Svantek » Applications

Applications

Applications of Svantek’s sound and vibration level meters include a diverse range of fields, including industrial, occupational, and environmental. Svantek meters are designed to meet British requirements for assessing airborne, impact, and facade sound insulation in buildings, as well as for speech transmission measurements. In industrial settings, Svantek meters are used for machine vibration as well as occupational noise assessment. In environmental applications, Svantek meters are utilized for noise and vibration monitoring systems to monitor the UK’s transportation routes (road, rail, and air traffic) as well as urban noise in cities.

Applications

Occupational noise measurements

The occupational noise measurement is based on assessment of daily noise exposure level (LEX, 8h) defined by ISO 1999. The LEX,8h is basically a 8-hours extrapolation of LAeq measured over the working hours. The Directive set up limits for LEX, 8h: 87 dBA as the daily limit, 85 dBA as the upper action value and 80 dBA as the lower action.

Hand-arm Vibration

Hand-arm vibration is usually complex and may be the result of the construction of the device, structural defects or its usage. During human contact with the surface of the vibrating machine, mechanical vibrations are transmitted directly to the human body, affecting the individual tissues or even the whole body.

Whole-body vibration

ISO 2631-1 defines methods of whole-body vibration measurements in the frequency range from 0.5 Hz to 80 Hz for health, comfort and perception and from 0.1 Hz to 0.5 Hz for motion sickness. The vibration evaluation according to this part of ISO 2631 is based on measurements of the weighted root-mean-square (RMS) vibration acceleration.

Environmental noise

The ISO 1996 standard series and BS 4142:2014 describe the assessment of environmental noise. The methods and procedures are intended to be applicable to noise from various sources, individually or in combination, that contributes to the total exposure at a site.

Building and ground vibrations

Generally, there are two methods of building vibration measurements: one that uses PPV method with the FFT or zero crossing for dominant frequency analysis and second that analyses vibrations in 1/3 octave bands. Both methods use different criteria for building damage and they might interpret the same vibration event differently.

Sound measurements

Sound is a sensation perceived by the human ear resulting from rapid fluctuations in air pressure. These fluctuations are usually created by some vibrating object which sets up longitudinal wave motion in the air. Sound measurements provide definite quantities which describe and rate sounds.

Building acoustics

Building acoustics as described in BS EN ISO 16283 takes into consideration airborne and impact and facade sound insulation in buildings.

Speech Transmission Index for Public Address Systems

Speech Transmission Index is a measure of speech transmission quality. STIPA is a version of the STI using a simplified method and test signal.

Measuring machine vibrations

Machine Vibration Measurements typically based on analysis of the vibration frequency, displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Standards-Based Solutions

SVANTEK devices bridge advanced technology with international standards, supporting professionals across acoustics, construction, industry, and occupational health. Key application areas where our devices support compliance with international standards in sound and vibration measurement:

Occupational noise exposure (BS EN ISO 9612, BS ISO 1999)
SVANTEK sound level meters and noise dosimeters are used to assess daily noise exposure (LEX,8h) in workplaces, supporting compliance with the UK Control of Noise at Work Regulations and helping implement protective measures for worker health.
Hand-arm and whole-body vibration (BS EN ISO 5349, BS ISO 2631)
Instruments like SV 103 and SV 106 enable precise measurement of mechanical vibrations transmitted to the human body. These tools support risk assessments for hand-arm vibration syndrome and whole-body exposure, in line with UK HSE guidance and health and safety standards.
Building and ground vibrations (BS 7385-2, BS ISO 4866)
SVANTEK vibration meters, such as the SV 803, measure structural vibrations using PPV or 1/3 octave band analysis, supporting diagnostics of building integrity and vibration-induced fatigue across foundations, walls, and sensitive equipment.
Environmental noise monitoring (BS EN ISO 1996 series)
Sound level meters like SVAN 979 and monitoring stations like SV 307A are used for continuous or periodic measurements of community noise, in accordance with British and international regulations, including Lden and Lnight metrics.
Machine vibration diagnostics (BS ISO 10816, BS ISO 20816)
SVANTEK vibration analysers allow condition monitoring and fault detection in rotating machinery by evaluating vibration displacement, velocity, acceleration, and frequency spectra.
Speech intelligibility and STIPA (BS EN IEC 60268-16)
Instruments such as the SVAN 979 support STIPA measurements for public address and emergency systems, ensuring speech clarity and intelligibility in compliance with UK building regulations and safety codes.
Building acoustics (BS EN ISO 16283 series)
SVANTEK devices assist in measuring airborne, impact, and façade sound insulation to verify acoustic performance in residential, commercial, or public buildings during construction or certification processes.
Calibration readiness for traceability
All SVANTEK instruments are designed to work with ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration protocols, ensuring traceable, standards-compliant measurement data suitable for legal, regulatory, or contractual use.