In most cases, the pattern is to quantify the noise and correlate it to individual or community reaction, usually with the aim of establishing "acceptable" or "recommended" levels, or in some cases, in order to predict the impact of higher Noise Levels. The criteria arrived at are often used by various levels of government in establishing by-laws, standards and guidelines for noise control and abatement.
The specific case of damage-risk criteria for hearing protection in industry is considered under the larger topic of audiology and hearing loss. Other noise measurement systems are presented here under the following general headings:
A) Basic measurement systems: a review of common "level" measurements;
|
Decibel |
Sound Pressure Level |
Sound Level |
Sound Level Meter |
|
Noise Level |
Ambient Noise Level |
Equivalent Energy Level |
Perceived Noise Level |
B) Speech communication criteria;
|
Speech Communication Criterion |
Articulation Index |
Speech Interference Level |
C) Indoor environment criteria;
|
Preferred Noise Criterion |
Noise Criterion |
Noise Rating |
D) Aircraft and Traffic measurement systems and their correlation to public annoyance;
|
Noise and Number Index |
Noise Exposure Forecast |
Composite Noise Rating |
Effective Perceived Noise Level |
Traffic Noise Index |
E) Community noise evaluation systems;
|
Noise Pollution Level |
Community Noise Equivalent Level |
F) Measurement of absorption, reflection and transmission properties of materials as criteria for sound insulation.