Category Archives: Noise pollution

Noise above a certain volume threshold (from 60 Ldn dB(A) according to the European Environment Agency) affects not only wellbeing, but also the health of citizens. On top of the corrective measures applicable to some sources of noise, in 2002 the European Union adopted a Directive setting out a Community approach to the management and evaluation of ambient noise in order to protect public health.

Noise pollution

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Noise pollution

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Noise pollution

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Environment > Noise pollution

Noise pollution

GENERAL FRAMEWORK

Assessment and management of environmental noise
Action against noise: Green Paper

SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION

Motor vehicles with trailers: permissible sound level
Noise emission by equipment used outdoors
Noise management at EU airports

Assessment and management of environmental noise

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Assessment and management of environmental noise

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Assessment and management of environmental noise

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Environment > Noise pollution

Assessment and management of environmental noise

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise [See amending act(s)].

Summary

This Directive is aimed at controlling noise perceived by people in built-up areas, in public parks or other quiet areas in an agglomeration, in quiet areas in open country, near schools, hospitals and other noise-sensitive buildings and areas. It does not apply to noise that is caused by the exposed person him or herself, noise from domestic activities, noise created by neighbours, noise at work places or inside means of transport or noise due to military activities in military areas.

Noise indicators and their assessment methods

Lden is an indicator of the overall noise level during the day, evening and night which is used to describe the annoyance caused by exposure to noise. Lnight is an indicator for the sound level during the night used to describe sleep disturbance. The noise indicators Lden and Lnight are used in the making of strategic noise maps.

Other indicators may be used for acoustical planning and noise zoning and in the special cases as listed in Annex I to the Directive.

The values of Lden and Lnight are defined using the assessment methods set out in Annex II to the Directive. Common assessment methods for the determination of Lden and Lnight will be established by the Commission. In the meantime, Member States may use their own methods to determine the common indicators, provided that such methods conform to Annex II.

Dose-effect relations will be introduced in Annex III by future revisions in order to be able to assess the effect of noise on populations.

No later than 18 July 2005, Member States are to communicate information to the Commission on any relevant limit values in force or under preparation, expressed in terms of Lden and Lnight and, where appropriate, Lday and Levening, for road-traffic noise, air-traffic noise, rail-traffic noise and industrial noise.

Strategic noise mapping

A strategic noise map enables a global assessment to be made of noise exposure in an area due to different noise sources and overall predictions to be made for such an area. The strategic noise maps must satisfy the minimum requirements laid down in Annex IV to the Directive.

No later than 18 July 2005, Member States are to make available to the public information concerning the competent authorities and bodies responsible for making and, where relevant, approving strategic noise maps.

No later than 30 June 2005, and thereafter every five years, Member States must inform the Commission of the major roads which have more than six million vehicle passages a year, railways which have more than 60 000 train passages per year, major airports and the agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants within their territories. By 30 June 2007 at the latest, strategic noise maps showing the situation during the preceding year in the vicinity of the infrastructures and in the agglomerations referred to must have been made and, where relevant, approved.

No later than 31 December 2008, Member States are to inform the Commission of all the agglomerations with more than 100 000 inhabitants and of all the major roads and major railways within their territories. By 30 June 2012 at the latest, and thereafter every five years, strategic noise maps showing the situation during the preceding year must be made and, where relevant, approved for those agglomerations, roads and railways.

Noise maps must be reviewed, and revised if necessary, every five years.

Action plans

Action plans are aimed at managing noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary. They must meet the minimum requirements set out in Annex V to the Directive.

The measures within the plans are at the discretion of the competent authorities, but should address priorities which may be identified by the exceeding of any relevant limit value or by other criteria chosen by the Member States and apply in particular to the most important areas as established by strategic mapping.

No later than 18 July 2005, Member States are to make available to the public information concerning the authorities and bodies responsible for drawing up and, where relevant, approving the action plans.

No later than 18 July 2008, action plans must be drawn up for major roads which have more than six million vehicle passages a year, railways which have more than 60 000 train passages per year, major airports and agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants.
No later than 18 July 2013, action plans must be drawn up for all major agglomerations, major airports, major roads and major railways.

