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Originally Posted by eugenebrooks
On a serious note, refer to the table linked to below.
http://www.occupationalhearingloss.c...aring_loss.htm
Under OSHA rules, no exposure above 115 dBA is allowed, however short.
So, this answers the question: How Loud is Too Loud?
If you have concerns, borrow or buy a sound level meter.
Yes, there will be a sound meter available at the Cal Games...
Eugene
(President of the WRRF) |
This is a good explanation but adding to this, the "A" scale is a frequency dependent curve that tries to approximate the inverse of human hearing sensitivity. As such it is less sensitive to areas where the human hearing is less sensitive. However, the offending noise is still there.
Many venues and outdoor arenas are now instituting noise level ceilings on performances. 110 dBA seems to be the defacto standard but the measurement is still an issue. Sounds decrease by the inverse square law with distance. So the issue is where do you measure the sound level. In arenas, it is acceptable to take an average of the seating area but any seat that exceeds the standard should be corrected by some means to come into compliance. Outdoor venues have to comply with neighborhood standards such that sound levels at the closest house must stay within local ordinance for the time of day. (local sound level ordinances vary between daytime and nighttime.) With a standard FRC playing field the drivers have less exposure than the judges and field people.