Know How – Sound Level Meter Vs Noise Dosimeter

Know How –

When to use which? Sound Level Meter Vs Noise Dosimeter

Most people in common often thinks that sound level meter and noise dosimeter are the same while in fact it is not. To understand when you should use a sound level meter (SLM) or a noise dosimeter, we must know what each devices measure. But, let’s first understand noise levels and what how noise levels relate to which measuring device should be used.

Noise Levels

The 2015 Noise Regulations set noise exposure level and limit values that require employers you to take specific action at certain action values. The purpose is to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.

What are the action levels and limit values?

Action Levels:

• Average daily or weekly noise levels exposure of your employees. This is the LEP,d (daily exposure) or LEP,w (weekly). 
• The maximum noise (peak sound pressure) employees are exposed in a working day.

Lower exposure action values:

• daily or weekly exposure : 80 dB
• peak sound pressure : 135 dB

Upper exposure action values:

• daily or weekly exposure : 85 dB
• peak sound pressure :137 dB

Limit Values– the levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded :

• Daily or weekly exposure ((LEP,d): 87 dB
• Peak sound pressure (LCPeak) :140 dB

Noise Dosimeters

Noise dosimeters are use to measure the direct noise exposure of an employee. They are small, light-weight, cable-free device worn on shoulder close to worker’s ear to measure noise. Noise dosimeters are ideal for industries where shifts are involved, such as construction (building sites), entertainment (orchestras, music performance) and the emergency services (police). Rather than having a health and safety officer stay with workers throughout the assessment, each employee can be left to his or her own devices while the noise dosimeter takes accurate and detailed measurements throughout the day.

Noise dosimeters work by storing sound level measurements to provide an average noise exposure reading for a specified period, such as an 8-hour workday. The second-by-second measurements provided by noise dosimeters are ideal for performing detailed analyses of daily patterns in an exposure. In short, a noise dosimeter is perfect for personal noise measurements.

Sound Level Meters (SLM)

While noise dosimeter is perfect for personal use, there are some measurements in which SLM is needed. For instance, when you need to know the overall noise level of a machinery or certain area then you will need a sound level meter. SLM measures equivalent sound levels at a particular location. There are two types of sound level meters; Class 1 and Class 2. Class 1 sound level meter is the ‘precision’ grade meter, while Class 2 sound level meter is the ‘general grade’ meter.

Depending on needs and use, either Class 1 or Class 2 types both were accepted under the noise regulations. For heavy-duty industries such as construction, traffic assessment, laboratory assessment in which a wider sound frequency range and narrower tolerances are needed for higher accuracy,  Scarlet Class 1 Sound Level Meter ST11D is an ideal option.

If you are still not sure about what is class 1 sound level meter is, you can also read more here.

In short,

• Sound Level Meters: when you need to know the noise level of a particular area/location or process.
• Noise Dosimeters: when you need to find out a specific person/employee’s direct noise exposure.

Ask Anything

Scarlet is ready to help and offers a great solution for you, feel free to send your inquiries to info@scarlet.com.tw and let our professional team and experts assist you. Get a fast response in few hours here.