The action plans are to be reviewed when a major development occurs affecting the existing noise situation, and at least every five years.

Information for the citizen

Member States are to ensure that a public consultation is organised and the results thereof are taken into account before the action plans are approved.

Member States are to ensure that the strategic noise maps and the action plans are made available and disseminated to the public in conformity with Annexes IV and V to this Directive and in accordance with the Directive on the freedom of access to information on the environment.

Reports concerning the Directive

On 10 March 2004, the Commission forwarded a report to the European Parliament and the Council on existing Community measures relating to sources of environmental noise (see “Related Acts” below).

Member States are to collect the noise maps and action plans. They are to forward to the Commission the information contained in the noise maps and a summary of the action plans. Every five years, the Commission is to publish a summary report on the data contained in the noise maps and action plans. The first report will be submitted by 18 July 2009.

No later than 18 July 2009, the Commission is to submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the application of this Directive. The report will assess the need for further Community actions on environmental noise and, if appropriate, propose implementing strategies. It is to include in particular a review of the acoustic environment quality in the Community. The report is to be reviewed every five years.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2002/49/EC	18.7.2002	18.7.2002	OJ L 189 of 18.7.2002

Amending act(s)	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Regulation (EC) No 1137/2008	11.12.2008	–	OJ L 311 of 21.11.2008

The successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2002/49/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated versionis for reference only.

Related Acts

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of 1 June 2011 on the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 2002/49/EC [COM (2011) 321 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of 10 March 2004 concerning existing Community measures relating to sources of environmental noise, pursuant to article 10(1) of Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise [COM(2004) 160 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Action against noise: Green Paper

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Action against noise: Green Paper

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Action against noise: Green Paper

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Environment > Noise pollution

Action against noise: Green Paper

The Commission launches a debate on the Community’s future noise policy.

Document or Iniciative

Commission Green Paper of 4 November 1996 on Future Noise Policy [COM(96) 540 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

Noise consists of all unwanted sound – sound that is loud, unpleasant or unexpected. It has been increasing in urban areas to the point where it has become a matter of public concern. According to one estimate, around 20% of the population of Western Europe (some 80 million people) suffer from noise levels that experts consider unacceptable. This noise is caused by traffic, industrial and recreational activities.

The effects of noise can vary from one individual to another. However, a WHO report entitled “Community Noise – Environmental Health Criteria”, published in 1996, highlights such effects as disturbance of sleep, auditory or physiological effects (basically cardio-vascular) and interference with communication.

Initially, action to reduce noise was not considered an environmental priority – unlike action to reduce air pollution, for example. The effects of noise are unspectacular, and the decline in quality of life was accepted by the general public as being an inevitable consequence of technological progress and urbanisation.

The earliest Community measures consisted of legislation fixing maximum sound levels for certain types of vehicles (cars, aeroplanes) with a view to completing the Single Market. National measures were introduced to supplement the Community legislation.

An assessment of the impact of this legislation shows that noise from certain vehicles has been considerably reduced. For example, noise from private cars has been cut by 85% since 1970. However, the problem is still with us, in particular because of the growth of traffic.

The 1993 Fifth Environmental Action Programme included noise abatement targets to be achieved by the year 2000. When this programme was reviewed in 1995, the Commission announced the introduction of a noise abatement programme, the first stage of which was the Green Paper.

In this Green Paper the Commission argues for an overall approach, involving all the actors, national and local, so that action can be taken as effectively as possible. It proposes:

a genuine sharing of responsibilities
setting targets
more coherent action
a system for monitoring progress
developing noise assessment methods.

For the first time, the Green Paper treats noise as an environmental issue. It does not, therefore, deal with noise at the workplace – which is covered by Directive 86/188/EEC, replaced by Directive 2003/10/EC – or with “neighbourhood noise”.

The Commission puts forward two lines of action against noise.

(a) A general noise policy

On the basis of the proposals contained in the Green Paper, the Commission aims to restructure the whole of Community noise policy by:

establishing common methods for assessing noise exposure
establishing a common EC noise exposure index
limiting the transmission of noise (by soundproofing buildings)
encouraging the exchange of information and experience in exposure to noise between the Member States (enviromental awareness campaigns)
improving the coherency of noise research programmes.

