Low Frequency Smoke Alarms

[RumRunner]

Perhaps OP can chip in - - - in regard to his knowledge in auditory science.
Low frequency sound waves are strictly restricted in some cases because of its application-- in order not to interfere with some people that are sensitive to low frequency sound.
Some creatures like whales are affected by this phenomenon.

A recent report is in the news where over 400 whales beached themselves on the shores of New Zealand.

In terms of environmental impact. . . .this is one reason why wind farms are located farther away from neighborhoods because some people are sensitive to this phenomenon. They emit low frequency sound.

Now. . . if you have TINNITUS all bets are off.

 

[ggunn]

Perhaps OP can chip in - - - in regard to his knowledge in auditory science.
Low frequency sound waves are strictly restricted in some cases because of its application-- in order not to interfere with some people that are sensitive to low frequency sound.
Some creatures like whales are affected by this phenomenon.

A recent report is in the news where over 400 whales beached themselves on the shores of New Zealand.

In terms of environmental impact. . . .this is one reason why wind farms are located farther away from neighborhoods because some people are sensitive to this phenomenon. They emit low frequency sound.

Now. . . if you have TINNITUS all bets are off.

I am sensitive to low frequencies; there is a nightclub a mile from my house that I occasionally file complaints about. Why they have a need to play their music that loud is beyond me. I also have tinnitus from too much loud music when I was younger, and yes, I do see the irony there.

 

[winnie]

I suspect in this case, 'low' frequency is relative to the prior technology, which used small piezo 'buzzers'.

As described above, some people can't hear them.

The 'low' frequency being discussed here is smack dab in the audio range.

Jon

 

[hbiss]

Low frequency sound waves are strictly restricted in some cases because of its application-- in order not to interfere with some people that are sensitive to low frequency sound.

That's exactly WHY 520Hz is used! It's becoming more and more common for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to incorporate an even lower frequency with the siren tone. Looks like around 180Hz.

Rumbler® Low-Frequency Police Siren | Federal Signal

The Rumbler® police siren is a traffic-clearing system that demonstrates the long-standing commitment of Federal Signal to continue as the leader in safety.

www.fedsig.com

-Hal

 

[RumRunner]

I am sensitive to low frequencies; there is a nightclub a mile from my house that I occasionally file complaints about. Why they have a need to play their music that loud is beyond me. I also have tinnitus from too much loud music when I was younger, and yes, I do see the irony there.

Here is what an audio engineer has to say:

“ Any sound, when played loud enough, could potentially damage your ears. However, lower frequencies are significantly safer than higher frequencies. That’s why it’s okay to have a system or venue with an extreme bass boost to enhance the experience, but just turning up the volume could actually do more damage. A good rule of thumb is to have the volume set so that you can still hold a conversation with a person next to you.”

But my case is far more serious than simple tinnitus.. At certain time of day I can hear my wife talking but I can hardly understand most of her words.
Now this is godsend if you’re sick and tired of your wife nagging.
I’ve scheduled (well my doctor did) for an audiology test. But it won’t be until the second week of DEC.

Meanwhile I’m thinking of buying a pair before I see my audiologist.

Just so people who are interested—hearing aid can now be purchased over-the-counter.

Supposed to be covered by Medicare now.

Survey says that 1 in 7 Americans have hearing problems.

 

[ggunn]

I suspect in this case, 'low' frequency is relative to the prior technology, which used small piezo 'buzzers'.

As described above, some people can't hear them.

The 'low' frequency being discussed here is smack dab in the audio range.

Jon

The ones I have heard lately have a repeating sound of about three seconds duration that starts at 500Hz or so and glissandos up out of my hearing range.

 

[ggunn]

Here is what an audio engineer has to say:

“ Any sound, when played loud enough, could potentially damage your ears. However, lower frequencies are significantly safer than higher frequencies. That’s why it’s okay to have a system or venue with an extreme bass boost to enhance the experience, but just turning up the volume could actually do more damage. A good rule of thumb is to have the volume set so that you can still hold a conversation with a person next to you.”

