Posted By Nigel Hammond
Can anyone suggest to me where to get a low cost sound level meter from. In my Occupational Hygiene days I used to use Rolls Royce Quality 'CEL' or 'Bruel and Kjaer' meters. But, now I just want a cheap type-2 meter. I've looked on the net and seen some obscure budget makes. Even maplin do one for about £45 but the problem with these budget meters is calibration - they don't seem to come with a calibrator. Any ideas?

Posted By Thomas Kennedy
You could always rent. Castle do a two week rental of a type 1 meter for £200 + vat

Posted By Karen Todd
I realise this is not what you need, but I'm using it to illustrate my point:

I got a 4-in-1 environmental meter from Maplin for £39.99 (incl. VAT and delivery) which measures noise (A and C scale), relative humidity, temperature and light. It came uncalibrated.

ATP Instrumentation sell the exact same instrument for £135 + VAT + delivery, uncalibrated. However, they do offer a calibration service.

What do you think I did? Bought it from Maplin for £39.99 and got ATP to calibrate it. Unfortunately it cost £80 + VAT + carriage for the calibration, but hey, I'd already covered the cost of the calibration by buying the instrument from Maplin!

Maplin do a whole range of cheap gadgets (uncalibrated), and ATP Instrumentation sell every possible instrument you could ever need and will also calibrate instruments you haven't bought from them.

Suggest you find the instrument you like, send the spec to ATP Instrumentation and ask if they can calibrate it for you:

http://www.atp-instrumentation.co.uk

I've been very pleased with the calibration service from ATP.

Regards,
Karen

P.S. I'm not connected to either company.

Posted By David Thomas
Nigel
a few years ago when installing public address and voice alarm system (linked to fire alarms in place of sounders) I bought a low cost meter. Cost indicative of the sums stated by others.

This was used to get basic ambient noise levels of existing workspaces and also to carry out indicative tests of the sound output from loudspeakers. I always stated to clients that it was an uncalibrated meter to prove the system and in most cases, as the sound levels were audibly acceptable, the readings were also accepted.

On those cases where readings were to be recorded against system design specification and used to obtain certification from the fire officer or local authority, I hired in a calibrated meter complete with certificate, which was copied and attached to the method statement and the readings taken.
It was also an opportunity to carry out parrallel readings with my own meter, which I found to be exceedingly accurate for low cost unit.

In my H&S experience this meter has proved an excellent tool to display indicative readings to prove/disprove complaints of noise. My only regret is that frequency meters are so inordinately expensive that they must always be hired in.

regards

Dave