vb6hobbyst7 / trace

Noise Calculation Add-In for Excel

Trace

An open source calculation toolkit for Acoustics

1. Introduction

Trace is a custom designed Add-In for Excel to assist in the calculation of noise levels, particularly for mechanical sources. The methods used generally implement ASHRAE methodology, version 2011 and Methods from Sound and Vibration - Design and Analysis by National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB)

2. Installation (.xlam file)

To install in Excel go to File>Options>Add-ins. Then click on Go… Then browse to where the Trace folder has been saved, eg. C:\Users\PersonX\Documents\Trace And add the file Trace.xlam

Optional - Central Locations For business groups, the toolkit may be placed centrally on the network with all users pointing to it. If this is the case, then when prompted as follows:

Copy Trace.xlam to the AddIns folder for USERNAME?

Click No

Updates to the central AddIn file can then be rolled out to all users automatically.

3. Design Principles

The Add-In can be used for a variety of calculations, mainly centred around fundamental acoustic equations. Where possible, the full equation is written out, except where:

• Empirical relationships exist / lookup tables are required.
• The formula is difficult to read as an inline function.

Other design principles of the toolkit are:

• All losses are to be inserted as negative numbers. In general the final formula should be the sum of all lines of the calculation.
• Sheets are designed to be printable as an Appendix to a report. Not all lines of the calculation are displayed in the final presented sheet, but should be sufficient for a review.
• User input cells is to be ‘post-it’ yellow
• Units (10 m²,Q=2) are presented as custom formatting with the cell

For more, refer to the Wiki