Activities in the field of acoustics ensure the metrological traceability of acoustic measurements through the maintenance and dissemination of the national standard of sound pressure. They include the calibration of instrumentation for acoustic measurements, such as microphones, calibrators, sound level meters and analyzers, as well as metrological activities related to the organization and technical-scientific evaluation of interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs), in support of calibration laboratories that are accredited or in the process of accreditation.
These activities make use of a reverberation chamber for diffuse-field characterization of microphones and sound level meters and for the measurement of sound power emitted by machinery and devices, and a small anechoic chamber for free-field characterization of microphones and sound level meters. Activities are also carried out for the qualification of anechoic and hemi-anechoic test environments intended for free-field measurements.
Within the framework of acoustic research, innovative measurement methods and systems are developed for the characterization and calibration of next-generation microphones (MEMS), with particular attention to the improvement of measurement uncertainties associated with conventional calibration techniques.