Maximum Sound Level on a disco or a pub ?

Hi !

This is a very simple question. I would like to know what is the maximum sound level allowed inside a disco or inside a pub where there's show of live music.
I know the answers may be different since each country may have a different law regarding this subject. Anywaway any replies are welcome.

I've been into a pub where the sound level inside was around 110-130 dB (average sound level, it was extremely loud and the room didn't had more than 100 m2 of area !), but outside the pub the sound level was quite low.

Seems as long as the sound level outside the bar is acceptable that inside the pub or disco everything is allowed. (Now I should mention that I live in Portugal and that there's almost no control regarding this kind of subjects).


André Brito

 

[ishvaaag]

Traditionally in Spain the practical allowed limit was being about 110 dB but is being diminished as of now. It is well known that where no control was exercised in the past noise well over 130 dB was common in lots of discos.

The bad practice may be controlled by the use of more loudspeakers of lesser accoustical power.

http://www.ayto-zaragoza.es/azar/ayto/normas/ruidos.pdf

http://www.ayto-zaragoza.es/azar/ayto/normas/anexo/ANEXRUI.pdf

 

[Ron]

The difference is between public nuisance (exterior noise levels) and personal exposure (interior noise levels). Many municipalities control the public nuisance issue with regulations, but personal exposure is usually regulated by occupational exposure criteria. For the interior of a pub this would only apply to the employees of the pub, not the patrons. You could reasonably apply the industrial exposure criteria, but it is usually based on a time-weighted average, so for the 4 to 6 hours of high noise levels, there might be a fairly high allowable limit.