DETERMINING NOISE LEVEL USING SOUND LEVEL

Laboratory Experiment no.1

Group 4

Members:

Abarientos,Kimberly T.

Moreno, Allysah Faith R.

Salipande, Joshua G.

Valenzuela, Mara D.

Introduction

Excessive noise at the enterprises and the environment may have very grave results and

influence the health of the workers (hearing loss). Special committees that follow and monitor

the level of noise and its influence have been created in every country. It is a duty of the

employer to minimize the risk to the health of people engaged in the working process and how

much all the norms and regulations are followed is always checked carefully by the health

control organizations.

Noise is dangerous with a specific equivalent level of 90 dB (A) (Leq). Assessment

period is 8 hours per day (one shift). Hearing damage may occur already at 85 dB (A).

According to the current scientific knowledge the hearing test in the inner ear depends on its

sound level, given as equivalent level (Leq) in dB (A). One of the simplest and effective methods

to check the level of sound is to use the device that has been created for monitoring and

documenting the level of sound, which is called Sound Level Meter.

It is important to measure both, not only the average level of sound, but also how high its

magnitude is when it reaches its peak, to check how often sound (noise) happens and with which

regularity. Not only a long-lasting noise influence, but even a very strong impulse that lasts for a

short time can cause damage and bring to the hearing loss. There are legal limits which indicate
that maximum point which the sound must not exceed. Depending on the sound level (80 dB(A),

85 dB(A) or 87 dB(A)) strict measures of precaution should be taken to guarantee the protection

of the workers. As a rule it goes about the 8 hours – duration of the standard working day. The

possible changes that should be carried out can vary from providing workers with the ear

defenders to changing the technology, slowing the speed of the machines in operation down etc.

To keep the noise / sound in work areas or workplaces in accordance with the regulations, it is

necessary not only to monitor the noise level over a period of time, but also to follow the

personal sound dose. For this purpose Sound level with data storage and real time clock is used.

These are worn by the workers on their body and save the noise load for 8 hours (90 dB for 8

hours = 100% noise dose).

Sound level meter is the most basic noise measurement instrument, it is an electronic

instrument, but different from the voltmeter and other objective electronic instruments. When

converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal, it can simulate the time characteristic of

the human ear's response speed to the acoustic wave; the frequency characteristic with different

sensitivity for high and low frequency and the intensity characteristic of changing frequency

characteristic when the loudness is different. Sound level meter is a kind of subjective electronic

instrument.Sound Level Meter.

By the microphone to convert the sound into electrical signals, and then by the pre-

amplifier to change the impedance, so that the microphone and the attenuator match. The

amplifier adds the output signal to the weighting network, frequency-weighted (or external) the

signal, and then amplifies the signal to a certain amplitude by the attenuator and the amplifier,

and sends it to the rms detector (or press Flat recorder), the value of the noise level is given on

the indicator head.

Objectives

The purposes of this activity are the following:

1. To familiarize the working principle of Sound Level Meter in measuring the different noise

level.
2. To measure and record the different sound level in a specific areas.

Materials Needed

1. Sound Level Meter

2. Recorder

3. Notes

4. Calibrator

Procedures

The following are the different areas to be examined in terms of its noise level:

 Environmental Laboratory

 Canteen

 Amphitheatre

 Audio Visual Room (AVR)

 RGR Room

 Student Center (near RGR)

 Gymnasium

 Clinic

 Cashier

 Octagon

The following procedures must follow in conducting the experiment:

1. Prepare all the materials needed in conducting the examination, and know where are the

places or areas to be examined.

 2. Locate first the points of canalization in the area. There must me five points indoor and

five points outdoor, where there should be one (1) point in every corner of the area and

one (1) point in middle of every area.

3. Open the noise level meter and wait for one minute to record the noise.

4. Make tree trials for each point with one-minute interval for every trial. Record all the data

gathered of the noise level for every one minute interval, the data for the highest noise

level, and the starting and ending time for each points.

5. Record also the surrounding of each point and all the factors that might contribute to the

level of noise in the environment.

6. Analyze all the results gathered from the conducted area examination.

Safety Precautions in conducting the examination:

1. Check first the equipment to be used in this examination, for the group to record the data

correctly and to avoid repeating of the procedures and to avoid the delay of

accomplishing the area examination.

2. For areas having loud sound level, use a PPE which is the earplugs, when measuring its

noise level to prevent noise induced hearing loss.

Safety precautions for using the sound level meter:

1. The sound level meter must be protected from shocks and vibration as it is a precision

instrument.

2. The microphone in particular must be protected from exposure to water or dust. The unit

should also not be stored in locations with high temperatures or humidity

3. Dust or contamination can alter the performance characteristics of the unit. Always

replace the unit in its carrying case when not in use.

4. The microphone cover at the tip of the unit is not designed to be removed. Do not try to

disengage the cover. Cleaning the microphone is not advisable.