This newly approved standard establishes a way to determine a fan’s  sound power levels.

The American National Standards Institute’s Board of Standards Review has approved AMCA Standard 320-08, “Laboratory Method of Sound Testing of Fans Using Sound Intensity,” the association announced.

The standard establishes a way to determine a fan’s octave band sound power levels.

The standard is designed for fans of all types and sizes, Air Movement and Control Association International officials said. The standard was written in response to calls for an accurate way to figure sound levels for fan equipment without using acoustical chambers or other special equipment. It applies to small and larger fans than the previous standard.