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on March 20, 2024
Purchase Advice on Sound Level Meter
Since these are portable devices, the sound level meter use at different locations may be checked by a single safety professional so that, they fall within the recommended exposure limits (RELs). A few can be permanently fixed to provide continuous monitoring for constant periods. While choosing a sound level meter device, its type or class, which indicates its accuracy according to ANSI or IEC standard should be taken into consideration. Class 1 meters are for high-precision assessments usually considered suitable for laboratories. Type 2/class 2 meters are sufficient for assessing noise in simple settings such as industries, schools or homes.
Since these are portable devices, the sound level meter use at different locations may be checked by a single safety professional so that, they fall within the recommended exposure limits (RELs). A few can be permanently fixed to provide continuous monitoring for constant periods. While choosing a sound level meter device, its type or class, which indicates its accuracy according to ANSI or IEC standard should be taken into consideration. Class 1 meters are for high-precision assessments usually considered suitable for laboratories. Type 2/class 2 meters are sufficient for assessing noise in simple settings such as industries, schools or homes.
Using a Noise level meter
When one is using a Noise level meter assess or categorize environmental or traffic noise, then a precise equipment is needed. Naturally, the used sound level meter device should be at least a class II type and calibrated. However, what is actually important is to minimize interference from the surroundings so that repeatable results can be reported.
Various factors that influence the sound measurements
1. The Operator:
Touching the casing of a sound level meter may generate the noise that affects the resultant measurement. Besides, the noise can result from the dressing of the operator. Sometimes, the body can provide a perfect surface for sound reflection. Ideally, the housing of a sound level meter should be conical, from the microphone point to avoid such sound reflections.
To the extent possible, one should always set up the sound level meter on a tripod so that the operator has the freedom to move behind whenever necessary in order to get accurate readings. If one has to measure a distance level, then an extension cable for the microphone should be used by the operator. Modern sound level meters come with a feature of data logging. Hence, taking measurements from the site without an operator becomes easy. The sound level meter comes with a possibility to preset all necessary parameters.
2. Wind & Humidity:
To minimize the impact of wind or airflow on sound readings, current sound level meters come with a foam ball or sponge surrounding the microphone. The foam ball therefore, acts not only as a wind screen, but it protects the microphone from any dust or small moisture particles. This becomes particularly important when trying to measure noise from an area that has humidity levels up to 80% and above.
The high level of humidity can affect the quality of the microphone. There are outdoor kits also available for checking and doing measurements in a highly humid or dusty environment. These kits offer special protective measures for the sound level meter and the microphone during outdoor measurements. The sound level meter price similarly varies depending on the type and features of the device
3. Temperature & Pressure:
Sound Level Meter MR-SLM34 is provided with a technical specification that gives the maximum temperature details under which the device can operate. High temperatures, as any measuring instrument, can damage the internal circuits. But the main concern is to prevent any sudden temperature changes leading to condensation that can hamper the microphone. Another minor source of sound measurement errors is the surrounding pressure that may affect the sensitivity of the microphone. However, for this to happen, the pressure changes must be significant (around ±200 mbar).
4. Vibrations:
An anti-vibration or the feet of the tripod may better be used if you have to use a sound level meter where sources of vibrations are found. This can go a long way in ensuring that more reliable results are acquired. Taking this into consideration, much more consistent results can be obtained with the sound level meter use. For specific sound measurements, such as assessing people’s sound exposure or taking measurements on noise barriers one may need to adhere to certain ISO standards:
When a rule says that noise should not be more than 50 dB, the rise by 10-15 dB is an unimportant increase as it might seem. This is very far from the double value (100), but in fact, this is even a substantial change. Loudness or ‘volume’ doubles with each extra 10 dB in acoustic terms (indeed, power doubles every 3 dB, and the actual acoustic pressure doubles every 6 dB). This is what one should recall upon interpreting the levels of these sounds.
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