The regulations for the verification and inspection of sound level meters have been revised in accordance with the amendment of the Measurement Act.
This article summarizes whether a sound level meter used before the revision has a valid certification and needs to be replaced once the certification expires, and whether there is a time limit for using a pre-revision sound level meter with a valid certification.
- Changes to the regulations for the calibration and inspection of sound level meters -
Calibration of sound level meter
Sound level meters used for trade or certification purposes must be certified in accordance with the Measurement Law.
Examples of transactions and certifications
- When automobile manufacturers, auto repair shops, etc., conduct inspections to determine whether road noise, exhaust noise, etc. comply with safety standards and issue certificates (completion inspection certificate, vehicle inspection pass certificate), the measurement is used.
- When a measurement certification business operator provides noise measurement certification in response to a request, the measurement
- When factories and other facilities measure and record the noise they generate in accordance with the Noise Regulation Law, and report the results to local government agencies or other public offices, or submit them during on-site inspections by public offices, the measurement is required.
Verification is carried out by a designated verification body (in the case of a sound level meter, the Japan Quality Assurance Organization) in accordance with the Enforcement Order of the Measurement Act and the Verification and Inspection Regulations for Specified Measuring Instruments (hereinafter referred to as "Verification Regulations"), and a certificate of conformity (verification stamp) is affixed.
* When a designated manufacturer produces a sound level meter that has received type approval, the manufacturer can perform the calibration on behalf of the manufacturer through self-inspection. Therefore, new products shipped may have the calibration performed by the manufacturer and may have a certificate of conformity (standard compliance stamp) affixed to them.
Revision of inspection regulations
The regulations for sound level meters were revised and came into effect on November 1, 2015.
Sound level meters that received type approval (approval that they meet the technical standards for structure and performance required as specified measuring instruments) prior to this date (old type sound level meters) may not pass the revised inspection regulations. Therefore, the following transitional measures are applied, and they can be used as calibrated sound level meters for the time being.
Furthermore, sound level meters that received type approval on or after November 1, 2015, will undergo testing based on the new regulations.
* Even if a sound level meter has not received type approval, it is possible to undergo testing, but there is a possibility that it will not pass the test.
Transitional measures
Although the inspection regulations have been revised, sound level meters that received type approval before November 1, 2015 (old-type sound level meters) can be used as certified sound level meters until October 31, 2027, as a transitional measure for users. If they pass the inspection according to the standards of the pre-revision regulations, they can be used as certified sound level meters. (The certification is valid for 5 years, so if you undergo the inspection on October 31, you can use them as certified sound level meters until October 31, 2032 at the latest.)
Furthermore, even older model sound level meters can be certified under the new inspection standards, so there is a possibility that they can still be used as certified sound level meters after October 31, 2022.
Transitional measures for noise meter calibration following the revision of the inspection regulations
Note
Sound level meters that received type approval by October 31, 2015, are subject to a transitional measure for manufacturers.
Manufacturing was possible until October 31, 2017. Therefore, even if you purchased a certified sound level meter after November 1, 2015, it is not guaranteed that it has passed the certification process based on the revised regulations.
You can determine whether the type approval was granted under the pre- or post-regulation standards by looking at the type approval number displayed on the sound level meter.
- Symbols for type approval numbers based on the revised inspection regulations
Standard sound level meter (Class 2): TS
Precision sound level meter (Class 1): TF - Symbols for type approval numbers based on the regulations before the revision
Standard sound level meter (Class 2): SLS
Precision sound level meter (Class 1): SLF
*Reference materials
(Excerpt from the email newsletter issued on May 22, 2019)