(b) Reducing emissions at source:

– Road traffic:

reducing noise emission limit values
taking action on roads to reduce tyre noise (quieter road surfaces)
revising vehicle tax arrangements to take account of noise levels
introducing noise testing as part of vehicle roadworthiness tests
developing economic instruments such as incentives for purchasing quiet vehicles
limiting the use of noisy vehicles (banning HGVs from towns at night or during weekends).

– Rail traffic:

extending emission limits to cover the whole of the railway network
carrying out further research on reducing train noise
harmonising methods for assessing and predicting train noise

– Aircraft:

setting stricter emission limits
aid for building and using quieter aircraft
protecting the areas around airports
introducing a system for classifying aircraft according to their sound emission level

– Outdoor machinery:

The noise from certain types of machine used in public works (in particular compressors, pneumatic drills and tower cranes) is already covered by Community directives, as is the noise from lawn mowers.

Directive 89/392/EEC, in respect of the health and safety requirement relating to machinery, lays down that machines must be designed and constructed so as to reduce noise as far as possible..

The Commission wants to go further, and proposes:

simplifying the legislation on noise emission limits for these machines
making it compulsory to fit all machinery with a plaque stating its noise level.

Related Acts

of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise [Official Journal L 189, 18.7.2002].
As part of the effort to tackle noise pollution, the European Union has laid down a common approach to avoiding, preventing or reducing on a prioritised basis the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise. This approach is based on using common methods to map noise, on providing information to the public and on implementing action plans at local level. This Directive is also to serve as a basis for developing Community measures concerning noise sources.

Motor vehicles with trailers: permissible sound level

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Motor vehicles with trailers: permissible sound level

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Motor vehicles with trailers: permissible sound level

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Environment > Noise pollution

Motor vehicles with trailers: permissible sound level

To implement Community Regulations relating to vehicle noise based on complete harmonisation.

2) Document or Iniciative

Council Directive 70/157/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles [Official Journal L 42 of 23.02.1970].

Amended by the following acts:

Commission Directive 73/350/EEC of 7 November 1973 [Official Journal L 321 of 22.11.1973];
Council Directive 77/212/EEC of 8 March 1977 [Official Journal L 66 of 12.03.1977];
Commission Directive 81/334/EEC of 13 April 1981 [Official Journal L 131 of 18.05.1981];
Commission Directive 84/372/EEC of 3 July 1984 [Official Journal L 196 of 26.07.1984];
Council Directive 84/424/EEC of 3 September 1984 [Official Journal L 238 of 06.09.1984];
Council Directive 87/354/EEC of 25 June 1987 [Official Journal L 192 of 11.07.1987];
Commission Directive 89/491/EEC of 17 July 1989 [Official Journal L 238 of 15.08.1989];
Council Directive 92/97/EEC of 10 November 1992 [Official Journal L 371 of 19.12.1992];
Commission Directive 96/20/EC of 27 March 1996 [Official Journal L 92 of 13.04.1996];
Commission Directive 99/101/EC of 15 December 1999 [Official Journal L 334 of 28.12.1999].

Commission Directive 2007/734/EC of 14 June 2007 [Official Journal L 155 of 15.6.2007].

3) Summary

The Directives apply to any motor vehicle intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, with the exception of vehicles that run on rails, agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.

The Directives lay down limits for the noise level of the mechanical parts and exhaust systems of the vehicles concerned. The limits range from 74 dB(A) for motor cars to 80 dB(A) for high-powered goods vehicles.

Permissible values are drawn up for specific categories of vehicles:

cars;
public transport vehicles;
goods vehicles.

Member States are required to publish noise level values for type-approval by 1 October 1994.

Hence Member States may not, for reasons relating to the permissible sound level and exhaust system:

refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, placing on the market or use of vehicles which comply with the provisions of the Directive;
prohibit the placing on the market of an exhaust system or technical unit if they correspond to a type in respect of which type-approval has been granted.

Tax incentives granted by Member States to encourage new limits to be met in advance may be authorized if they are:

non-discriminatory;
for a limited period;
of an amount which is significantly lower than the cost of the equipment fitted;
applied to vehicles fitted with equipment which enables future European standards to be met in advance.

