Author Archives: Technicon Acoustics

  1. Ways To Measure Industrial Equipment Sound Levels

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    A decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement measuring the intensity or loudness of sound. The unit of measurement was developed as a result of efforts to measure signal loss in telegraph and telephone lines. Bell Telephone Laboratories created the new unit of measurement in 1928, naming it the “bel” in recognition of communications innovator Alexander Graham Bell. Today, the unit is known as the decibel, a logarithmic expression of sound intensity.

    Read on to learn why sound measurement is important and how to measure sound in industrial settings.

    Importance of Sound Measurement

    Importance of Sound Measurement

    The decibel scale is logarithmic to better represent how our ears perceive changes in sound intensity. While dB represents unweighted sound pressure levels, dBA is A-weighted to better approximate human perception of the sound.

    For high-frequency sounds, measurements for dBA are as high as those for dB. For example, the dB and dBA levels of a violin’s high-pitched E string are very similar. Lower-frequency sounds, however, will have a lower output level because they are processed by the ear less efficiently. So the lowest note on a tuba (16 Hz) will have a lower dBA reading than its dB level.

    Even minor dBA increases can have a significant influence on hearing health. Human hearing is more likely to be harmed as dBA increases, and it can happen faster at higher volumes. The following conditions increase the risk of hearing damage:

    • Exposure to 85 dBA for over 8 hours
    • Exposure to 100 dBA for over 14 minutes
    • Exposure to 110 dBA for over 2 minutes

    A sound level meter can measure sounds in decibels, but it must be calibrated regularly to ensure consistently accurate readings. To ensure personnel safety, all readings taken by a sound level meter must be accurate and reliable.

    Best Way to Measure Industrial Sound

    Sound level meters are composed of four main parts: a microphone, an input amplifier, an output amplifier, and a readout device. The microphone turns fluctuating, sound-induced air pressure to a fluctuating electrical charge. The input amplifier then converts that electrical charge into a voltage, which the electrical circuitry processes to produce a sound pressure level (SPL). The output amplifier then converts the weak sound signal to a level suitable for display on the readout screen. Finally, the readout panel shows the typical sound pressure levels for the surroundings under consideration.

    The meters can focus on particular frequencies within a larger soundscape using filters, which hone in on specific sound wave pressure bands. There are several types of sound level meters on the market with varying levels of versatility and precision. To measure industrial sound, you will need a more accurate meter.

    Industrial Sound Solutions From Technicon Acoustics

    Technicon Acoustics is North America’s leading acoustic and thermal solutions provider for OEMs. Our 85,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to producing advanced materials for your industrial applications. Contact us or request a quote today for more information on our products and capabilities.

  2. Glossary

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    Technicon Acoustics, Inc. designs and manufactures customizable solutions for absorbing, isolating, and blocking acoustic and thermal energy. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of some of the industry’s most frequently used soundproofing and acoustical terms. Having a clear understanding of these terms will facilitate better communication during the product design process, ensuring a more individualized and optimized solution for your application.

    Terminology

    • Attenuation: Attenuation in reference to acoustics describes a frequency-dependent reduction in sound, or a sound’s diminished energy, as sound waves pass through a medium like absorptive urethane foam and glass fiber materials. To achieve attenuation, friction between air molecules and cellular or fibrous materials transforms that motion of molecules into thermal energy.
    • Audiometry: Audiometry is the measurement of an individual’s hearing acuity for different sound intensities, pitches, or frequencies.
    • Cutoff frequency: In reference to sound-absorbing foam wedges, or anechoic wedges, cutoff frequency describes the threshold frequency above which the normal-incidence sound absorption coefficient is no less than 0.990.
    • Doppler effect: The Doppler effect describes the change in sound frequency as a sound source and observer move toward or away from one another.
    • Extinction coefficient: The extinction coefficient, also known as the attenuation coefficient, is a measurement that indicates how strongly a substance absorbs or attenuates sound or light at a particular wavelength.
    • Haas effect: The Haas effect, also known as the precedence effect, describes the phenomenon in which a human perceives two independent sounds as a single auditory event if they are separated by a sufficiently short delay (20-40 milliseconds).
    • Human hearing range: In general, the audible spectrum of sound frequencies that humans can hear ranges from approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz. However, this range can vary considerably between individuals and tends to gradually decline with age.
    • Impact noise: Impact noise describes the sound that results from the vibrations of an object’s impact against a surface within a room. Those vibrations allow the sound to pass through the room’s structure. For example, in buildings, footsteps or dropped objects generate sounds that travel through the floor.
    • Kerf or kerf cut: Kerf cuts are slits or notches at the edge of acoustical panels that allow for the insertion of a spline. The panel can then be connected to additional panels while maintaining a continuous, level surface at each joint.
    • Mass-loaded vinyl: Mass-loaded vinyl is a heavy, high-density material that effectively blocks or contains sound waves. This flexible soundproofing solution can be applied directly to floors, walls, ceilings, and other surfaces to keep sounds confined within a space and minimize transmission.
    • Noise floor: In reference to signal theory, identifying the noise floor means measuring the signal that results from the total sum of all sources of noise and background transmissions in a system. In this context, noise refers to all signals except that of the signal you’re monitoring.
    • Sones rating: A sone is a unit of measure that describes the loudness of a sound as perceived by the human ear, where one sone is equivalent to approximately 1,000 Hz at 40 decibels over the typical reference level. Items like fans typically have sones ratings. For example, a bathroom fan with a sone rating of 0.5 is very quiet, while a 5 rating constitutes a loud fan.

    Acoustic and Thermal Solutions from Technicon Acoustics

    Using the latest manufacturing technology, Technicon Acoustics has the advanced capabilities and value-added services needed to create industry-leading parts for a range of soundproofing and thermal insulation applications. For more information, request a quote today or contact Technicon Acoustics at:

    4412 Republic Court

    Concord, NC 28027

    704-788-1131

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