NEBB S&V CP study plan

Define sound pressure, sound power, and sound intensity and state the reference quantities (20 µPa, 1 pW, 1 pW/m²) used for each level

Convert between pascals and dB SPL by hand for at least 12 values spanning 20 µPa to 20 Pa without a calculator

Explain why decibels are logarithmic and compute combined levels for coherent and incoherent sources

Identify the frequency weighting curves A, C, and Z and state the IEC 61672 tolerance bands at 1 kHz

Describe the components of a sound level meter (microphone, preamp, weighting, detector, RMS and peak circuits) and their signal order

Distinguish Type 1 and Type 2 meter tolerances and state when each is acceptable for a compliance measurement

Compute Leq, L10, L50, L90, and Lmax from a supplied 60-second time-history table

Set up a measurement plan that specifies calibration before and after, windscreen use, tripod mounting, and microphone height

Apply octave-band and one-third-octave-band center frequencies and state the preferred nominal band edges

Compute an A-weighted total level from a supplied octave-band spectrum using the standard A-weighting corrections

Describe field calibration with a pistonphone or acoustic calibrator and explain the acceptable pre/post drift limit

Explain background-noise correction and apply it to at least three field examples

Interpret sound power determination by sound pressure method in a reverberant or semi-reverberant room, including room constant and directivity

Explain the difference between sound power level and sound pressure level at a distance and compute one from the other

Define vibration displacement, velocity, and acceleration and derive the relationships among them at a given frequency

State the reference values for vibration acceleration (1 µm/s²), velocity (1 nm/s), and displacement (1 pm) in dB

Explain frequency weighting for human vibration: Wk for vertical whole-body and Wh for hand-arm, and when each applies

Describe the accelerometer signal chain: mounting, cable effects, charge amplifier or IEPE, and high-pass filtering

Identify common measurement errors from mounting resonance, cable triboelectric noise, and ground loops and state a mitigation for each

Apply the hand-arm vibration exposure points formula and compute daily exposure A(8) from a supplied dose table

Explain whole-body vibration evaluation using the frequency-weighted acceleration and the daily exposure A(8) with the standard health guidance caution zone

Describe measurement axes and the multiplying factors applied to the horizontal axes for seated whole-body vibration

Interpret a vibration severity chart and distinguish overall RMS, peak, and crest factor reporting

Plan a vibration measurement on a machine or floor that specifies transducer location, orientation, and sampling duration

Review calibration traceability requirements and state how often field instruments must be verified against a reference

Practice interpreting field data for both domains under time pressure using 40 mixed items

Diagnose the three most common mistakes you have made on practice items and write a correction rule for each

Recompute the hardest 10 calculations from weeks 1 through 6 from memory

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions and record per-domain scores

Review every missed item and trace it to a specific formula, standard, or definition gap

Recite the key reference values, weightings, and acceptance criteria from memory without notes

Finalize a one-page formula and reference card permitted for last-minute review