Interesting sound dB comparison (lifted from a website)

[Texas Diesel]

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart



Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.



Environmental Noise



Weakest sound heard 0dB

Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB

Telephone dial tone 80dB

City Traffic (inside car) 85dB

Train whistle at 500' 90dB

Subway train at 200' 95dB

Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB

Power mower 107dB

Power saw 110dB

Pain begins 125dB

Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB

Jet engine at 100' 140dB

Death of hearing tissue 180dB

Loudest sound possible 194dB

Straight piped Cummins passing a PSD 225dB ( I added that one :-laf)



OSHA Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure

Hours per day Sound level

8 90dB

6 92dB

4 95dB

3 97dB

2 100dB

1. 5 102dB

1 105dB

. 5 110dB

. 25 or less 115dB





Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level

Imperceptible Change 1dB

Barely Perceptible Change 3dB

Clearly Noticeable Change 5dB

About Twice as Loud 10dB

About Four Times as Loud 20dB





Sound Levels of Music

Normal piano practice 60 -70dB

Fortissimo Singer, 3' 70dB

Chamber music, small auditorium 75 - 85dB

Piano Fortissimo 84 - 103dB

Violin 82 - 92dB

Cello 85 -111dB

Oboe 95-112dB

Flute 92 -103dB

Piccolo 90 -106dB

Clarinet 85 - 114dB

French horn 90 - 106dB

Trombone 85 - 114dB

Tympani & bass drum 106dB

Walkman on 5/10 94dB

Symphonic music peak 120 - 137dB

Amplifier rock, 4-6' 120dB

Rock music peak 150dB ( I tried to tell my parents that it is SUPPOSED to be loud, now I have proof )





NOTES:



One-third of the total power of a 75-piece orchestra comes from the bass drum.

High frequency sounds of 2-4,000 Hz are the most damaging. The uppermost octave of the piccolo is 2,048-4,096 Hz.

Aging causes gradual hearing loss, mostly in the high frequencies.

Speech reception is not seriously impaired until there is about 30 dB loss; by that time severe damage may have occurred.

Hypertension and various psychological difficulties can be related to noise exposure.

The incidence of hearing loss in classical musicians has been estimated at 4-43%, in rock musicians 13-30%.

Statistics for the Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart were taken from a study by Marshall Chasin , M. Sc. , Aud(C), FAAA, Centre for Human Performance & Health, Ontario, Canada. There were some conflicting readings and, in many cases, authors did not specify at what distance the readings were taken or what the musician was actually playing. In general, when there were several readings, the higher one was chosen.

 

[klenger]

Everything on the list is louder than a generator that meets the NPS limit of 60 db at 50'.

 

[bmoeller]

Ag related

Table 1. Sound ratings and danger zoones of common farm noises.



Noise level (Decibel) Common Sounds



Safe Zone



0 Lowest audible sound



50 Empty barn, babbling trout stream, gentle breeze



60 Normal conversation



70 Chiken coop, farrowing area



Risk Zone



85 Tractor or combine idling, barn cleaner, conveyor, elevator (At this decibel level noise may begin to affect your hearing if you are exposed to it for more than 8 hours per day. )



90 Blower compressor, pneumatic wrench, chopping silage (no cab), full throttle lawn mower. (As noise gets louder, the "safe" time decreases: damage can occur if you're exposed to it for more than 4 hours per day. )



100 Tractor at 80% load, squealing sows, power tools, hand-held metal grinder (1 hour of exposure per day at this decibel level is the limit before damage occurs. )



110 Average walkman set above the halfway mark, full-throttle combine, 10-HP vane axial barn fan: Anything over 15 minutes of exposure per day can cause damage.



Even more dangerous...



120 Thunderclap (near), sandblasting, bad muffler, old chain saw: The danger is immediate.



140 Gunshot, engine backfire, dynamite blast, jet engine: Any length of exposure time is dangerous; and may actually cause ear pain.