Student Union Sound Report

De Montfort Student Union Noise Assessment Summary This assessment was carried out by Roger Yates in the Student Union bar area during the Friday night disco. Measurements were taken in the front bar, rear bar, seating area and dance floor. The report gives information on the instrument used for noise measurement, the noise exposure and the recommendations for action. The report shows that in a typical 4 hour shift with an estimated work pattern, bar staff will be exposed above both the lower and upper action levels. An immediate recommendation is made for wearing hearing protection when in the seating and dance floor areas and for rotation of staff. A recommendation for controlling the noise at source is also given at the end of the report. Date of assessment

3/9/2007

Instrument Details Meter

Cirrus CR:264

Serial No. A18639FB Calibrated 17/08/2006

Calibrator Type

Cirrus CR:511E

Serial No. 41872

Calibration level

94dB @ 1kHz

Calibrated 03/08/2006

Noise exposure assessments

Noise source

Sound pressure level dB(A) LEQ

Exposure time (estimated)

Equivalent exposure %

Dance floor Seating area Front bar Rear bar

91 90 89 69

30 mins 30 mins 2hrs 30 mins 30 mins

25 20 81 0

Daily exposure dB(A) LEPD

86

4 hrs

126

80 dB - YES

85 dB - YES

Action level exceeded Recommendations for action

IImmediate action to provide hearing protectors to be used when collecting glasses around dance floor or seating area. Also look to reduce time spent in front bar by rotating staff between front and rear bar. Short term action to reduce noise at source by maintaining amplifiers at optimum performance, possible replacement of base units and equalisation of the sound system. (Example of this resulted in 8 dB reduction in sound level but patrons perceived an increase in sound level. Long term action to consider directional and isolated speakers, low reverberation panels with acoustic absorption, acoustic screens. Typical result after a refit is reduction of 9 dB. Assessed by :Date

Roger Yates 3/9/2007