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Noise - Acceptable dBA Level

Acceptable noise - dBA - level at typical common locations.

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Maximum acceptable Equivalent Sound Level - Leq - at some locations:

LocationEffectsMaximum Leq
(dBA)
Time
(hours)
Time of day
Bedroom sleep disturbance, annoyance 30 8 night
Living area annoyance, speech interference 50 16 day
Outdoor living area moderate annoyance 50 16 day
Outdoor living area serious annoyance 55 16 day
Outdoor living area sleep disturbance, with open windows 45 8 night
School classroom speech interference, communication disturbance 35 8 day
Hospitals patient rooms sleep disturbance, communication interference 30 - 35 8 day and night
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Related Topics

Acoustics

Room acoustics and acoustic properties, decibel A, B and C, Noise Rating (NR) curves, sound transmission, sound pressure, sound intensity and sound attenuation.

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Outdoor Ambient Sound Pressure Levels

Outdoor ambient sound pressure levels (dBA) in rural and urban business and industrial environments with or without limited traffic.

Sound Intensity, Power and Pressure Levels

Introduction to decibel, sound power, intensity and pressure.

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