Noise levels or sound levels are an important consideration in many industrial settings. Noise exposure can cause irreparable damage if the necessary safety precautions are not taken. OSHA standard 29 CFR – 1910.95 (a) addresses this very concern.

But when discussing sound levels, there are two terms that frequently come up – Sound Power, and Sound Pressure. So, what’s the difference?

Sound Power (measured in watts) refers to the rate at which sound energy (measured in decibels) is emitted, reflected, transmitted, or received over time. On the other hand, sound pressure is the local pressure change from ambient atmospheric pressure caused by a sound wave. From these definitions, we can see that sound power is what creates the sound wave, while sound pressure is the result of what we perceive after the sound wave reaches our ears.

A good way of conceptualizing this is to imagine a light bulb. Light bulbs use electricity to produce light, which means the power needed (also measured in Watts) to make the bulb shine is similar to sound power. The brightness of the light produced (measured in lumens) corresponds to sound pressure. Sound pressure is essentially what we hear or refer to as sound. This is what gets measured because it can be harmful to our hearing. If the sound pressure is too high and the ear is exposed for too long, it can lead to permanent damage, hence OSHA’s regulation mentioned above. This regulation is the result of testing performed to determine what time thresholds at which permanent damage to human hearing will occur due to exposure over a period of time. The higher the sound pressure level, the less exposure time necessary to produce irreparable damage. Within this regulation is included a time weighted chart that OSHA follow for noise exposure issues that serve as the metric by which they determine if a company is in compliance. If not, they may recommend engineering changes, work process changes or require the use of PPE (hearing protection) if the other types of controls cannot be implemented.

If you would like a way to measure noise levels in your facility, EXAIR has the perfect product – EXAIR’s Digital Sound Level Meter. We have a video blog covering its benefits and operation here.

Generally speaking, compressed air-generated noise within a facility can be rather prevalent and loud. So, if you would like to discuss how EXAIR’s quiet and efficient compressed air products can help reduce noise levels in your facility, then give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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