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Decibel Levels and Hearing Safety Guide

The document lists various common noise sources and their decibel levels, ranging from 20 dB for the threshold of audibility to 188 dB for an Apollo lift-off. It notes that sound energy doubles every 3 dB and identifies noise levels that can cause immediate physical damage, pain, or hearing damage with short or long-term exposures. Occupational exposure limits requiring hearing protection are identified as 85 dB for 8 hours and 140 dBC for even short exposures.

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229 views1 page

Decibel Levels and Hearing Safety Guide

The document lists various common noise sources and their decibel levels, ranging from 20 dB for the threshold of audibility to 188 dB for an Apollo lift-off. It notes that sound energy doubles every 3 dB and identifies noise levels that can cause immediate physical damage, pain, or hearing damage with short or long-term exposures. Occupational exposure limits requiring hearing protection are identified as 85 dB for 8 hours and 140 dBC for even short exposures.

Uploaded by

pipilipipi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

NoiseThermometer

Sound Energy Doubles Every 3 dB


Non-Occupational Noise
Firecracker 162 dB Handgun 166 dB

Example: if a 90 dB noise is doubled, it measures 93 dB

Occupational Noise
Apollo Lift-Off 188 dB

Shotgun 170 dB Immediate Physical Damage 160 dB Extreme Noise Levels May Require Dual Hearing Protection, and Engineering or Administrative Controls Balloon Pop 157 dB

Rifle 161 dB

Artillery Fire 162 dB Immediate Physical Damage 160 dB Jet Engine Take-Off 150 dB

Maximum Allowable Exposure, Even with Hearing Protection 140 dBC

Engine Backfire 140 dB

Bicycle Horn 143 dB

Dynamite Blast 140 dB

Immediate Pain Threshold 130 dB Car Racing 130 dB

Noisy Squeeze Toys 135 dB

Pig Squeal 130 dB

Pneumatic Drill 130 dB

Maximum Allowable Exposure, Even with Hearing Protection 140 dBC

Immediate Pain Threshold 130 dB Oxygen Torch 121 dB

Thunder 120 dB

Jet Plane at Ramp 120 dB

Hammer on Nail 120 dB

Short Exposures at This Level May Cause Hearing Damage and Ringing in Ears 120 dB

Rock Concert 120 dB

Chainsaw 118 dB

Generator 116 dB

Stadium 117 dB

Compactor 116 dB

Short Exposures at This Level May Cause Hearing Damage and Ringing in Ears 120 dB

Crying Baby 110 dB

CD Player 105 dB

Ambulance Siren 112 dB

Impact Spanner 102 dB

Motorcycle 105 dB Extremely Loud 100 dB

Diesel Truck Accelerating 114 dB 2 Hours 1 Hour 30 Min 15 Min Extremely Loud 100 dB Bulldozer 100 dB Industrial Fire Alarm 95 dB

Power Underground Lawnmower Railway 94 dB 90 dB

Table Saw 93 dB

Hearing Protection Required for 8-Hour Exposures Above This Level 85 dB

4 Hours

Cockpit of Propeller Airplane 88 dB

Forklift 87 dB Hearing Protection Required for 8-Hour Exposures Above This Level 85 dB

Smoke Alarm 85 dB

Blender 85 dB

Lift 85 dB

Hearing Protection Recommended for 8-Hour Exposures Above This Level 80 dB

Hair Dryer 80 dB

Handsaw 85 dB

Ringing Telephone 82 dB

Vacuum Cleaner 74 dB

Alarm Clock 75 dB

Waste Disposal 80 dB

Lathe 81 dB

Hearing Protection Recommended for 8-Hour Exposures Above This Level 80 dB

Non-Hazardous 75 dB Sewing Machine 60 dB Microwave Oven 58 dB Dishwasher 60 dB

Non-Hazardous 75 dB

Background Music 50 dB

Rainfall 50 dB

Normal Conversation 60 dB

Large Office 50 dB

Comfortable 50 dB Quiet Library 40 dB

8 Hours

Flowing Stream 50 dB

Paper Rustling 50 dB

Transformer 50 dB Comfortable 50 dB Quiet Office 40 dB

Quiet Residential Area 40 dB

Refrigerator 43 dB

Audible Whisper 30 dB Threshold of Audibility 20 dB Threshold of Audibility 20 dB

Normal Breathing 10 dB 0 dB 0 dB

Permissible Exposure Limits (EU Hearing Directive 2003/10/EC)

Bacou-Dalloz UK
Osbourn Way, Hook Hampshire RG 29 9HX Tel +44 1 256 693 200 Fax +44 1 256 693 300 www.hearingportal.com
Bacou-Dalloz DOC0997 05/06

www.bacou-dalloz.com

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