How to measure decibels

The sound intensity is measured in a unit known as decibel, which describes the intensity of a sound depending on the algorithmic decibel scale having values ranging from 0 to 194. Accomplishing a reduction in the decibel levels is a general goal of soundproofing projects, though getting a precise sound measurement of the pre-treatment decibel level causes extra expense and is frequently unnecessary. 

Though a zero value on the decibel scale shows the weakest sound audible to human ear and sound intensity enhances in correspondence with numeric values, the relationship among the values on the decibel scale is algorithmic and not linear. Hence, the easy assumption that a sound of 50 decibels is double as intense as a sound of 25 decibel level would be wrong. Instead, in a perfect world, every three decibel increment impacts 50% change in sound pressure levels when you measure decibels.   


The sound intensity reaching a person’s ear depends not only on the intensity of the sound produced by a stamping press, but also of the distance of the person from the sound source. If you are standing a foot away for a machine with loud sound, for example, you would experience higher decibel level than if you were ten feet away, though the intensity of the sound created remains unchanged. 

Exposure to extreme noise levels from extended period of time may be damaging to the human ear. For this reason, OSHA standardized the maximum sound exposure to which staffs might be exposed without protection based on the number of hours that they are exposed to the source of the sound. In order to keep workplaces free from hazards that may cause damage to an employee, OSHA recommends sound deadening curtains  to be maintained in the workplaces with decibel levels 90 and above, with the exposure duration which determines the decibel level at which this rule applies. 


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