Overview
EN ISO 80000-8:2020 - Quantities and units - Part 8: Acoustics (ISO 80000-8:2020) is the CEN-adopted international standard that defines names, symbols, definitions and units for acoustic quantities. Where appropriate, it also gives conversion factors and guidance on notation. The standard updates and replaces earlier editions (EN ISO 80000-8:2007 / ISO 80000-8:2012) and is part of the ISO 80000 series on quantities and units.
Key topics
- Core scope: standardized names, symbols, definitions and SI units for acoustic quantities used in measurement, calculation and reporting.
- Representative quantities covered (examples from Table 1):
- Sound pressure and sound pressure level (Lp) - reference pressures: 20 μPa for air/gases, 1 μPa for water/liquids; levels defined using logarithmic notation (dB).
- Sound particle displacement, velocity and acceleration (δ, u/v, a) and volume velocity (q).
- Sound energy density, sound energy (Q), sound power (P) and sound power level (Lw) - reference sound power 1 pW.
- Sound intensity (I) and sound exposure (E) (time-integrated squared pressure).
- Characteristic impedance (Z = ρc) and acoustic impedance (Za) at a surface.
- Logarithmic frequency ranges: octaves (oct), decades (dec) and decidecades; relation 1 dec ≈ 3.322 oct; ISO 266 preferred frequency spacing (0.1 dec ≈ one-third-octave).
- Notation and rules: use of lb and lg to indicate logarithms base 2 and base 10 respectively; requirement to specify frequency range and time duration when reporting levels; use of subscripts to indicate frequency/time weightings (e.g., as per IEC 61672‑1).
- Applicability notes: several definitions include caveats - e.g., some expressions can become inapplicable in situations with high mean fluid flow or are limited to progressive plane waves or small-amplitude disturbances.
Applications and users
This standard is essential for:
- Acousticians and test laboratories standardizing measurements and reports.
- Manufacturers of audio, noise-emission and underwater-acoustic equipment for consistent data sheets and conformity assessment.
- Environmental and occupational noise assessors, architects and engineers performing noise mapping, sound insulation and noise abatement studies.
- Standards developers and regulators aligning legal, measurement and reporting requirements.
Practical benefit: using EN ISO 80000-8:2020 ensures unambiguous, internationally consistent expression of acoustic quantities (units, reference values, symbols and definitions), improving data comparability and regulatory compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 80000 (series) - Quantities and units
- ISO 80000‑1 / ‑2 / ‑3 / ‑4 (general, logarithms, mechanics, thermodynamics etc. referenced)
- ISO 266 (preferred acoustic frequencies)
- IEC 61672‑1 (frequency/time weightings for sound level meters)
- ISO 18405 (underwater acoustics terminology)
Keywords: EN ISO 80000-8:2020, acoustics quantities and units, sound pressure level, acoustic impedance, sound power, acoustic measurements, ISO 80000-8.
