Noise Measurement and

Dosimetry

Learning Outcome
After going through this topic you will be able to
Explain sound pressure level, frequency & respective units of measure
Describe level average, time weighted average & dose
Explanation of criterion, threshold & exchange rate
Proper placement & care of microphones and instrumentation
Explain hearing conservation regulations & OSHA requirements as it pertains to noise
measurement

Hands on calibration, function & measurement with the noise dosimeter, sound level meter
and octave band analyzers

Why Measurement of Noise is Necessary?

Noise affect our well being

A plant or industrial work unit needs to assess the risk of its employee(s)
regarding Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) & plan pragmatic Hearing
Conservation Program (HCP).
Employees on-the-job & off-the-job noise exposure influence his overall
noise induced damages
Effective hearing protection requires:

Quantitative and qualitative description of noise environment

Engineering Controls of noise environment
Administrative Controls for noise management
Ensuring Compliance with applicable Standards

Why Measure Noise?

Prolonged exposure to noise causes permanent and

debilitating hearing loss
Mostly between 4 8 kHz
Lose ability to understand speech in many situations
Typically affects consonant reception
Individual losing hearing is often the last to know!

Why Measure Noise?

Long term health effects due to adrenaline release
More accidents in high noise environments
Measurable decrease in productivity

Measurable decrease in work accuracy

Increased fatigue

Let us revise what we know..

What does Sound look like?

Adapted from Acoustics Animations Dr. Dan Russell Kettering University Applied Physics
http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html

Compression & Rarefaction of

Air Particles in a Sine Wave

Four Characteristics Of Sound

Frequency

(measured in Hz)

Intensity

(measured in dB)

Speed

(measured in feet or meters/second)

Wavelength (measured in feet or meters)

Frequency
Measured in Hertz (Hz)
kHz for 1000xHz
Relates to the pitch of the signal
Is a measure of the cycles completed in one second

Frequency (Pitch)
Fig. I-4 1Hz and 10Hz Sine Waves

Typical Frequency Examples

Lathe
Compressed air
Circular saw
Cars
Violin

50 to 1100 Hz
500 to 8000 Hz
300 to 12000 Hz
8 to 1100 Hz
300 to 9000 Hz

Frequency Response & Weighting

The human ear is capable of responding to frequencies ranging

from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
The ear is less efficient at high and low frequencies
In the range from 500 Hz to 4 kHz a normal human ear is very
sensitive

Frequency Response & Weighting

Fig. I-6 A and C Weighting Curves

Sound Pressure Level

Fig. I-7 Sine Waves with different sound pressures
Measured in decibels (dB)

2 Sine Waves:
Same Frequency
Same Time Duration
Different Intensity
One is TWICE as
loud as the other

Understanding deciBels (dB)

deciBels S P L
dB SPL

deciBels H L
dB HL

Sound
Pressure
Level

Hearing
Level

Relates to
measurements of the
environment

Relates to intensity of
audiometric test tones

Doubling Sound Source

100 dB

100 dB

+
Add 3 dB
10 dB perceived as twice as loud

= 103 dB

Addition of Decibels
If the difference between two levels to be added is:
- 0 to 1 dB,

then add 3 dB to the higher number

- 2 to 3 dB,

then add 2 dB to the higher number

- 4 to 7 dB,

then add 1 dB to the higher number

- 8 dB or more, then add 0 dB to the higher number

Decibels are logrithmic values

They can not be directly added or subtracted

Changing Distance From Source

Outside
Doubling distance
Decrease SPL 6 dB

Room
Very Near Source
Twice the distance decreases
SPL by 6dB
Far from source
No change with change in
distance
NOTE: These are general
guidelines. Each case may vary.

Octaves
Fig. I-11 Octave Bands

Focus on the frequency content of the overall noise signal

Important for noise control efforts

Occupational Noise Characteristics

Fig. I-12 Mixture of Source Signals

In the real world of occupational noise the overall sound is a

mixture of many simultaneous sources with a variety of
frequencies and intensities.

