dBwaarde

dBwaarde is a term used in acoustics to denote the decibel value measured with A-weighting applied, commonly written as dB(A) or simply dBwaarde. The A-weighting filter adjusts the raw sound pressure level to reflect the relative sensitivity of the human ear across different frequencies, giving more weight to mid frequencies and less to very low or very high frequencies. As a result, dBwaarde better corresponds to perceived loudness than unweighted decibels.

Measurement and standards: The dBwaarde value is obtained with a calibrated sound level meter, following international standards such as IEC 61672 or EN 61672, and in environmental contexts often via ISO 1996. The measured quantity may be an instantaneous level, a maximum over a short period, or an average over a longer interval, such as the equivalent continuous sound level Leq with A-weighting. In practice, devices display or report values as dB(A), dBwaarde, or Lp,A.

Applications: dBwaarde is widely used in noise regulation, environmental noise assessments, occupational safety, consumer product labeling, and building acoustics. It provides a standardized way to compare different noise sources from the perspective of human perceived loudness. Different regions may specify acceptable dB(A) limits for workplaces, residential areas, or public spaces.

Limitations: While dBwaarde aligns with human hearing on average, it does not capture all aspects of auditory experience, such as impulsive sounds, tonal characteristics, or low-frequency content. Values depend on measurement conditions, including microphone placement, time weighting (FAST vs SLOW), and duration of measurement.

See also: decibel, dB(A), frequency weighting, Leq, noise measurement standards.