The ‘dB’ (decibel) rating
The decibel (abbreviated dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. On the decibel scale, the smallest audible sound (near total silence) is 0 dB. A sound 10 times more powerful is 10 dB. A sound 100 times more powerful than near total silence is 20 dB. A sound 1,000 times more powerful than near total silence is 30 dB. You know from your own experience that distance affects the intensity of sound so if you’re far away, the power is greatly diminished. But if you’re close to the source of the sound, you experience its full intensity. Anything over 85 dB for a prolonged period can cause hearing loss.
Here are some common sounds and their decibel ratings:
- Near total silence - 0 dB
- A whisper - 15 dB
- Normal conversation - 60 dB
- A lawnmower - 90 dB
- A car horn - 110 dB
- A rock concert or a jet engine - 120 dB
- A gunshot or firecracker - 140 dB
A typical rangehood would tend to be in the 50-65 dB range. Not loud enough to cause hearing loss but certainly loud enough to be intrusive.
At 60 dB, a rangehood noise is 1,000,000 more powerful than near total silence. That’s a million times more powerful.
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Copyright Tom McKernan 2017