Related Resources: civil engineering

Acoustic Sound Pressure Level Chart

Civil Engineering Design & Applications

Sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the local pressure deviation from the ambient (average, or equilibrium) atmospheric pressure, caused by a sound wave. In air, sound pressure can be measured using a microphone, and in water with a hydrophone. The SI unit for sound pressure p is the pascal (symbol: Pa).

 

Examples of sound pressure in air at standard atmospheric pressure Source of sound Sound pressure* ( Pa ) Sound level ( dB SPL )

Shockwave (distorted sound waves > 1 atm ; waveform valleys are clipped at zero pressure)	>101,325	>194
Theoretical limit for undistorted sound at 1  atmosphere environmental pressure	101,325	194
Stun grenades	6,000–20,000	170–180
Simple open-ended thermoacoustic device	12,619	176
.30-06 rifle being fired 1  m to shooter's side	7,265	171
Rocket launch equipment acoustic tests	4000	165
LRAD 1000Xi Long Range Acoustic Device at 1 m	893	153
Jet engine at 1 m	632	150
Threshold of pain	63.2	130
Vuvuzela horn at 1 m	20	120
Risk of instantaneous noise-induced hearing loss	20	120
Jet engine at 100 m	6.32–200	110–140
Non-electric chainsaw at 1 m	6.32	110
Jack hammer at 1 m	2	100
Traffic on a busy roadway at 10 m	0.2–0.632	80–90
Hearing damage (over long-term exposure, need not be continuous)	0.356	85
Passenger car at 10 m	(2–20)×10 −2	60–80
EPA -identified maximum to protect against hearing loss and other disruptive effects from noise, such as sleep disturbance, stress, learning detriment, etc.	6.32×10 −2	70
Handheld electric mixer		65
TV (set at home level) at 1 m	2×10 −2	60
Washing machine , dishwasher		42–53
Normal conversation at 1 m	(2–20)×10 −3	40–60
Very calm room	(2–6.32)×10 −4	20–30
Light leaf rustling, calm breathing	6.32×10 −5	10
Auditory threshold at 1 kHz	2×10 −5	0

*All values listed are the effective sound pressure unless otherwise stated.