Is it okay to swap microphones between dosimeters?
Yes, provided certain actions are taken each time this is done. Microphones are manufactured and tested to performance standards that are applicable to the microphone alone. Likewise the dosimeter electronics are manufactured and tested to performance standards that are applicable to the dosimeter electronics alone. The performance standards of each of these two components of the noise dosimeter are specified tightly enough that any microphone and dosimeter combination that passes their respective independent tests is assured to meet the overall performance standards applicable to the noise dosimeter inclusive of the microphone. However, variances in sensitivity from one microphone to another must be addressed each time a microphone is swapped from one dosimeter to another. It is considered best practice to perform a field calibration using an acoustical calibrator before each use of a noise dosimeter regardless of whether or not the microphone is swapped. The variances in sensitivity
