SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL IN db(a)

The depreciation of sound vs distance assumes that measurements are taken in still air open field conditions, and that the sound
will not be interrupted by buildings, hills or other objects.
The sound level emitted by a sounder is usually measured in dB at 1 metre. As the distance from the sounder increases the audible
level of the sounder reduces.
The rate of reduction, normally known as attenuation, is approximately 6 dB as the distance doubles.
e.g. For a sounder with an output of 100 dB at 1 metre, the audible level will be 94 dB at 2 metres, 88 dB at 4 metres, and 82 dB at
8 metres.
From the following table you can calculate the dB level required from a sounder to achieve a given alarm sound level at a known
distance from the sounder. It can be seen on the table that to achieve 84 dB at 128 metres distance a sounder with an output of
126 dB must be used.

METRES
1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128
256
512
1024
2048

SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL IN db(a)

95
89
83
77
71
65
59
53
47
41
35
29

100
94
88
82
76
70
64
58
52
46
40
34

102
96
90
84
78
72
66
60
54
48
42
36

104
98
92
86
80
74
68
62
56
50
44
38

106
100
94
88
82
76
70
64
58
52
46
40

108
102
96
90
84
78
72
66
60
54
48
42

110
104
98
92
86
80
74
68
62
56
50
44

112
106
100
94
88
82
76
70
64
58
52
46

114
108
102
96
90
84
78
72
66
60
54
48

116
110
104
98
92
86
80
74
68
62
56
50

118
112
106
100
94
88
82
76
70
64
58
52

120
114
108
102
96
90
84
78
72
66
60
54

122
116
110
104
98
92
86
80
74
68
62
56

124
118
112
106
100
94
88
82
76
70
64
58

126
120
114
108
102
96
90
84
78
72
66
60

128
122
116
110
104
98
92
86
80
74
68
62

130
124
118
112
106
100
94
88
82
76
70
64

132
126
120
114
108
102
96
90
84
78
72
66

134
128
122
116
110
104
98
92
86
80
74
68

136
130
124
118
112
106
100
94
88
82
76
70

138
132
126
120
114
108
102
96
90
84
78
72

140
134
128
122
116
110
104
98
92
86
80
74