Types or Characteristics of Sound

Measure all continuous, variable and impact/impulse sound

Response Time
Slow
Fast
Impulse
Peak

1 second rise and fall

0.125 second rise and fall
35 millisecond rise
1.5 second fall
50 microsecond rise and fall

Various time responses

Types of Hearing Protectors

Muffs
Plugs
Foam formable
Pre formed
Custom
Others
Plugs on a head band
Noise cancellation

Hearing Protection

NRR
Noise Reduction Rating

NRR Devaluation
NRR
- 7 dB
Adjusted
Attenuation
then divide this value by 2
to determine if hearing protectors are adequate
to forego noise control
The OSHA method is described well on the OSHA
Noise & Hearing Conservation e-Tool website
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/hcp/atten
uation_estimation.html

Hearing Protection

NRR
- 7

Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)

Muffs
NRR less 25%
Formable Plugs
NRR less 50%
All Other Plugs
NRR less 70%

GRAPHIC ILLISTRATION
25

Assume you need 10 dB

reduction
Assume NRR is 24 for all
De-rate muff by 25%
De-rate formable by 50%
De-rate anything else by 70%

20

24
18
Muff

15

Formed

12

Others

10
5
0

Net Protection

NRR

Plugs + muffs

REMEMBER:
Earmuffs over earplugs provide a maximum of 5dB additional attenuation no
matter what the muff rating.

Critical Terminology
Criterion - If exposed to SPL on average for eight
hours, it would result in a maximum allowable
exposure. [90dB for 8 hrs]
Threshold dB level below which, all SPLs are
assigned a value of zero. [80dB]
Exchange Rate - Results in a doubling or halving of
the maximum allowable exposure.

Critical Terminology
Average Level (LAVG and Leq) - If present continuously, would
generate the same amount of energy as the varying levels that
are present in the environment measured in decibels.
Time Weighted Average (TWA) - A level average with an
assumed fixed sample period of eight hours measured in
decibels.
Dose - The allowable daily exposure value. A maximum
allowable exposure is equal to 100% dose. [90dB x 8hrs =
100% Dose]

A Basic Concept
TWA = Lavg @ exactly 8 hours
DOSE = Follows the same line!

Dose / Lavg over time

Exercise I

Exchange Rates
SOUND LEVEL METERS
3dB exchange rate
When averaged, Leq (level equivalent)
NOISE DOSIMETERS
5dB exchange rate
When averaged, Lavg (level average)

Criterion and 5 dB Exchange rate

90dB x 8hrs = 90dB TWA = 100% Dose
95dB x 8hrs = 95dB TWA = 200% Dose
100dB x 8hrs = 100db TWA = 400% Dose
100dB x 4hrs = 95dB TWA = 200% Dose
100dB x 2hrs = 90dB TWA = 100% Dose
100dB x 1hr = 85dB TWA = 50% Dose

Section II

OSHA

21-25

The Occupational Noise Exposure Standard

Derived from the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act.
1971 adopted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 90 dBA.
Noises with a higher level than 90 dBA can be sustained for periods of
less than 8 hours.
Sounds with average levels less than 90 dBA can persist for periods of
more than 8 hours.

Permissible Noise Exposure

Hours per Day

Sound Level dBA slow

response

90

92

95

100

1.5

102

105

0.5

110

0.25 or less

115

Hearing Conservation Amendment

Published in the Federal Register on March 8, 1983.
The Hearing Conservation Amendment requires the employer to
perform five key tasks:

Measure Noise
Audiometric Tests
Hearing Protectors
Education & Training
Record Keeping

Table G-16a (abbreviated)

Measuring Threshold
H.C. Action Level (50% exp.) 85
8 Hour Criteria

Minimum Upper Range

24

A-Weighted
Sound Level

Duration
(Hours)

80
16
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130

32
8
4
2
1
0.5
0.25
0.125
0.063
0.031

Section II

Measuring Method for OSHA Surveys

Original Rule

H.C.A.

A/Slow

A/Slow

Exchange (Doubling) Rate

5 dB

5dB

Criterion (LC=100%)

90dB

90dB

Threshold (Cut Off)

90dB

80dB

90dB/100%

85dB/50%

Weighting/Response

Limit

(PEL)

Action
Level

Conclusion
The focus of the Occupational Noise Exposure Standard and the Hearing
Conservation Amendment, is to set minimum requirements to protect
hearing for those workers in a noisy environment.
The Keys to Success

Positive attitude on the part of the management

Clear communication of the value of hearing
Hearing protection takes care of the problem of noise for the short term,
but the key to real hearing protection is education and communication.

Section III
Sound Level Meters

26-39

Components of a Sound Level Meter

Block Diagram of a Typical Sound Level Meter

Microphone

Amplifier

Range
Control

Frequency
Filter(s)
C
A

Fast/Slow
F
S

Display

Classification of Sound Level Meters

Three types of SLMs established by ANSI, and IEC Standards:

Class 0 Laboratory grade instrument

Class 1 Precision instrument
Class 2 General purpose instrument

Types of Microphones

Random
Incidence

Direct
Incidence

Pressure
Microphone

Acoustical Calibrators
1

1) Loudspeaker

2) ON/OFF switch
3) Battery indicator
4) Microphone adapter

4
3

SoundPro SE/DL series

Understanding the KeyPad
Enter key ~

The center key is primarily used to

execute an action from the menu
displays or in measurement and
logging displays.

