Assessing shooting range noise exposure using acoustic modeling software

Impulse noise from firearms in shooting ranges presents a unique challenge for assessing the risk to workers’ hearing. Firearms produce short-duration, high-level noise that cannot be measured with instruments traditionally used by industrial hygienists. Additionally, acoustic reflections in indoor firing ranges add a level of complexity for modeling not encountered in outdoor, free-field shooting range environments. The Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing developed Shooting Range Impulse Noise Calculator, or ShRINC, an acoustic modeling software suite specifically optimized for modeling impulse noise exposure from firearms in indoor firing ranges. ShRINC eliminates the need for specialized data acquisition systems and expands industrial hygienists’ capability to assess a common health risk at military installations. We provide an overview of the software, its capabilities, and details of use. We then detail the Air Force’s efforts to develop ShRINC, including data acquisition and validation. Finally, we detail the software’s implementation in assessing Air Force noise exposure. The Air Force Research Laboratory maintains and distributes ShRINC, which is available with versions for both the Department of Defense and the general public to use for assessing impulse noise exposure at firing ranges.