Noise - Acceptable dBA Level

Acceptable noise - dBA - level at typical common locations. The A weighted noise or sound measurement adapts to how the human ear responds to sound and allows measurement with low-cost instruments.

Acceptable dBA Levels by Location

Maximum acceptable Equivalent Sound Level (Leq) at various locations:

dB(A): A-weighted noise or sound measurement adapted to human hearing
Leq: Equivalent Sound Level - the steady-state sound level that contains the same acoustic energy as the fluctuating level over a given time period

Location	Effects	Maximum Leq (dBA)	Time (hours)	Time of Day
Bedroom	Sleep disturbance, annoyance	30	8	Night
Living area	Annoyance, speech interference	50	16	Day
Outdoor living area	Moderate annoyance	50	16	Day
Outdoor living area	Serious annoyance	55	16	Day
Outdoor living area	Sleep disturbance (with open windows)	45	8	Night
School classroom	Speech interference, communication disturbance	35	8	Day
Hospitals patient rooms	Sleep disturbance, communication interference	30 - 35	8	Day and Night