Editorial policy

Last updated: June 2026

SoundDBMeter.com is committed to publishing accurate, transparent, and research-grounded content about sound measurement, decibel science, and noise safety. This Editorial Policy explains how content is created, reviewed, updated, and corrected — and what standards are applied before anything is published.

All content on SoundDBMeter.com is written and maintained by Addito, the site’s founder. There are no anonymous contributors and no unreviewed content on this site.

1. Purpose of Our Content

SoundDBMeter.com publishes three types of content:

Tool pages — explanations of how each browser-based measurement tool works, what it measures, what affects its accuracy, and what it cannot determine. These pages are paired with the tools themselves and are designed to help users interpret results correctly and apply appropriate limitations.

Noise safety and health articles — guides on hearing damage risk thresholds, NIOSH and OSHA occupational noise exposure standards, safe noise level guidelines for specific environments, and the science of how noise damages hearing. These articles reference primary published standards and are held to a higher evidence standard because the information can influence health-related decisions.

Acoustic science articles — educational content explaining decibel measurement, sound pressure level, frequency weighting scales (dBA, dBC, dBZ), the logarithmic decibel scale, and related acoustic concepts. These draw from established physics and engineering literature.

Our goal across all three content types is to present technically accurate information in clear, accessible language — without simplifying to the point of inaccuracy and without overstating what browser-based tools can measure.

2. Research and Source Standards

For noise safety and health content:

Safety thresholds, exposure limits, and hearing damage guidelines on this site are sourced directly from primary institutional publications — not from secondary summaries or third-party interpretations of those standards. Primary sources used include:

  • NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) — for occupational noise exposure criteria and the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) — for Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) and enforcement standards
  • WHO (World Health Organization) — for environmental noise guidelines and community noise standards
  • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) — for hearing loss prevention guidance
  • IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) — for sound level meter standards
  • ISO (International Organization for Standardization) — for acoustic measurement standards

Where NIOSH and OSHA standards differ — as they do in exchange rate, reference level, and resulting exposure limits — both frameworks are documented accurately and the differences are explained, rather than presenting one standard as universal. The NIOSH vs OSHA Noise Limits page is an example of this approach.

A consolidated list of cited sources is available on the References page.

For acoustic science content:

Technical claims about decibels, sound pressure level, frequency weighting, RMS measurement, and the logarithmic decibel scale are grounded in established acoustic physics and engineering literature. Where definitions are standardised by IEC or ISO, those definitions are used.

For tool pages:

Tool page content is based on direct knowledge of the Web Audio API, browser-based audio processing behaviour, and how RMS amplitude is converted to SPL estimates. Limitations — including microphone frequency response, OS audio processing effects, and the gap between consumer hardware and certified instruments — are documented on the Online Decibel Meter Accuracy and Testing Methodology pages.

3. Our Policy on AI-Assisted Content

SoundDBMeter.com may use AI writing tools as part of the content drafting process. We are transparent about this.

Every piece of content published on this site is:

  • Reviewed and edited by Addito personally before publication
  • Fact-checked against primary published sources — not accepted as drafted
  • Rewritten wherever the draft contains inaccuracies, oversimplifications, or unsupported claims
  • Held to the same editorial standard as content drafted without AI assistance

We do not publish raw AI output. For noise safety and health content specifically, all figures, thresholds, and regulatory limits are verified against the primary source before publication — regardless of how the initial draft was produced.

4. Accuracy and Technical Transparency

We maintain the following standards across all content:

  • Definitions of decibels, SPL, and weighting scales are technically correct
  • Regulatory exposure limits are presented accurately and sourced
  • NIOSH and OSHA standards are presented as distinct frameworks, not conflated
  • Tool limitations are clearly disclosed — we do not claim browser-based tools are equivalent to certified instruments
  • Where standards have been updated, content reflects the current version

5. Review and Updates

Content on this site is reviewed and updated when:

  • A regulatory body revises its noise exposure limits or guidance
  • A technical explanation becomes outdated due to changes in browser or Web Audio API behaviour
  • A factual error is identified through reader feedback or internal review
  • New research materially changes the evidence base for a safety recommendation

Updated articles display a visible last-updated date.

6. Editorial Independence

SoundDBMeter.com:

  • Does not publish sponsored content of any kind
  • Does not accept paid placements within educational articles
  • Does not prioritise content based on commercial relationships
  • Does not allow advertiser influence over editorial decisions

Content is created to serve readers — not to serve commercial interests.

7. Corrections Policy

If you believe any information on this site is factually incorrect, outdated, or misrepresents a published standard, please report it via the Contact page.

Please include:

  • The URL of the page containing the error
  • The specific claim or figure you believe is incorrect
  • The source or evidence supporting the correction

All correction requests are reviewed personally by Addito against primary sources. Verified corrections are applied promptly. Where the change is material, a correction note is added to the relevant page.

8. No Professional Advice

The content on SoundDBMeter.com does not constitute medical advice, legal advice, or occupational safety certification. For professional guidance on hearing health or regulatory compliance, consult a licensed medical provider or certified safety professional. Additional legal limitations are in the Disclaimer and Terms of Service.

Related Pages

This Editorial Policy is written and maintained by Addito, founder of SoundDBMeter.com. Last updated: June 2026.

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