The time‐domain description of impulsive noise found in industrial environments typically resembles exponentially decaying random noise. The peak sound pressure level (SPL) experienced by the operators of power presses and drop forges generally exceed 100 dB and, in some instances, exceed 150 dB. TheBduration of the impulsive noise produced by these machines ranges from hundredths of a second to a few seconds, and is somewhat dependent on the distance and direction between the machine and the point of observation. LongerBdurations are associated with the greater distances from the machine owing to reverberations. Power circuit breakers can be categorized into three classes in terms of their peak SPL, namely oil, SF6, and air blast. Oil circuit breakers generally produce a lower peak SPL than do the SF6breakers which, in turn, produce a lower peak SPL than do air blast breakers. TheBdurations of the impulsive sounds produced by power circuit breakers is typically 115 ms for air blast breakers, 190 ms for the oil circuit breakers and 240 ms for SF6circuit breakers. The reduction of peak SPL with distance generally follows spherical divergence out to about 1200 ft when propragating inside the switching yard.