Sound level meters
A sound level meter is an instrument, usually portable, designed to measure sound levels in a standardized way. It responds to sound in about the same way as the human ear and provides objective and reproducible measures of sound pressure levels.
Sound level metersare used to measure and take action to manage noise from different sound sources; for example, industrial plants, road and rail traffic and construction sites, not to mention typical urban situations, such as sporting events, outdoor concerts or amusement parks. And, of course, noise from residential and commercial neighbors. Sound sources are incredibly varied and pose a complex problem to the professionals who evaluate them.
The sound level meter consists of a microphone, a preamplifier, a signal processing system and a display. The microphone converts an audible signal into a proportional electrical signal. The most suitable type of microphone for sound level metersis the condenser, as it offers a good combination of accuracy, stability and reliability.
The electrical signal generated by the microphone has a very low level; therefore, it impersonates a preamplifier before sending it to the main processor. Processing includes applying frequency and temporal weightings to the signal, in accordance with the international standards that sound level metersmust meet; for example, IEC 61672–1.
THE SCREEN
The display shows the sound level expressed in decibels, usually accompanied by a descriptor indicating the time and frequency weights used (e.g. LAeq or LCpeak). The signal can also be sent to a direct or alternating current output, from where it can be connected to other external instruments, such as a data acquisition system, for storage in a register or for further processing.
CALIBRATION
Calibration is an adjustment that is carried out on the sound level meter so that the values that are measured and displayed on the screen are correct. The sensitivity of the transducer and the response of electronic circuits may vary slightly over time or may be affected by environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity.
Although large drifts or variations in the sensitivity of a sound level meter areunlikely to occur, it is desirable to calibrate it on a regular basis; the ideal is to do it before and after each series of measures. The most practical way to calibrate a sound level meter is to adapt a portable acoustic calibrator to the microphone. The calibrator provides an exactly known sound pressure level that allows the sound level to be adjusted.
Apart from these calibration checks before and after measurements, many of the standards governing sound level measurements require sound level metersto be calibrated in a laboratory every 12 to 24 months.
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