JCB is a world-leading manufacturer of earth moving, loading, and utility vehicles. With an increasing understanding of the effects of noise in the environment, the amount of noise that these vehicles can produce is regulated by international directives.
JCB are consequently required to test their product to ensure that they meet the requirement. The method of testing acoustic emissions is prescribed by international standard (ISO 6395, ISO 3744) and for some time JCB have maintained a facility that can test acoustic emissions to this standard. This facility at JCB headquarters comprises an outdoor test pad at a quiet location surrounded by a hemispherical array of six microphones that are used for both stationary and ‘drive by’ tests.