Coustic 401SE User Manual download pdf (Page 41)

Appendix B

Sound Examiner SE-400 Series

Glossary of Terms

Sound Level Meters use the decibel as the unit of measure known as Sound Pressure Level (SPL). SPL uses the

ratio between a reference level of 20 microPascals (.00002 Pascals) and the level being measured.

SPL = 20 log (measured level/reference level)

Example: the SPL for 1 Pascal is 20 log (1 Pascal/.00002 Pascal) = 94 dB. 20 microPascals (.00002 Pascals) is

considered the average threshold of hearing.

A whisper is about 20 dB. A normal conversation is typically from 60 to 70 dB, and a noisy factory from 90 to 100

dB. Loud thunder is approximately 110 dB, and 120 dB borders on the threshold of pain.

Dynamic range

The range of input amplitudes on any given range setting over which the instrument can produce a meaningful

response. The bottom of the dynamic range is the instrument’s Noise Floor for that range setting, and the top of the

dynamic range is the maximum input signal that will not overload the instrument on that range setting.

Exchange Rate (ER)

Also known as the Doubling Rate, this refers to how the sound energy is averaged over time. Using the decibel

scale, every time the sound energy doubles, the measured level increases by 3 dB. This is the 3 dB Exchange Rate

that most of the world uses. For every increase of 3 dB in the time weighted average, the measured dose would

double.

Some organizations such as OSHA in the U.S. have argued that the human ear self compensates for changing

noise levels and they felt that the 3 dB Exchange Rate should be changed to more closely match the response of

the human ear. OSHA currently uses a 5 dB Exchange Rate which would mean that the reported dose would double

with every 5 dB increase in the time weighted average. The Exchange Rate affects the integrated reading L

AVG

Dose, and TWA but does not affect the instantaneous sound level. (Please refer to

www.osha.gov for more

information.)

AVG

Average sound level measured over the run time. This becomes a bit confusing when thresholds are used. Any

sound below the threshold is not included in this average. Remember that sound is measured in the logarithmic

scale of decibels therefore the average can not be computed by simply adding the levels and dividing by the number

of samples. When averaging decibels, short durations of high levels can significantly contribute to the average level.

Example: Assume the threshold is set to 80 dB and the Exchange Rate is 5 dB (the settings of OSHA’s Hearing

Conservation Amendment). Consider taking a one hour noise measurement in an office where the A- weighted

sound level was typically between 50 dB and 70 dB. If the sound level never exceeded the 80 dB threshold during

the one hour period, then the L

AVG

would indicate a reading of zero. If 80 dB was exceeded for only a few seconds

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Coustic 401SE User Manual Page 41