SPL Limitations in Indoor Venues
Hey Guys! The arena I manage is about to start imposing SPL limitations on our shows. Long story short, a lot of shows have come in with less experienced engineers and people have left with some serious hearing loss and we’ve been getting lots of complaints. Our local sound ordinances don’t have any specifics on spl readings and since we’re indoor, we’re not having too much bleed outside the venue. We’re using a bunch of different metrics to judge the SPL (LAeq10, spl A fast, etc.) we have smaart SPL and use fully use it to all of its metrics.
Long story short, has anyone had any experience and any suggestions as to what is a healthy limit for SPL readings and how we can hold inexperienced engineers to a doable and healthy standard? Thanks!
Here in france we have the speed limit of 102 dB A over 15 min and 118 dB C over 15 min. As an SE I tend to say to the FOH guys that’s not because you can drive a this speed limit, that the good way. In general 98-100 dbA over 15 min is a good level. It depends on the mix to.