There is a wide range of settings where measuring sound levels is a priority. In many cases, monitoring sound levels is important for worker or visitor safety, to avoid harmful sound levels. Sound level monitoring may also be tied to legal compliance. Think of a job site with loud machinery where hearing protection is needed such as a construction site or airport. Here, governing agencies like OSHA have developed regulations to define safe and unsafe sound levels for workers.
Music or live performance venues and music festivals may need to limit volumes to protect the audience’s and workers’ hearing, and for neighbors’ enjoyment of peace and quiet after a certain hour. Relatedly, new projects facing resistance like wind turbine farms may also need standardized noise level measurement to quantify actual noise levels versus nuisance complaints.