There is more than one type of Cirrus noise meter

I remember a teacher once tell us that there is a difference between grade and quality and the example he gave was that a mini can be of the best quality but it will not be in the same grade as a rolls Royce car which will also be of the best quality. The same applies to most things and in the field of noise control, sound meters can be off different grades, types and class. There are many types of Cirrus noise meters and the Cirrus sound level meter comes in different categories. 

Cirrus noise control equipment is among the best in the field and whichever Cirrus noise level meter you opt for you can be assured as to the high quality of its manufacture and the results obtained. The Cirrus noise meter you choose will depend on the requirements of the particular job you have in mind and you will need to know which Cirrus noise level monitor you need.

"Type" or "Class" of a Sound Level Meter

The Type or Class of a sound level meter describes its accuracy as defined by the relevant international standards - Type 1 is more accurate than Type 2. The ANSI standard S1.4 refers to the grade as "Type", whereas the newer standard IEC 61672 refers to it as the "Class". Although these standards have similarities, the later standard does make more demands on the meter regarding accuracy, performance and calibration.

The class of meter that you need will depend on your application and on any regulations that you need to meet. For example, the occupational noise guidelines state that the lower cost Type 2 or Class 2 meter is adequate for most regions. Of course you can use a Type 1 meter if you prefer as it is more accurate.

There can be other reasons for selecting the class of meter. Type 1 meters tend to measure lower levels due the sensitivity of the microphone capsule. This is particularly relevant for environmental noise surveys where low noise levels are being measured. Finally, you may choose Type 1 for important legal applications as the evidence from the more accurate meter may be more convincing, even when the regulations do not demand it.

Employers need to do risk assessments of the workplace in order to be able to implement the required controls. The risk assessment should:

·         Identify where there may be a risk from noise and who is likely to be affected;

·         Contain a reliable estimate of your employees' exposures, and compare the exposure with the exposure action values and limit values;

·         Identify what you need to do to comply with the law, e.g. whether noise-control measures or hearing protection are needed, and, if so, where and what type; and

·         Identify any employees who need to be provided with health surveillance and whether any are at particular risk.

The Cirrus noise control range of equipment is designed to help you obtain accurate readings and to assess noise levels to assist with the risk assessments to people.

The Cirrus noise control range has something for most companies

A company will not last long if does not look after its workers and this includes their health and well-being as well as their financial status. One area which cannot be overlooked is the way that noise and sound levels affect both mental and physical health and it is necessary to monitor noise pollution with the use of instruments such as the Cirrus noise level meter and the Cirrus noise control system. 

Sound Level Meters

Cirrus specialises in the supply and installation of sound level meters, portable noise monitors, permanent and semi-permanent outdoor noise monitoring equipment for environmental noise monitoring and measurement applications. The extensive range includes meters for the identification and analysis of noise, integrating sound level meters, and LAeq noise at work applications and data logging sound level meter with real time octave and third octave band filters during the sound level measurement.

Whether you need a simple optimus yellow for community noise checks, an optimus red for OSHA compliance and occupational noise measurements or an optimus green for outdoor and environmental noise measurements, you will find a Cirrus noise level monitor to suit your needs. 

The optimus red Cirrus sound level meter was developed to comply with all industrial hygiene, workplace noise and safety regulations. The optimus green Cirrus noise meter offers additional modules to meet requirements in the field of environmental noise measurement. Modern technology is here combined with a simple and intuitive operation to provide you with all relevant information for the effective and complete noise measurement.

The sound level meters and decibel meters can display instant readings in dB or they can measure and record total sound exposure and noise pollution over extended periods of time. Decibel meters and sound meters are ideal for monitoring or testing sound in the workplace, hospitals, schools, factories and designated quiet zones. 

An organisation is obliged to allow its employees who during the work they perform are exposed to a daily dose of more than 80 dB (A) to undergo an audiometric examination (hearing test). The organisation is held to do so as part of the so–called PAGO (periodical occupational health examination) obligation. Staff members exposed to sound levels above 80 dB (A) are to receive information on the risks of too much noise, the measures to be taken to limit the exposure and the possibilities of a hearing test.

Measurement Methods

The noise measurement methods to be used depend on the measurement objectives, namely, to assess the following:

·         the risk of hearing impairment

·         The need for and appropriate types of engineering controls

·         The “noise load” for compatibility with the type of job to be performed

·         The background level necessary for communication and safety.

A company needs to ensure that it follows all the health and safety regulations which are in place otherwise it will not only be in trouble on a legal level, but will also have disgruntled and even injured workers to deal with. Compared to this, the cost of a Cirrus noise level meter is just paltry.