Professional product noise testing for sound power level determination, product noise labelling, CE marking compliance, and noise-based product development. Manufacturers of machinery and equipment are required by EU Directive 2006/42/EC (Machinery Directive) and other product regulations to determine and declare the A-weighted sound power level (LWA) of their products. This requires standardised measurement procedures per the ISO 11200 series, using calibrated Class 1 sound level meters. Additionally, product development teams use noise measurement to identify and reduce dominant noise sources, guide quieter product design, and monitor production quality.
Sound power level measurement provides a source-independent characterization of a product's noise emission that is independent of the measurement environment. Unlike sound pressure level (which varies with distance and room acoustics), sound power level characterizes the acoustic energy output of the source itself, allowing direct comparison between products and providing the basis for noise predictions in installed environments.
Beyond regulatory compliance, product noise testing plays an important role in competitive product development. 1/3 octave and FFT analysis with the i10 identifies the dominant noise sources in a product by frequency, allowing engineers to prioritize noise reduction efforts and verify the effectiveness of design changes. Before-and-after measurement comparisons provide objective evidence of noise reduction achievements.
ISO 3744 measurements require a free field over a reflecting plane — typically achieved on an outdoor hard surface or in a large, acoustically treated measurement room. The measurement surface is a hypothetical hemisphere surrounding the noise source, on which the microphone is moved to a defined set of positions. The standard specifies the number and positions of microphone measurements depending on the size of the source and the required measurement grade. For each microphone position, the A-weighted sound pressure level is measured under steady operating conditions. The sound power level LWA is then calculated by energy-averaging the sound pressure levels over all positions and adding a correction for the measurement surface area. The Bedrock Elite i10's data logging capability stores all individual microphone position measurements for post-processing. For an engineering-grade ISO 3744 measurement, at least ten microphone positions on the hemisphere are required. The measurement environment must meet the residual noise and acoustic environment requirements of the standard before any measurement can begin.
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