A properly designed distributed paging system will provide a sound pressure level (SPL) for audio paging that is between ________ above ambient noise level.

3 dB to 6 dB above ambient is insufficient - at these levels background noise competes strongly with the paging audio, reducing speech intelligibility to an unacceptable level.

6 dB to 10 dB above ambient is below the minimum threshold needed to reliably ensure intelligibility across a distributed space under varying ambient conditions.

An SPL of 10 dB above ambient provides a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio for basic intelligibility, while the upper limit of 20 dB above ambient keeps the paging audio at a comfortable, non-fatiguing level. Staying within this range balances intelligibility with occupant comfort, which is the design target specified in BICSI and ANSI/AVIXA audio design guidelines for paging systems.

20 dB to 55 dB above ambient would produce a painfully loud or potentially harmful sound pressure level far exceeding the comfort and safety requirements of an occupied space.