ISO 11204:2010 specifies a method for determining the emission sound pressure levels of machinery or equipment, at a work station and at other specified positions nearby, in any environment which meets certain qualification requirements. A work station is occupied by an operator and may be located in open space, in the room where the source under test operates, in a cab fixed to the source under test, or in an enclosure remote from the source under test. One or more specified positions may be located in the vicinity of a work station, or in the vicinity of an attended or unattended machine. Such positions are sometimes referred to as bystander positions.

Emission sound pressure levels are determined as A-weighted levels. Additionally, levels in frequency bands and C-weighted peak emission sound pressure levels can be determined in accordance with ISO 11204:2010, if required.

A method is given for determining a local environmental correction (subject to a specified limiting maximum value) to be applied to the measured sound pressure levels to exclude the effects of reflections from reflecting surfaces other than the plane on which the source under test is placed. This correction is based upon the mean sound pressure level on a measurement surface, the sound pressure level measured at a specified position, and either an environmental correction or the equivalent absorption area of the test room.

With the method specified in ISO 11204:2010 results of accuracy grade 2 (engineering grade) or accuracy grade 3 (survey grade) are obtained. Corrections are applied for background noise and, as described above, for the acoustic environment. Instructions are given for the mounting and operation of the source under test and for the choice of microphone positions for the work station and for other specified positions. One purpose of the measurements is to permit comparison of the performance of different units of a given family of machines, under defined environmental conditions and standardized mounting and operating conditions.

The method specified in ISO 11204:2010 is suitable for all types of noise (steady, non-steady, fluctuating, isolated bursts of sound energy, etc.) defined in ISO 12001.

The method specified in ISO 11204:2010 is applicable to all types and sizes of noise sources.

The type of test environment influences the accuracy of the determination of emission sound pressure levels. ISO 11204:2010 is applicable to an indoor or outdoor environment with one or more reflecting planes present, meeting specified requirements. These requirements on the room are less strict than those of ISO 11201, in particular regarding the acoustical quality of the environment.

ISO 11204:2010 is applicable to work stations and other specified positions where emission sound pressure levels are to be determined.

Appropriate positions where measurements may be made include the following: a) work station located in the vicinity of the source under test; this is the case for many industrial machines and domestic appliances; b) work station within a cab which is an integral part of the source under test; this is the case for many industrial trucks and earth-moving machines; c) work station within a partial or total enclosure (or behind a screen) supplied by the manufacturer as an integral part of the source under test; d) work station partially or totally enclosed by the source under test — this situation may be encountered with some large industrial machines; e) bystander positions occupied by individuals not responsible for the operation of the source under test, but who may be in its immediate vicinity, either occasionally or continuously; f) other specified positions, not necessarily work stations or bystander positions.

The work station may also lie on a specified path along which an operator moves.