1500.47—Method for determining the sound pressure level produced by toy caps.
(a) Equipment required.
The equipment for the test includes a microphone, a preamplifier (if required), and an oscilloscope.
(1)
The microphone-preamplifier system shall have a free-field response uniform to within ±2 decibels from 50 hertz to 70 kilohertz or beyond and a dynamic range covering the interval 70 to 160 decibels relative to 20 micronewtons per square meters. Depending on the model, the microphone shall be used at normal or at grazing incidence, whichever gives the most uniform free-field response. The microphone shall be calibrated both before and after the test of a model of cap. The calibration shall be accurate to within ±1 decibel. If the calibration is of the pressure type or of the piston-phone plus electrostatic actuator type, it shall be corrected to free-field conditions in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
(2)
The oscilloscope shall be the storage type or one equipped with a camera. It shall have a response uniform to within ±1 decibel from 50 hertz to 250 kilohertz or higher. It shall be calibrated to within ±1 decibel against an external voltage source periodically during the tests.
(b) Procedure.
(1)
Use the type pistol that would ordinarily be used with the caps being tested. Place the pistol and testing equipment so that neither the pistol nor the microphone is closer than 1 meter from any wall, floor, ceiling, or other large obstruction. Locate the pistol and the microphone in the same horizontal plane with a distance of 25 centimeters between the diaphragm of the microphone and the position of the explosive. Measure the peak sound pressure level at each of the six designated orientations of the pistol with respect to the measuring microphone. The 0° orientation corresponds to the muzzle of the pistol pointing at the microphone. The 90°, 180°, and 270° orientations are measured in a clockwise direction when looking down on the pistol with its barrel horizontal, as illustrated by the following figure:
Code of Federal Regulations
(2)
The hammer and trigger orientations are obtained by rotating the pistol about the axis of the barrel, when the pistol is in the 90° or 270° orientation, so that the hammer and the trigger are each respectively closest to and in the same horizontal plane with the microphone.
(3)
Fire 10 shots at each of the six orientations, obtaining readings on the oscilloscope of the maximum peak voltage for each shot. Average the results of the 10 firings for each of the six orientations.
(4)
Using the orientation that yields the highest average value, convert the value to sound pressure levels in decibels relative to 20 micronewtons per square meter using the response to the calibrated measuring microphone.