Common Noise Levels
NOISE LEVELS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEET
How Loud is Too Loud? Experts agree that continued exposure to
noise above 85 dBA over time, will cause hearing loss. To know if
a sound is loud enough to damage your ears, it is important to
know both the loudness level (measured in decibels, dBA) and
the length of exposure to the sound. In general, the louder the
noise, the less time required before hearing loss will occur.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (1998), the maximum exposure time at 85 dBA is 8 hours.
At 110 dBA, the maximum exposure time is one minute and 29
seconds. If you must be exposed to noise, it is recommended that
you limit the exposure time and/or wear hearing protection.
Measure Up and Turn it Down: Decibel Levels Around Us The
following are decibel levels of common noise sources around us.
These are typical levels, however, actual noise levels may vary
depending on the particular item. Remember noise levels above
85 dBA will harm hearing over time. Noise levels above 140dBA
can cause damage to hearing after just one exposure.
Noise
Levels of
Average
Sounds
Area
Device
Grand Canyon at Night (no
Sounds of Quiet roads, birds, wind)
Sounds of Quiet Breathing
dB
10
11
Quiet Basement w/o Mechanical
Sounds of Quiet Equipment
Sounds of Quiet Quiet Room
Sounds of Quiet Typical Living Room
20
2840
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication
Whisper
Normal Conversation
Normal Conversation
Shouted Conversation
Baby Crying
30
5560
90
11
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Computer
Refrigerator
Quiet Office/Library
374040
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Forced Hot Air Heating System
Radio Playing in Background
Background Music
Large Office
Electric Toothbrush
Washing Machine
Air Conditioner
Electric Shaver
Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Coffee Percolator
Dishwasher
Microwave
Clothes Dryer
Printer
424550
50
505050505455
55555658-
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Home/Office
Sewing Machine
Window Fan on High
Alarm Clock
Dishwasher
Clothes Washer
Phone
Handheld Electronic Games
Kitchen Exhaust Fan, High
Vacuum Cleaner
TV Audio
Flush Toilet
Garbage Disposal
Air Popcorn Popper
Ringing Telephone
Doorbell
Pop Up Toaster
Whistling Kettle
Food Mixer
Blender
Hairdryer
Electric Can Opener
Vacuum Cleaner
Coffee Grinder
Electric Razor
Handheld Electric Mixer
Food Processor
Woodworking Class
Home/Office
Maximum Output of Stereo
60
6060636566686970
70
75767880
80
80
80
80808081848485
8693-1
10
100
11
Home/Office
Squeaky Toy - Close to Ear
110
13
Miliary
Military
Military
Military
Military
Military
Rocket Launching from Pad
Air Raid
Artillery Fire at 400 Feet
Rifle
Handgun
Shotgun
18
13
15
16
16
17
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Noisy Restaurant
School Dance
Boom Box
Disco
Busy Video Arcade
Symphony Concert
Recreation
Rock Concert
Personal Cassette Player on
High
Football Game (Stadium)
Band Concert
Auto Stereo (Factory Installed)
Stock Car Races
Percussion Section at Symphony
Firecracker
Firecracker
Capgun
Baloon Pop
85
10
10
11
11
11
110
12
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
11
11
12
12
13
13
15
15
15
15
Recreation
Fireworks at 3 Feet
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
power lawn mower
Manual Machine Tools
Handsaw
Lawn Mower
Tractor
Air Compressor
1/4" Drill
Avg. Electric Drills
Weed Whacker
Leaf Blower
Garbage Truck
Factory Machinery
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Tool
Circular Saw
Snow Blower
Leaf Blower
Thunder Clap - Near
Chan Saw
Hammer on Nail
Pneumatic Drills
Heavy Machine Equipment
Travel
Car Horn
Inside Car, Windows Closed, 30
MPH
Freeway Traffic
Inside Car, Windows Open, 30
MPH
Travel
Travel
Travel
16
6580
85
8890
909295
9495-1
10
10
100
10
10
11
12
12
12
12
12
11
6870
72-
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Avg. City Traffic Noise
Heavy Traffic
Truck
Subway
Motorcycle
Snowmobile
Ambulance Siren
Jet Plane at Ramp
Airplane Taking Off
Bicycle Horn
Jet Engine Taking Off
Exposure Time Limits at Different Sound Levels
Decibels (dB)
85dB
88dB
91dB
94dB
97dB
100dB
Exposure
Time
8 hours
4 hours
2 hours
1 hour
30 minutes
15 minutes
University of Florida Time Recommendations
For Time Allowed at Different Sound Levels
80
85
90
90-1
95-1
10
12
12
14
14
15
The following table can be used to determine if employees should
participate in the University of Florida's Hearing Conservation Program
(HCP). If an employee's use of equipment exceeds the allowable time
more than two times per month, that employee needs to be included in
the HCP. If an employee uses a piece of equipment that exceeds 85
decibels (dBA), regardless of duration, hearing protectors need to be
used. The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) needed for each piece of
equipment is given. For equipment not listed, please contact EH&S at
392-1591 for an evaluation.
Noise Source
Airboat
Band Saw
Blender
LB1ower
Concrete Saw
Chain Saw
Combine Operator
Compressed Air
Edger
Fire Alarms
Front End Loader
HedqeTrimmer
Juice Extractor
Miter Saw
Plant Tissue Grinder
Pneumatic Staking
Pressure Washer
Radial Arm Saw
Riding Lawn Mower
Sprayer, 1,000 gal.
Tablesaw
Tractor
I Sound
Level
1O8dBA
104 dBA
91 dBA
99 dBA
112 dBA
110 dBA
95 dBA
92 dBA
86 dBA
95 dBA
95 dBA
1O3dBA
86 dBA
109 dBA
90 dBA
103 dBA
100 dBA
103 dBA
9OdBA
101 dBA
93dBA
92 dBA
NRR Needed
30
26
13
21
34
17
14
8
17
17
25
8
31
12
25
22
25
12
23
15
7
Time Allowed
2mnutes
6 minutes
2 hours
19 minutes
1 minute
1 1/2 minutes
48 minutes
1 hr. 35 minutes
6hrs.2Ominutes
48 Minutes
48 minutes
71/2minutes
6 hrs. 20 minutes
2 minutes
2 hrs. 30 minutes
71/2 minutes
15 minutes
71/2 minutes
I2hrs.3Ominutes
1 hr. 16 minutes
1 hr 35 minutes
Vacuum
Weedeater
87dBA
96 dBA
7
18
5 hours
38 minutes