comfortable for the casual wearer. It is surprisingly difficult to find them in Thailand, but one company called Safety Shoes Company claims to stock them. I have bought cheap sets abroad for about 300 baht, and better quality at 750 baht. Large size earphones are more expensive but should work as well. Even better are noise cancellation earphones. These monitor noise outside the earphone and produce an antidote sound in a small loudspeaker inside the earphone which cancels the outside noise. These are best to reduce noise which is continuous such as the noise of an air conditioner, a fan, or any engine. A Philips made model is available in Bangkok but is not cheap. Ear muffs are a great help in countering the awful teeth-grinding noise of a sander or mechanical saw that seems to come from every building site in Bangkok.

Offensive weapons
For the serious campaigner against noise, a noise level meter is a necessary weapon! The simplest kind which gives an instantaneous measure of noise level is sufficient for spot measurements. With the evidence of a decibel figure one’s complaint has real relevance. The model I use is a TES-1350A made in Taiwan. I have used it for over two years without problem and its accuracy compares well with far more expensive models. Specifications, prices, and ordering information may be seen on the web-site http://www.tes.com.tw/
A small weapon which is very satisfying to use is a Universal Remote Control. Television sets are the plague of Quiet Bangkok. Restaurants, shops, hospital waiting rooms, pubs, train platforms all spew out non-stop programmes. A few people may look but nobody watches them. Even friends whom you are visiting may leave the TV set on while you wish to talk. A click from your small discreet URC can turn off all makes of television set. To see how this magical device works and to acquire one consult http://www.tvbgone.com/

The pen is mightier than the sword and the ultimate weapon against noise is the pen; suggestions for its use are given in the post “Making noise about noise”