Product Noise Rating (PNR) as applied to dishwashers: A test case

摘要

When in the market for a new dishwasher, more customers are demanding quiet dishwashers. In response to this market need, a major appliance retailer developed a test standard to determine a single number sound level rating. This standard is an extension of the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard for determination of airborne acoustical noise specifically for dishwashers (IEC 60704-2-3), with a focus on the North American market. The sound level rating is designed to provide useful information to aid the consumer in the purchasing process. Since 2004, this sound level rating has been applied to most dishwashers sold in the United States. Separately, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE/USA) has been developing a one-number product noise rating (PNR) method to help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing products. Contained in this paper is the exploration of transitioning the existing sound level rating to the proposed product noise rating (PNR) method in an effort to develop an accepted and recognized standard across the entire market.