Öranivå

Öranivå is a term found in Swedish-language discussions of acoustics and ergonomic design. Literally meaning "ear level," it refers to the perceived intensity of sound at the height of the human ear in a given environment. The concept is primarily descriptive rather than an official technical standard, and it is used to communicate about comfort, safety, and usability in spaces and products.

The word combines the Swedish words ör- (ear) and nivå (level), and it is typically employed in contexts where the design of seating, workstations, auditory protection, or room acoustics must account for how loud something feels at ear height. In practice, öranivå is tied to established metrics such as sound pressure level and psychoacoustic weighting, but it emphasizes perception at the listener’s ear rather than a single measurement point.

Measurement and interpretation are usually framed by conventional acoustic practices. Sound levels at ear height are commonly reported in decibels with A-weighting (dB(A)) to reflect human sensitivity, sometimes supplemented by loudness scales such as phons or sones for perceptual context. Öranivå remains a descriptive term rather than a standardized scientific metric, and its exact use can vary between disciplines and projects.

Applications of öranivå include architectural and interior design, workplace noise assessments, and the development of hearing protection and ergonomic products. It serves as a language tool to discuss how noise affects people at the point of reception, rather than as a standalone measurement. See also sound level, A-weighting, and ergonomic acoustics.