LONG-TERM MEASUREMENTS OF SOUND LEVELS IN CHILD DAY-CARE CENTERS

摘要

Over the years numerous measurements of the sound levels in Swedish child care centers have been performed. However, most of these measurements consist of short one day measurements sessions. In this study we have measured the sound levels continuously during the whole day for several months in a row. Stationary sound level meters were used to measure the sound. In the study 6 day-care centers, with about 15 children in each, participated and for each center measurements were done in 4 different rooms, i.e. the sound levels in 24 rooms were measured continuously. Analysis of data show a wide spread between the different rooms and in time, which demonstrate the uncertainty in using single location short time, e.g. one day, measurements to assess the long-term sound levels in child day-care centers. The paper further demonstrates that long-term measurements can be used to identify e.g. differences between rooms, differences over time, etc, and that these differences can evoke questions about the activities generating them.