Examples of sound pressure levels:
| Decibel Level | Example | Effect |
| 30 | Quiet Library, Soft Wispers | Painless | 40 | Living Room, refrigerator, bedroom away from traffic | Painless | 50 | Light traffic, normal conversation, quiet office | Life as we know it | 60 | Air Conditioner at 20 feet, sewing machine | Tolerable | 70 | Vacuum Cleaner, Hair Dryer, Noisy Restaurant | Somewhat intolerable | 80 | Average City Traffic, Garbage disposal, alarm clock at two feet | It hurts | 90 | Subway, motorcycle, truck traffic, lawn mower | It hurts more | 100 | Garbage truck, chain saw, pneumatic drill | Masochistic | 120 | Rock band concert in front of speakers, thunderclap | Ears are ringing | 130 | Harley Davidson Motorcycle (straight pipes) at 10 feet | Very Irritating and painful | 140 | Gunshot blast at 5 ft., jet plane engine at 40 ft. | Permanent hearing loss | 180 | Rocket Launch pad | Ear and body loss |
© 2003 Broadcast Engineering Services of Bonny Doon