Overview
ISO 9568:1993 is an international standard developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 36, focusing on background acoustic noise levels in cinematographic environments such as theatres, review rooms, and dubbing rooms. This standard specifies the measurement methods and establishes maximum allowable indoor background sound pressure levels to ensure optimal acoustic conditions. It targets noise generated by internal systems like heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), projectors, and other mechanical or electrical equipment-while excluding extraneous noises like traffic or outside interference.
Background noise considered by ISO 9568:1993 is mainly steady-state sound, without strong time-varying components, which is critical for maintaining audio clarity during film screenings and post-production processes.
Key Topics
Applications
ISO 9568:1993 is critical for ensuring optimal acoustic environments in:
- Cinemas: Guaranteeing that heating, ventilation, and projector noise do not interfere with audio performance during screenings.
- Dubbing Studios and Review Rooms: Maintaining background noise levels that enable precise audio editing and mixing.
- Theatre Design and Planning: Informing HVAC system design/operation and equipment selection to meet predefined noise criteria.
- Quality Control and Certification: Verifying compliance with acoustic noise standards in new or existing cinema facilities.
Adhering to this standard helps professionals in acoustics, theatre management, and film production avoid noise-related issues that degrade audience experience or technical audio quality.
Related Standards
ISO 9568:1993 references and aligns with other key standards for reliable measurement and acoustic assessment:
- ISO 266:1975 – Acoustics – Preferred frequencies for measurements, providing octave and third-octave band center frequencies.
- IEC 651:1979 – Sound level meters, specifying requirements for sound measurement instruments used in noise evaluation.
- Other Acoustical Rating Methods – Various noise rating methods and curves (e.g., RC method) may be used to further characterize indoor noise quality beyond NC values.
By following ISO 9568:1993 in conjunction with these standards, stakeholders can achieve precise, reproducible, and internationally recognized acoustic noise evaluations in cinematographic settings.
Keywords: ISO 9568:1993, background acoustic noise levels, theatres, review rooms, dubbing rooms, sound pressure levels, noise criteria, HVAC noise, projector noise, acoustic measurement, cinema acoustics, indoor noise standards, ISO cinematography standards, noise rating, sound level meter.