Declaration and verification of product noise emission levels and the new ANSI/ASA S12.61 standard

Abstract

The primary goal of any product noise declaration (or “labeling”) initiative is to enable consumers and other purchasers to make informed buying decisions. It doesn't matter if the product is relatively low-noise and the concern is one of annoyance or if the product is very loud and the concern is one of noise hazard. The purchaser still needs to know the noise level in order to make a prudent choice. This should be easy, right? We bring the product into a test lab and measure its sound power level. Then we report that number, correct? Yes, that would be true for testing and reporting a single unit. The problem comes when we are attempting to declare (label) an entire production series ( “batch”). The 100 000 Model XYZ leaf blowers will each have slightly different levels. Suddenly we are talking about population parameters, sampling, and (because we also have to verify that the declared value is correct) statistical inference and probability of acceptance. It soon gets complicated. This paper will go over some of the basic concepts needed to understand product noise declarations and verifications and will describe the newly published ANSI/ASA standard S12.61 that sets forth the requirements for making these.