Skip to content
ENExplore Calculators

Noise Exposure Dose Calculator

Work out noise exposure dose instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Noise Exposure Dose Calculator

Permitted exposure halves for each exchange-rate increment above the criterion level. Under NIOSH's 3 dB rule and 85 dBA criterion, 92 dBA allows only 1.59 hours, so four hours is a 252% dose - well over the limit. OSHA's 5 dB rule is more permissive, allowing 3.5 hours at the same level, which is why the two standards disagree so often.

Formulas

Permitted time

T = 8 / 2^((L - criterion) / exchange rate)

Dose

dose = actual hours / permitted hours x 100%

Worked example

With the default values below, Noise Exposure Dose Calculator returns Daily Noise Dose of 252.0%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Sound levelminimum 0 dBA
92 dBA
Exposure durationminimum 0 h
4 h
Exchange rateone of NIOSH (3 dB, 85 dBA criterion), OSHA (5 dB, 90 dBA criterion)
NIOSH (3 dB, 85 dBA criterion)

Results

Daily Noise Dose
252.0%
Permitted Exposure At That Level
1.587 h
Eight-Hour Time-Weighted Average
89.00 dBA
Assessment
Above the permitted daily dose - hearing protection required

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Permitted time
  3. 3Dose
  4. 4Daily Noise Dose= 252.0
  5. 5Permitted Exposure At That Level= 1.587 h
  6. 6Eight-Hour Time-Weighted Average= 89.00 dBA
  7. 7Assessment= Above the permitted daily dose - hearing protection required

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do NIOSH and OSHA differ?

NIOSH's 3 dB exchange reflects equal energy, which is physically correct. OSHA's 5 dB rule is a historical regulatory compromise.

What does 100% dose mean?

The maximum daily exposure considered acceptable. Above it, cumulative hearing damage risk rises measurably over a working lifetime.

Related Calculators

Noise Exposure Dose Calculator – Calculate Daily Noise Dose