Arrows ~

The left/right arrows and up/down

arrows are used to navigate in the
direction you select. These are used
often as you are moving through the
menus or toggling through logged
sessions.

Alt f key ~

Alternate functions. Pressing this key

toggles the contents in the Softkey
Region.

On/Off/Esc ~

Triple function key. Its function

depends on the circumstances at
that time. Press it to apply power
and switch the instrument on. Press
it to power down . Press it to
Escape (or exit) from a data field or
a screen.

Run/Pause key ~ Press to start and pause studies

depending upon whether a study
was running at that time or not.

Stop key ~
Press to stop (or close) the session.
Backlight key ~ If you have Backlight set to
Manual, press this key to manually
turn the backlighting on or off.

SoundPro Exercise I Calibration & Battery

Check
Page 32 In workbook

SoundPro Exercise 2: Measurement of

Noise Sources
Pages 33 & 34 In workbook

Sound Level Meter Placement Keys

Location, Location, Location

Reflection
Vibration

Section IV
Noise Dosimeters

Noise Dosimeter Components

Microphone

Amplifier

Range
Control

Frequency
Filter(s)
C

Fast/Slow
F
S

Display

Computer

Storage

Printer

Calculator

Clock

Meter

Environmental Concerns
Temperature
Humidity
Atmospheric Pressure
Wind
Radio Frequency Interference
Magnetic Interference

How To Do A Noise Survey

Check Battery

Leave It Alone

Reset Unit
Check Set Up
Calibrate Unit

Work
Check It
Observe

Inform Worker
Unit Placement
Microphone Placement

Remove Unit
Record or Download
Data

2009 3M Company. All Rights Reserved.

Survey Techniques
I. Individual Full Exposure Assessment
II. Representative Sampling
III. Task-Based Exposure Assessment
Modeling
(T-Beam)
IV. Area Mapping

2009 3M Company. All Rights Reserved.

 2009 3M Company. All Rights Reserved.

Survey Methods

Managing Mobility and Variability

5 day , 40 hour evaluation

Infrequent Exposures
The day OSHA inspects
is reality
Use informative signs
Use HPDs

Re-monitoring
Change in process or procedure that affects inclusion and/or hearing
protection effectiveness
-production rates
-material processed
-production technique
-machine placement

Survey Pitfalls!!!
Microphone Placement

Employee
Project Assumption

Threshold Distortion
Wind

Battery & Calibration

What To Record In Addition To Sound

Levels
Dates and Times
Model and Serial Numbers
Pre and Post Survey Calibration Levels
Workplace Descriptions

Task Descriptions
Environmental Factors
Instrument Settings

Unusual Conditions

Noise Dosimeters

NoisePro Dosimeter Key Pad

Functions

The RUN/PAUSE button is pressed to Start and

Stop integration and data logging.

The Enter key is used to accept values or actions

in the Setup menu.

The RUN/PAUSE button is pressed to Start

and Stop integration and data logging.

The ON/OFF ESCAPE key has two functions. It is

used to turn the instrument on and off. If also
serves as an escape key in the instrument setups

Microphone Placement

Proper Mounting

Typically Belt
Mounted

Middle of Shoulder

NoisePro: Exercise I - Calibration

Page 54 in Workbook

 Pages

NoisePro: Exercise 2 Noise

Measurement for
OSHA
Compliance
55 & 56 in Workbook

3M 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Measuring Dose

Using the 5 dB exchange rate (doubling rate), we can conclude the

following:

95 dB for

8 hours

equals

200%

dose

100 dB for

8 hours

equals

400%

dose

105 dB for

8 hours

equals

800%

dose

110 dB for

8 hours

equals

1600%

dose

NoisePro: Exercise 3 Effects of

Exchange Rate &
Criterion
Pages 55 & 56 in Workbook

3M 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Tim Bailey
3M Detection Solutions
Phone: (800) 245-0779, ext. 152
Fax: (262) 567-4047
TLBailey@mmm.com
Customer Service: Heidi Tunak, ext. 106
Tech Support: Randy Sleggs, ext. 123
Mark Scherer, ext. 158

What We Measure
Fig. I-13 RMS (Root-Mean-Square)

Crest Factor
Fig. I-14 Crest Factor - Impulse/Impact Noise