Ship Vibration and Noise Guidance Notes Section 8

Table 8.3 Acceptable maximum noise levels for crew

Working areas
Radio room (equipment working, but no audio signals) 60 dBA
Wheelhouse, chartroom 65 dBA
Listening post, including bridge wings and windows 70 dBA
Recommended level in 250 Hz octave band 68 linear
Recommended level in 500 Hz octave band 63 linear
Galleys, pantries and serveries (equipment not working) 75 dBA
Machinery control rooms 75 dBA
Workshops 85 dBA
Normally unoccupied spaces, e.g. holds, decks 90 dBA
Machinery space, continuously manned, e.g. stores 90 dBA
Machinery space, not continuously manned, e.g. pump, refrigerator, thruster or fan rooms. 110 dBA

Accommodation
Sleeping cabins, hospitals 60 dBA
Day cabins 65 dBA
Offices, conference rooms 65 dBA
Mess rooms, lounges, recreation areas within accommodation 65 dBA
Recreation areas on open deck 75 dBA
Alleyways, changing rooms, bathrooms, lockers 80 dBA
Ship’s whistle, at bridge wings or forecastle 110 dBA

Hearing protection
Protection required when noise level exceeds 85 dBA
Overriding limits
Maximum noise level, even when ear protection worn 120 dBA

Table 8.4 Weighted apparent sound reduction indices, R’w

Crew accommodation
Cabin to cabin 30 dB
Messrooms, recreation rooms to cabins and hospitals 45 dB

Table 9.1 RASTI Rating

RASTI Index Intelligibility

0 - 0.3 Bad
0.3 - 0.45 Poor
0.45 - 0.6 Fair
0.6 - 0.75 Good
0.75 - 1.0 Excellent

Lloyd’s Register 43