I read in !emc-pstc that richwo...@tycoint.com wrote (in <846BF526A205F8 4BA2B6045BBF7E9A6A04675F30@flbocexu05>) about 'Acoustic Noise Level' on Wed, 7 May 2003: >Does anyone know of a recommended maximum acoustic noise level for a >laboratory? I'm not looking for a regulatory level, but a recommended >maximum level that will allow employees in the lab to carry out normal >activities without the noise causing undue problems with their productivity.
It depends what the activities are, but in general, the quieter the better, down to the 'library' level (about 40 dBA), but not below, because sensory deprivation occurs in 'deathly hush' conditions. If the noise level is rather high, say 60 to 65 dBA, the critical factor is whether the sound is 'tonal' (has an identifiable pitch, as opposed to simply noise) and, above all, if it has a rhythmic component. The latter can drive people made even if it's more than 10 dB below the total noise level. -- Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to http://www.isce.org.uk PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL! This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Dave Heald: davehe...@attbi.com For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org Archive is being moved, we will announce when it is back on-line. All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
