Acoustical Proficiency Testing
Ensure confidence in your most precise measurements. NAPT’s Acoustical Proficiency Testing programs help labs demonstrate competence, meet accreditation standards, and strengthen quality control across high-stakes industries.
Request a Kit
What Is Acoustical Proficiency Testing?
Acoustical proficiency testing is a type of interlaboratory comparison (ILC) designed to evaluate a laboratory’s ability to accurately measure sound levels, frequency responses, and vibrations. Participants receive artifacts with known acoustic properties—such as a calibrated sound level meter—and measure them using their own laboratory equipment and procedures.
Results are compared against assigned values and peer laboratories to assess performance, identify discrepancies, and confirm compliance with standards like ISO/IEC 17043 (for PT providers) and ISO/IEC 17025 (for participating laboratories). This process ensures external validation of a laboratory’s competence, accuracy, and reliability in producing acoustic data.
The Value of PT Testing
Why Proficiency Testing Matters For Your Organization
Accurate acoustical testing is essential for product development, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance. Participating in acoustical proficiency testing helps your organization:
- Demonstrate technical competence in acoustic measurements for accreditation bodies such as ANAB, A2LA, IAS, or NVLAP
- Maintain compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements
- Detect out-of-tolerance microphones, meters, or test environments
- Support internal quality assurance and quality control programs
- Build confidence in the reliability of acoustical calibration results
Driving Industry Precision
Industries That Rely on Acoustical Metrology Testing
Sound and vibration accuracy is critical in sectors where performance, safety, and compliance depend on acoustical reliability. NAPT’s acoustical programs are used by:
- Environmental & Occupational Safety — Ensuring accurate noise exposure measurements for worker safety and compliance with OSHA/EU standards
- Aerospace & Defense — Verifying vibration and acoustical performance of engines, cockpits, and control systems
- Medical Device Manufacturing — Supporting FDA and ISO standards for diagnostic and therapeutic devices
- Electronics & Consumer Products — Ensuring speaker, headphone, and microphone calibration meets performance expectations
- Automotive & Transportation — Measuring cabin noise, vibration, and system performance for quality and comfort
Available Acoustical Testing Kits and Services
Acoustical testing services can range from sound insulation and absorption studies in building materials, to vibration and frequency response analysis in automotive and aerospace systems, to environmental noise monitoring for workplace safety. These types of tests focus on different measurements — from decibel levels to frequency ranges and acoustic properties — depending on the industry and application.
At NAPT, our focus is on acoustical proficiency testing. That means we provide accredited interlaboratory comparison (ILC) programs that allow laboratories to demonstrate their accuracy in acoustic measurements and calibrations.
Our Acoustical PT Kit includes:
By participating in NAPT’s Acoustical Proficiency Testing, laboratories can benchmark their practices, validate calibration procedures, and gain external assurance of competence.
How The Testing Process Works
Test Provider Preparation
Participant Measurement
Submitu2028Results
Data Comparison u0026 Evaluation
Performance Report
Featured Acoustical Testing Kit
NAPT Sound Level 115 ILC/PT Kit
This kit enables participants to evaluate and calibrate a sound level meter under defined test conditions, supporting accreditation requirements and ensuring reliable performance in acoustical measurement systems. Participants will generate predefined test points of 100 Hz, 1 kHz, and 8 kHz at 50dB and 100dB.
Get more information