<div dir="ltr"><div>For what it's worth, we tell people no earbuds whatsoever, with the two main arguments being that you might not hear a tool alarm or, worse, someone yelling for help in another bay.</div><div><br></div><div>Our lab also has ambient noise levels of 70-75 dB.</div><div><br></div><div>Kyle <br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM Massey, Travis <<a href="mailto:massey21@llnl.gov">massey21@llnl.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-8087227891138370092">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">We found the same thing in a very similar setup and identical ES&H guidance. Typically, we see 70-75 dB in the absence of personnel. The chase is closer to 75 dBa, and the
bays are closer to 70 dBa. There were a few addressable offenders, like a loud spot where disrupted airflow created significant turbulence, increasing sound levels to 75 dBa in the cleanroom, but this was easily resolved by removing the obstruction. Because
none of these exceed the 85 dBA for 8h limit, ES&H will not get involved.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Users concerned about sound levels were tentative about hearing protection. What they
<i>actually</i> wanted in raising the concern was (a) to address the handful of loud spots, and (b) approval to use their noise cancelling earbuds in the cleanroom. To the latter, we’re in a trial period – if it doesn’t impact our ability to get someone’s
attention and talk with them when needed (e.g., can switch into transparency mode for a conversation), then neither I nor ES&H mind terribly if they wear their earbuds. Quality of life counts for something. We only cautioned that
<i>if</i> they play music, they set volume limits to not damage their hearing.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> labnetwork <<a href="mailto:labnetwork-bounces@mtl.mit.edu" target="_blank">labnetwork-bounces@mtl.mit.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>N Shane Patrick<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 18, 2025 5:41 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Joseph Losby <<a href="mailto:joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca" target="_blank">joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu" target="_blank">labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [labnetwork] Cleanroom dB levels<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our facility is bay and chase, no subfab, so all the pumps and chillers and all are right next door to the equipment. After a recent request by one of our staff members, I did an informal survey using NIOSH’s Sound Level Monitor app (NIOSH
SLM) and an uncalibrated microphone. The only time I got above 80db was when people were talking or dropped things, even in our loudest chases.
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sustained levels at 85 or more are the levels of concern for hearing loss according to US agencies. Our EHS team agreed with me that even with an uncalibrated system we were very unlikely to reach sustained levels of concern. People are
still welcome to use hearing protection for their own comfort, of course, and I’d likely provide it for my staff if asked, but it takes a lot to get to that sustained 85db point.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Now, 80db acoustics and the associated mechanical vibrations from all of that is certainly enough to mess with sensitive instruments, and we have had to relocate certain tools or just accept our environmental noise translates to measurement
noise. That’s more a matter of design and space limitations for us than anything else.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-N. Shane Patrick<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Manager, Lab Operations and Safety<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Washington Nanofabrication Facility<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">On Mar 18, 2025, at 5:26<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>PM, Joseph Losby <<a href="mailto:joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca" target="_blank">joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"></span> <u></u>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">Hi everyone,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">Have any of you taken acoustic noise measurements of your cleanroom facilities, or have a basis of design for acceptable levels? <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">If you can share your facility ACH with noise level ( dB ) that would be great. Any other input will be much appreciated as well. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">Cheers,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">Joe<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(214,0,28)">Joseph Losby, PhD</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Manager, qLab Operations</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca" target="_blank">joseph.losby@ucalgary.ca</a></span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://urldefense.us/v3/__https:/urldefense.com/v3/__https:/*io.ucalgary.ca/quantum-city__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!iHLndPt-5Otg8wVsZQXZxk-3iaKCEbMpPvt5GPN-MChuQyulVrIaqzrRJ0q_RieM8khiBQeSZ9L7gXCkYXcid4wIyg$__;Lw!!G2kpM7uM-TzIFchu!waiizu6-NrHKSNYCAeodwwzn2tkvyywQPadBM_6aIAQ07Ac016jlYSSD1IujWBz1mMgfFKOzu6kWGk4sg1A$__;Kg!!IBzWLUs!UuCWcgz8b8ADAmO15iHYIny-rlHlpiEtURWPgGiYgZ3NrQRk1MGEYmyjyl9i2eHPhY6x0qrzC5Yr0Vtwc1Nd8iQ$" title="https://io.ucalgary.ca/quantum-city" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><u></u><u></u></span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black">
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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</div></blockquote></div><div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Kyle Keenan</div><div><br></div><div>Senior Manager - Laboratory Operations<br></div><div>Quattrone Nanofabrication Facility</div><div>University of Pennsylvania</div><div>P: 215-898-7560</div><div>F: 215-573-4925<br></div></div></div>