But my case is far more serious than simple tinnitus.. At certain time of day I can hear my wife talking but I can hardly understand most of her words.
Now this is godsend if you’re sick and tired of your wife nagging.
I’ve scheduled (well my doctor did) for an audiology test. But it won’t be until the second week of DEC.

Meanwhile I’m thinking of buying a pair before I see my audiologist.

Just so people who are interested—hearing aid can now be purchased over-the-counter.

Supposed to be covered by Medicare now.

Survey says that 1 in 7 Americans have hearing problems.

The problem with buying aids without an exam is that with an exam you get a prescription for aids with an equalizer curve that mirrors your hearing loss. Generic aids don't have that.

 

[gadfly56]

Perhaps OP can chip in - - - in regard to his knowledge in auditory science.
Low frequency sound waves are strictly restricted in some cases because of its application-- in order not to interfere with some people that are sensitive to low frequency sound.
Some creatures like whales are affected by this phenomenon.

A recent report is in the news where over 400 whales beached themselves on the shores of New Zealand.

In terms of environmental impact. . . .this is one reason why wind farms are located farther away from neighborhoods because some people are sensitive to this phenomenon. They emit low frequency sound.

Now. . . if you have TINNITUS all bets are off.

In no way, manner, shape, or form is 520 Hz "low frequency" in the sense you are using it. Concert "A4" is 440 Hz. VLF and ULF electromagnetic waves are an entirely different animal than infra-sound (<20 Hz), which is not even under discussion.

 

[hbiss]

And I don't know why some are discussing health effects of various frequencies when the topic is about optimal alert tones from smoke alarms that someone hopefully won't be exposed to for very long anyway.

-Hal

 

[RumRunner]

The problem with buying aids without an exam is that with an exam you get a prescription for aids with an equalizer curve that mirrors your hearing loss. Generic aids don't have that.

I understand that .. . but not all hearing impairment are the same..

When I mention hearing devices are available over-the-counter, it is implied that most people requiring hearing aids are aware of what they need.
Those mild impairment would only need amplification which is what this is all about.

The problem is there seems to have a collusion among audiologists that in order to keep the prices up (it normally costs upwards of 7 grand) to be fitted a pair including support.
From audio metric technicians to audiologists (doctors) work together to fleece the public.

You as a technology savvy is probably aware that a cellphone can do a lot more than a hearing aid. However this CABAL system managed to make suckers out of several million people.
I have a few close friends that either have COCHLEAR implants and some do have regular hearing aids.

The couple I installed an EV charger have them. The lady has cochlear implant because her auditory faculties can no longer benefit from any type of a hearing device,

The husband still uses hearing aids since I can remember..

He holds both masters degree in mechanical and electrical engineering and works at a private arms contractor working in submarine warfare technology.

Being deaf is not a handicap. . . it looks like.

 

[ptonsparky]

There is an advantage to hearing loss. It's easier to sort out the shtuff you don't want or need to hear. My spouse accuses me of selective hearing. Well maybe.

 

[RumRunner]

There is an advantage to hearing loss. It's easier to sort out the shtuff you don't want or need to hear. My spouse accuses me of selective hearing. Well maybe.

This modus operandum is also available in this forum.

Some members are not up to speed in terms of his/her capability of articulating-- in regard to a subject they couldn’t respond to intelligibly.
They get frustrated and they resort to insults and double entendre..

Whenever I sense something like this-- I just hit the IGNORE BUTTON.

Life is short to worry about this kind of behavior.

 

[Strathead]

Agree.
The note C that's one octave above
middle C is 523 Hz.

Ummm, we are talking about audio here, not RF. You most certainly can hear 520Hz and you do every day as part of music and noise. Normal humans with good hearing can hear from 20Hz all the way up to 20KHz. The hum from transformers is 60Hz. Can you hear that?

