Some Applications of the Sound Intensity Technique to Noise Control in the Workplace

Over a decade has elapsed since commercial sound intensity measurement systems became available. A literature search has shown that the sound intensity technique has found increasing applications in recent years. In this article, the principle and errors of the sound intensity technique are briefly described. Four case studies are given to illustrate how the sound intensity technique can be applied to determine sound power under both laboratory and field conditions, to identify noise source and to measure sound transmission loss o f composite partitions "in situ." It has been shown that, provided the limitations of the sound intensity technique are understood, results obtained by the sound intensity technique enable effective noise control to be implemented in the workplace.