ANSI/ASA S1.8, “American National Standard Reference Values for Levels Used in Acoustics and Vibrations,” has been updated with the recent release of the 2016 Edition. The new edition replaces the previous 1989 Edition (reaffirmed in 2011), which is now obsolete. The reference values in this document “are consistent” with those found in ISO 1683 (“Acoustics – Preferred reference values for acoustical and vibratory levels,” 3rd Edition from 2015).
As you can see, this has been a very stable standard. It is used to define a quantity of one for various kinds of measurements associated with acoustics and/or vibration. So you’ll find such information as is included in Table 1: medium (if applicable — like gas or liquid), variable quantity (let’s use frequency as an example), symbol, and reference value (in this case 1 Hz (Hertz)). You’ll also find Table 2 which contains the various kinds of levels (sound pressure, frequency, etc.) and the defining equations used for them.
So what could possibly change in a standard like this? ANSI/ASA S1.8 has actually had a number of technical changes. They are summarized in the introduction of the new update. These include the expansion of Table 1, elimination of references to field quantities and the substitution of “reference value” for the previously used “reference quantity.” Other changes can be found in the incorporation of introductory material from the previous edition into the body of the 2016 publication. Appendix A has been removed. And Appendix B is now Annex A. Even the bibliography has been updated!
So if this is a standard you use, you’ll want to get a copy of this new revision. Order this and all ASA standards at our Document Center webstore, www.document-center.com. We’re an authorized distributor of all ASA standards. Here is a link to the order page for ANSI/ASA S1.8 for your convenience.
Perhaps you’d like to have cloud access for your team. Or maybe you have additional questions on this or other standards. If so, just contact our staff by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com). Document Center has been working with compliance information since 1982. Make us your Standards Experts!