Acoustic and vibration testing of machinery and equipment
One of the obligations of manufacturers and importers is to market only safe products in the EU. According to the directive 2006/42/WE among other things, the manufacturer or importer must inform users in the instruction manual of the noise levels emitted by the machines.
Another of the obligations of manufacturers and importers of machinery for products placed on the market in the EU is to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Directive 2000/14/WE in terms of noise emissions of equipment used outdoors.
We are an accredited testing laboratory that conducts individual tests in accordance with generally applicable international standards and methodologies, mainly to determine sound levels and/or sound power levels.
Appropriate standards are used for specific product groups, which define instrumentation, measurement points/plots, as well as installation conditions, test condition settings, etc. Details of the standards used are shown below.
Details of acoustic testing
What devices do we test?
We mainly measure sound pressure and sound power levels on the following products:
- Air conditioners, liquid chillers, heat pumps, industrial process chillers and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors:
- Air conditioners, liquid chillers, heat pumps, for space heating and cooling, dehumidifiers and industrial process chillers
- Heat pump water heaters
- other machinery and equipment
We provide independent measurements of noise parameters cited in manufacturers’ promotional materials (e.g., in mandatory product sheets).
We are also able to provide manufacturers with development tests to optimize their product settings.
What parameters do we determine during acoustic testing?
- Noise emitted by the machine at the operator’s station and in the working space designed for operator movement (sound pressure)
- Calculation of the sound power level of a machine
- Noise emitted by household appliances
- We determine the sound power level of noise sources using intensity probes – measurement by scanning method
Standards
We perform tests in accordance with European and national standards. Our Laboratory is accredited by the Polish Center for Accreditation.
We perform measurements taking into account standards:
PN-EN 12102-1:2018-03 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps, process chillers and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors – Determination of the sound power level – Part 1: Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps for space heating and cooling, dehumidifiers and process chillers
PN-EN 12102-2:2019-06 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps, process chillers and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors – Determination of the sound power level – Part 2: Heat pump water heaters
PN-EN ISO 3744:2011 Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure — Engineering methods for an essentially free field over a reflecting plane
PN-EN ISO 3746:2011 Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure — Survey method using an enveloping measurement surface over a reflecting plane
PN-EN ISO 3747:2011 Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure — Engineering/survey methods for use in situ in a reverberate environment
In particular, the research shall take into account:
PN-EN 12102-1:2018-03 p. 7.4.
PN-EN 12102-2:2019-06 p. 9
PN-EN ISO 3744:2011
- A-type corrected sound pressure level
- Range: 30-136 dB
- A-weighted sound power level (calculated)
- Free field technical method
PN-EN 12102-1:2018-03 p. 1.
PN-EN ISO 3746:2011
- A-type corrected sound pressure level
- Range: 30-136 dB
- A-weighted sound power level (calculated)
- Free field guidance method
PN-EN 12102-2:2019-06 p. 9
PN-EN ISO 3747:2011
- A-type corrected sound pressure level
- Range: 30-136 dB
- A-weighted sound power level (from calculation)
- Technical and indicative methods in reverberant environments