Determination of the Product Noise Rating (PNR) for Hair Dryers: A Test Case

摘要

A simplified product noise rating method has been proposed recently to provide noise level information to the general public to help them make informed purchasing decisions, and thereby increase demand for quieter products. The essential elements of the Product Noise Rating (PNR) scheme are: (1) a product noise rating scale, (2) the Product Noise Rating (PNR), itself, (3) a range-of-levels indication, and (4) a visual icon for presenting the PNR value. These have been described in detail previously. This paper will discuss the author’s experience in taking sound power measurements on a sample of personal hair dryers, and will offer this as a test case for both the PNR approach, itself, and for how other consumer products might be tested in order to determine their PNR values.