Voice Level and Distance
The voice level at various distances
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Talking with a normal voice approximate to a sound pressure level of 70 dB, a raised voice to 76 dB, a very loud voice to 82 dB and a shouting voice to 88 dB (1 m distance).
For every doubling of the distance from the noise source the sound pressure levels will be reduced by 6 decibels. This may be expressed like:
| Distance | Voice Level (dB) | ||||
| (feet) | (m) | Normal | Raised | Very Loud | Shouting |
| 1 | 0.3 | 70 | 76 | 82 | 88 |
| 3 | 0.9 | 60 | 66 | 72 | 78 |
| 6 | 1.8 | 54 | 60 | 66 | 72 |
| 12 | 3.7 | 48 | 54 | 60 | 66 |
| 24 | 7.3 | 42 | 48 | 54 | 60 |
In social situations people often talk with normal voice levels at distances of 1 to 4 meters. In such cases the noise level should not exceed 55 to 60 dB(A).
In outdoor play and recreational areas, people often communicate with a raised or very loud voice at distances of 5 to 10 meters. In such cases background noise should not exceed 45 to 55 dB(A).
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Related Topics
- Acoustics - Room acoustics, acoustic properties - decibel A, B and C - Noise Rating (NR) curves, sound transmission, sound pressure, sound intensity, attenuation and more ..
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Related Documents
- Abatement and Distance from Source - The disruption of sound pressures waves which reduces the noise is called attenuation - Sound Pressure Level Calculator
- Inverse Square Law - For every doubling of the distance from the noise source, the sound pressure levels - Lp, will be reduced by 6 decibels
- Propagation of Sound Outdoors - Outdoor propagation of sound - distance and attenuation
