Description
Over a year ago a noisy device, previously located on a wooden pole at 590 Franklin St., was relocated at the request of the new owner. The new location, on a wooden light pole about 80 feet farther down the street, is near the house at 582 belonging to me and my wife Margot Kempers.
Shocked by the noise of the fan-forced cooling we wrote Mark McGovern and he apparently forwarded my concern. Little happened but I did speak with installers from, I believe, Crown Castle, who told me they were replacing the old device, and that the newer one was quieter.
We noted that the new one has four cooling fans, twice the number of the old one.
While it is unclear if that device was ever quieter, it has become noisier and noisier until now it is having, in our opinion, an adverse environmental impact. It is very loud and runs whenever the temperatures get in the neighborhood of 50 degrees.
It is outrageous that the city would add noise like this to a quiet residential street.
We submit that no one in city government would put up with this in front of their own house.
We find it hard to believe that other, quieter, cooling options are not available to whoever owns and maintains the devices.
Please advise us as to the city’s stand about this, and as to any available remedies.
Thank you,
Fred Scholz
10 Comments
Cambridge Public Works (Verified Official)
Scholz Fred (Registered User)
StrollerDude (Registered User)
You can have the city check for a noise violation (call 617-349-6140). We did this and the one outside of our place was in violation. It turns out that Crown Castle can turn down the fan speed remotely. It significantly lowered the volume of ours. You might be able to call Crown Castle directly at (800) 788-7011 as well. I haven't tried that but the tech working the pole one day said I could. The point is, the fan speed can be changed in minutes without anyone even coming to check it out.
I personally wish the thing could be ripped out, but until something changes it is here to stay.
Scholz Fred (Registered User)
City Hall – DR (Verified Official)
StrollerDude (Registered User)
I just checked the info sheet the crown castle tech gave me. Phone number was 888-632-0931 and email scn.noc@crowncastle.com
Who knows if that will get you anywhere. Also, every time they come to check on the units the fan speed goes back up and you have to complain again. I’ve done so 3 times.
Scholz Fred (Registered User)
License Commission - NF (Verified Official)
關閉 License Commission - AB (Noise) (Registered User)
Good Morning Mr. Scholz,
Please see the below email that I sent to you on June 18, 2019 regarding the Crown Castle Fan Node noise test and results.
Also, I went to the location this a.m., specifically to test while the temperature is approximately 80 degrees. I was able to confirm that the fans are still set at the low fan speed and in compliance with the Cambridge Municipal Code.
Please contact me if you have any further questions, my direct contact information is in the below email as well.
Thank you,
Andrea
From: Boyer, Andrea
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 12:43 PM
To: (Email information deleted) (AMB)
Subject: FW: Atten Nicole M. Ferrer
Good Afternoon Mr. Scholz,
My supervisor, Nicole Murati Ferrer, forwarded me your email to check the noise levels of the Crown Castle Fan Node Unit located at 582 Franklin Street.
I tested the fans on June 10, 2019 and the levels were above the allowable 50.0dB(A) between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The reading was 56.2 db(A).
I contacted Mr. Joseph Shannon that same day and he had a technician change the fans to a lower speed level, which has been a solution for other Fan Nodes.
I retested the fans on June 13, 2019 and today June 18, 2019. Both times the levels were below 50db(A). The reading was 44.3db(A) on June 13th and 45.6db(A) on June 18th. Today’s June 18, 2019 reading I noticed an A/C cycling in a nearby residence that may have added to the Ambient Noise level.
Since the readings are below the 50.0db(A) allowable level, the Fan Node Unit is now in compliance with the Cambridge Municipal Code 8.16.060 E.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Andrea
Andrea Boyer
Chief Licensing Investigator
Cambridge License Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-349-6149
Scholz Fred (Registered User)