“One person’s data is another person’s noise.” ~K.C. Cole Did you know? The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the single most common irreversible occupational hazard worldwide is noise-induced hearing impairment. Noise levels are commonly measured in decibels (dB). It is a logarithmic scale rather than a linear one, because the human ear can handle such a vast range of sound levels. Zero dB is the softest sound a healthy human ear can detect. Eighty-five decibels (dB) is the level above which hearing protection is recommended to avoid hearing loss from the cumulative effects of exposure to noise over time. How can you tell if the noise level is 85 dB? Here’s a quick test: If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone who is an arm’s length away from you, you are likely in an environment with a sound level of 85 dB or more. Source: http://www.noisehelp.com/facts-about-noise.html At Pro QC, we care about noise. Our quality engineers perform special testing to ensure that product being produced and sold meets specifications and ultimately customer expectations. We use sound level meters, or sound meters, which are instruments that measure noise levels. In the photo below, we are testing a kitchen blender. The limit of the noise level depends on the product, or clients may also have their own requirements. We follow the general criteria below for noise testing. 1) Place the distance between the sound level meter and blender 1m to check. 2) Noise level limit should be <85db In addition, note the information below from IEC-60704 for household appliances. Product type Rated Power (W) Noise limit value /dB(A) Food Blender for dry and hard food ≤700 90 ≤400 85 Food blender, for soft food ≤700 95 Tolerance should not exceed +3 or -3 dB.
