Filtech Testing Division

Sound Test

Ensuring a Quiet and Productive Workspace

Our Sound Test is an optional evaluation upon request to guarantee that your biosafety cabinet provides a quiet and comfortable working environment. Noise levels within the cabinet can significantly impact your work experience, and we ensure it meets the necessary standards.

Test Purpose

The Sound Test serves the following purpose:

Provides a uniform method for measuring the noise level produced by the cabinet.
Ensures the cabinet operates at nominal set point velocities within specified tolerances.

Apparatus Used

We utilize advanced measuring instruments to conduct the Sound Test:

Type I Class 1 sound level meter.
Minimum range of 50 to 100 dB.
Equipped with an "A" weighting scale, set up in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Test Method

Our expert technicians perform the Sound Test with precision:

Turn on the cabinet blower and lights.
Set the instrument to the "A" weighting mode.
Measure the noise level 12 inches in front of the cabinet's leading edge of the access opening and 15 inches above the work surface, in line with the vertical centerline of the cabinet.
To measure the ambient noise level:

Turn the cabinet blower and lights off.
If applicable, leave the remote exhaust blower on.
Measure as described above.

Acceptance Criteria

We adhere to strict standards to ensure a comfortable workspace:

Overall noise level in front of the cabinet shall not exceed 67 dB(A) when the maximum ambient sound level is 57 dB(A).
When the ambient sound level is greater than 57 dB(A), we apply correction factors as per the provided charts and tables to obtain accurate sound readings.