-Hal

If this is an IBC covered project (commercial/industrial), you are probably out of luck. If this is residential, you should be looking into the IRC for guidance. The New Jersey edition of the IRC does not mention 520 Hz sounders. The problem is that you need actual speakers to generate the 520 Hz tone, and these just will not run on batteries as they are such power hogs.

It isn't just the IBC, but NFPA72 that requires 520.

 

[Strathead]

IBC now requires 520 Hz audible alarms in R1 and R2 sleeping areas. Has anybody found a single-station/multiple-station combo smoke/CO alarm that meets that requirement? I tried to google it and came up with nothing. I have several projects on the boards right now that will have to comply with this and I'd prefer not to do it with system-type detectors and sounder bases.

Just go with 2 devices, not a big deal to put the extra rough in box in.

 

[1stRooter]

There is advantages and disadvantages to hearing loss, depending on the situation.

There is an advantage to hearing loss. It's easier to sort out the shtuff you don't want or need to hear. My spouse accuses me of selective hearing. Well maybe.

 

[gadfly56]

It isn't just the IBC, but NFPA72 that requires 520.

Only where the occupants have been identified and it's required by other laws or standards:

(1) An audible notification appliance producing a low fre
quency alarm signal shall be installed in the following
situations:
(a) Where required by governing laws, codes, or stan-
dards for people with hearing loss

 

[ggunn]

I understand that .. . but not all hearing impairment are the same..

When I mention hearing devices are available over-the-counter, it is implied that most people requiring hearing aids are aware of what they need.
Those mild impairment would only need amplification which is what this is all about.

Most (maybe all) experientially acquired hearing loss is frequency dependent and it is usually in the higher frequencies; I have some and it's definitely that way. Simple amplification with flat equalization would not do me any good.

 

[synchro]

Most (maybe all) experientially acquired hearing loss is frequency dependent and it is usually in the higher frequencies; I have some and it's definitely that way. Simple amplification with flat equalization would not do me any good.

I'm aware of an engineer who worked on developing receivers for two-way radios over many years. A standard way of measuring receiver sensitivity uses a 1 kHz test tone. When the engineer got a comprehensive hearing test the audiologist said that he'd never seen anything quite like it. For some reason, instead of a typical rolloff at higher frequencies, there was this sharp dip right at 1 Khz!

 

[RumRunner]

Most (maybe all) experientially acquired hearing loss is frequency dependent and it is usually in the higher frequencies; I have some and it's definitely that way. Simple amplification with flat equalization would not do me any good.

Studies show that human hearing is more receptive/sensitive to higher frequency than low frequency.

The first thing we hear in a MESH MASH of sound is the high frequency.

The lower frequency goes deeper into our sensory nerves. This is what makes it damaging if exposed to sustained lower frequency sound.
Baby cries are in the higher range in order for us to respond more quickly.

This is the “barometric” scale before subjecting a patient for being a candidate for cochlear implantation procedure.
Cochlear implant cannot be reversed. Once it is installed-- removing it will not put you back to your own self. Meaning --you lose all your auditory faculties because they make a hole and totally destroy your eardrum.

 

[ggunn]

I'm aware of an engineer who worked on developing receivers for two-way radios over many years. A standard way of measuring receiver sensitivity uses a 1 kHz test tone. When the engineer got a comprehensive hearing test the audiologist said that he'd never seen anything quite like it. For some reason, instead of a typical rolloff at higher frequencies, there was this sharp dip right at 1 Khz!

A coworker of mine once went in to see an audiologist for a for a hearing test. When the audiologist got the results she told him, "I can tell that you ride a motorcycle, and looking at your response curve I think it is a Harley-Davidson." Spot on.

I wonder if by mine she could have told that it was a 50W Marshall amplifier at full volume through (8) 10 inch JBL's.