Sound level meters

Fusion SLM

Sound level meter IEC 61672 standard

Accurate measurement of ambient noise pollution

A sound level meter or sonometer is an important tool for both environmental acoustic monitoring as well as building acoustics projects. Any noise that exceeds specified limits — whether it originates from traffic, neighbours, construction, leisure activities, aircraft or industry — may have an adverse impact on public wellbeing and the health of communities and site workers. A regulatory framework exists for each field of application so compliance is often the motive behind monitoring using a sound level meter. Systematic compliance inspections must be carried out and, in the event that acceptable limits are exceeded and suitable solutions can be identified using accurate data from real-time measurements.

Acoem class-leading noise monitoring instruments

Every day environmental noise consultants around the world are called upon to monitor, measure and identify the source of a variety of noise issues. They might evaluate the effect of noise on workers at an industrial site, measure sound insulation between housing units or quantify decibel levels being emitted from aircraft taking off over a neighbouring residential area.

Acoem sound level meters are a valuable monitoring tool for numerous applications, including:

Environmental assessments
Road & rail traffic
Airports
Building acoustics
Construction sites
Industrial noise
Energy generation
Residential surveys
Boundary noise surveys

How sound levels meters measure noise

The intensity of a sound or noise is articulated in decibel (dB) units by a sound level meter that measures the changes or variations in air pressure produced by the sound source.

Sound level meters are predominantly handheld instruments that record and display the data they capture and consist of a high-quality microphone, internal electronic components, and usually a display screen to view the information in-situ. They may or may not also include a communication platform, like an integrated modem or WiFi connectivity that allows you to transmit, store and share your reading. The meter initially converts pressure variations into electrical signals and then into a decibel reading, which displays on a built-in screen, or if it features online or Cloud connectivity, your data will be visible via an app on any enabled device.

The importance of regularly calibration your sound levels meter

Keeping your sound level meter calibrated means that its accuracy is measured against a reference standard instrumenty.

Calibrating your instrument at manufacturer recommended intervals (annually or every two years) by a certified and experienced calibration lab, such as one of Acoem’s Service and Calibration Centres (located in France and Australia) is the best way to ensure that your sound level meter works at its optimum level and will continue to function with precision throughout its lifecycle.

Beyond compliance: monitoring for risk mitigation

For any project that requires compliance with mandated noise level regulations your meter needs to have a Class 1 certification (as opposed to Class 2 which may not be as precise).

In addition to using a sound level meter for compliance monitoring, the data it captures can also mitigate and significantly reduce the financial and non-financial risk associated with perceived non-compliance with relevant standards and regulations. This may occur if impacted businesses and residents choose to pursue legal avenues to challenge the noise source.

For example, precise measurements can safeguard your construction project from possible shutdown or litigation if you can prove that noise levels emanating from your site are within accepted limits.

An efficient sound level meter for every application

All Acoem sound monitoring instruments have Class 1 certification and comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) “IEC 61672 – Electroacoustics – Sound level meters” standard that specifies “three kinds of sound measuring instruments” – the “conventional” sound level meter, the integrating-averaging sound level meter and the integrating sound level meter.
Acoem sound level meters come equipped with integrated software for capture and post processing analysis of measurement data. They are designed to be simple to operate with the ability to add optional or more advanced functionality depending on your project and level of expertise.
We offer you two different versions of our signature sound level meter – the Fusion 4G and the Fusion SLM.

Fusion™ 4G is the only IEC 61672 Class 1 sound level meter/analyser on the market with a built-in 4G modem & your choice of trigger, advanced indicators, aircraft indicators & push data options.
Fusion™ SLM includes many Fusion™ 4G functions but without an integrated modem (optional) at a lower price point. It responds efficiently to most acoustic measurements, is scalable & comes standard with dBTrait software for easy processing of your data & the ability to perform as many standardised calculations as your project requires.

See it in action

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