1.1 General
This International Standard specifies a method for determining the emission sound pressure levels of
machinery or equipment, at a work station and at other specified positions nearby, in situ. A work station is
occupied by an operator and may be located in open space, in the room where the source under test operates,
in a cab fixed to the source under test, or in an enclosure remote from the source under test. One or more
specified positions may be located in the vicinity of a work station, or in the vicinity of an attended or
unattended machine. Such positions are sometimes referred to as bystander positions.
Emission sound pressure levels are determined as A-weighted levels. Additionally, levels in frequency bands
and C-weighted peak emission sound pressure levels can be determined in accordance with this International
Standard, if required.
NOTE 1 The contents of the series ISO 11200[15] to ISO 11205[19] are summarized in ISO 11200[15].
Methods are given for determining a local environmental correction (subject to a specified limiting maximum
value) to be applied to the measured sound pressure levels in order to eliminate the influence of reflecting
surfaces other than the plane on which the source under test is placed. This correction is based on the
equivalent sound absorption area of the test room and on radiation characteristics (source location or
directivity at the work station).
With the method specified in this International Standard, results of accuracy grade 2 (engineering grade) or
accuracy grade 3 (survey grade) are obtained. Corrections are applied for background noise and, as
described above, for the acoustic environment. Instructions are given for the mounting and operation of the
source under test and for the choice of microphone positions for the work station and for other specified
positions. One purpose of the measurements is to permit comparison of the performance of different units of a
given family of machines, under defined environmental conditions and standardized mounting and operating
conditions.
NOTE 2 The data obtained can also be used for the declaration and verification of emission sound pressure levels as
specified in ISO 4871[9].
1.2 Types of noise and noise sources
The method specified in this International Standard is suitable for all types of noise (steady, non-steady,
fluctuating, isolated bursts of sound energy, etc.) defined in ISO 12001.
The method specified in this International Standard is applicable to all types and sizes of noise sources.
NOTE Throughout this International Standard the words “machine” and “source under test” are used to represent
either a machine or a piece of equipment.
1.3 Test environment
The type of test environment influences the accuracy of the determination of emission sound pressure levels.
For this International Standard, any room meeting prescribed requirements is applicable. These requirements
on the room are less strict than those of ISO 11201[16], in particular regarding the acoustical quality of the
environment.
1.4 Work station and other specified positions
This International Standard is applicable to work stations and other specified positions where emission sound
pressure levels are to be determined.
Appropriate positions where measurements may be made include the following:
a) work station located in the vicinity of the source under test; this is the case for many industrial machines
and domestic appliances;
b) work station within a cab which is an integral part of the source under test; this is the case for many
industrial trucks and earth-moving machines;
c) work station within a partial or total enclosure (or behind a screen) supplied by the manufacturer as an
integral part of the source under test;
d) work station partially or totally enclosed by the source under test — this situation may be encountered
with some large industrial machines;
e) bystander positions occupied by individuals not responsible for the operation of the source under test, but
who may be in its immediate vicinity, either occasionally or continuously;
f) other specified positions, not necessarily work stations or bystander positions.
The work station may also lie on a specified path along which an operator moves (see 10.4).
