Time-distribution of impulse noise in an enclosure

Impulse noise is an important cause of hearing impairment. When isolated impulses occur a “pressure” damage risk criterion can be used to estimate the resulting hearing impairment. When these isolated impulses occur in a reverberant environment it is currently thought necessary to use an “energy” criterion. A theory is presented in which the percentile sound levels in a room are given as a function of reverberation time and the time between impulses. This theory may enable “pressure” damage risk criteria to be applied to situations where isolated pulses occur in an enclosure.