---
title: "IEC 61260 Measurement Standard | Aethair"
description: "IEC 61260-1:2014, Electroacoustics — Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters, sets the performance of the filters a sound level meter uses to split…"
url: https://aethair.io/standards/iec_61260/
---

Measurement method · IEC

# IEC 61260-1: octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters

**IEC 61260-1:2014**, Electroacoustics — Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters, sets the performance of the filters a sound level meter uses to split sound into **1/1-octave and 1/3-octave bands**, in two classes, Class 1 and Class 2, that share design goals and differ mainly in tolerances and operating temperature range. IEC 61260-2 and 61260-3 cover type-approval and periodic testing.

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At a glance

**IEC** Measurement method

2 parameters

[Sound Pressure Level (SPL)](https://aethair.io/parameters/sound_spl/) [Equivalent Continuous Level (Leq)](https://aethair.io/parameters/sound_leq/)

[Official text from IEC](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/5063)

Who uses it

## Who Uses It

Makers of sound level meters and analyzers, and anyone who needs band levels: noise control engineers choosing hearing protection or treatments, environmental consultants identifying tonal noise, and occupational hygienists.

Monitoring

## How It Relates to Monitoring

A meter whose band filters meet IEC 61260 and whose overall performance meets [IEC 61672](https://aethair.io/standards/iec_61672/) reports octave or third-octave levels that can be compared across instruments, which is what a noise source investigation or a tonal assessment needs.

Devices

## Instruments Built to IEC 61260

Instruments in the sensor catalog that follow this method. Each connects to Environet through a Thiamis gateway.

Instruments built to it

[**TSI SoundPro** Noise Monitors](https://aethair.io/sensors/tsi-noise-monitors/)

Solutions

## Solutions That Rely on IEC 61260

### [Noise Monitoring](https://aethair.io/solutions/noise/)

Environmental and occupational sound levels

[All solutions](https://aethair.io/solutions/)

Questions

## IEC 61260 FAQ

What does IEC 61260 cover?

The performance of octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters used in sound measurement, in Class 1 and Class 2.

How does IEC 61260 relate to IEC 61672?

IEC 61672 specifies the sound level meter; IEC 61260 specifies its octave and third-octave band filters.

Why measure octave bands?

To see which frequencies make up a noise, which guides hearing protection and noise control and identifies tonal noise.