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From: wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Noise level measurement for printers
Message-ID: <181@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Apr-84 09:17:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.181
Posted: Thu Apr 26 09:17:14 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 11-May-84 08:27:16 EDT
Lines: 30

From:      Will Martin -- DRXAL-RI <wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA>

I am writing some specifications for purchasing printers to be used
in the office environment, so we want them to be quiet. Looking at
source info like the tables of printer specs in the latest Mini-Micro
Systems, and at manufacturers' literature, I see statements like
"Noise level less than 55 dbA". I have not seen any info on how
this noise level is measured and if there is a standard method of
measurement that makes these figures comparable. 

I would think that there must be an ANSI standard or some other
sort of standard procedure used in this case so I would write
my specification as "Noise level no higher than 60 dbA, as measured
in accordance with ANSI Standard XYZ-123" or the like. Otherwise
any printer could beat any measurement spec -- "Sure, it's less
than 60 dbA; you just have to stand over here 300 feet away!"

Could someone point me to the relevant standard (if one exists) and tell
me the magic phrase to use in writing such a specification?
Or, if you know that no such standard exists, and these specs regarding
noise level are just advertising hype, let me know that, too!

Please reply directly to WMARTIN@ALMSA-1 (ARPANET/MILNET) or
brl-vgr!wmartin (UUCP-land, will auto forward to my MILNET address).

Thanks much!

Will Martin
USArmy DARCOM ALMSA
St. Louis, MO