Type-approval procedure for each type of vehicle, exhaust system and technical unit (silencer and replacement exhaust system):

the application for EEC type-approval shall be submitted by the manufacturer or his authorized representative;
it shall contain the information required by the existing Directives;
different type-approval tests shall be provided for;

where the type of vehicle, exhaust system or technical unit meets the test requirements, an EEC type-approval certificate shall be issued by the competent authority of the Member State in question.

Act	Date of entry into force	Final date for implementation in the Member States
Directive 70/157/EEC	06.02.1970	06.07.1970
Directive 73/350/EEC	01.03.1974	01.03.1974
Directive 77/212/EEC	01.04.1977	01.04.1977
Directive 81/334/EEC	13.04.1981	31.12.1981
Directive 84/372/EEC	13.07.1984	01.10.1984
Directive 84/424/EEC	03.09.1984	01.10.1985
Directive 87/354/EEC	25.06.1987	31.12.1987
Directive 89/491/EEC	17.07.1989	01.01.1990
Directive 92/97/EEC	10.11.1992	01.07.1993
Directive 92/97/EEC	01.10.1996	30.06.1993
Directive 96/20/EEC	03.05.1996	30.09.1996
Directive 99/101/EC	04.01.2000	31.03.2000

4) Implementing Measures

5) Follow-Up Work

Noise emission by equipment used outdoors

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Noise emission by equipment used outdoors

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Noise emission by equipment used outdoors

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Environment > Noise pollution

Noise emission by equipment used outdoors

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors [See amending acts].

Summary

This framework Directive harmonises the 9 existing legal instruments on noise emissions for each type of construction plant and equipment, as well as a directive on lawnmowers. The aim is to improve the control of noise emissions by more than 50 types of equipment used outdoors, such as compressors, excavator-loaders, different types of saws, mixers, etc. (Annex I).

The aim of the Directive is to promote the smooth functioning of the internal market and to improve the health and well-being of the population by reducing the noise emitted by equipment used outdoors. With a view to achieving this aim, it provides for four types of action:

harmonisation of noise emission standards;
harmonisation of conformity assessment procedures;
harmonisation of noise level marking;
gathering of data on noise emissions.

The following equipment is excluded:

non-powered attachments that are separately placed on the market or put into service (except for hand-held concrete-breakers and picks);
all equipment intended for the transport of goods or persons by public road or rail or by air or on waterways;
equipment designed and constructed for use by the police or the military.

Member States will be responsible for verifying that the Directive’s provisions are being applied. Annex V contains the various checking procedures to be employed.

The manufacturer or the person placing the equipment on the market or putting it into service must ensure (Annex V, 2) that:

they have drawn up a declaration of conformity certifying that each of item of equipment is in conformity with the provisions of the Directive;
they have affixed an indelible legible marking to each item of equipment indicating the guaranteed sound power level.

Where a Member State ascertains that equipment does not comply with these conditions, it must withdraw it from the market or prohibit its use.

Labelling is compulsory for all items of equipment covered by the Directive and must include:

the CE marking visibly, legibly and indelibly affixed to each item of equipment;
details of the sound power level Lwa in dB(A) in relation to 1 pW.

The noise emission limits * laid down for certain types of equipment involve two stages, so as to enable undertakings to adapt to the new regulations. The emission limits for stage 1 take effect two years after the entry into force of the Directive. More stringent limits will enter into force in stage 2 four years later.

Responsibility for monitoring the noise emission limits applicable to the equipment is vested in a notified body set up by the Member States. These monitoring controls apply both to the equipment design phase and the equipment production phase. On the other hand, it is not necessary to monitor the design of equipment that is subject only to compulsory marking.

With a view to assessing the impact of the Directive, a procedure for the collection of noise emission data will be established. This information will serve as the basis for devising economic incentives and eco-label awards. Responsibility for collecting the data will rest with the certification bodies, which will be required to send the Commission a copy of their test reports. The Commission envisages the appointment of the European Environmental Agency to collect and evaluate these data.

The document has ten annexes on the following subjects:

definitions of equipment;
EC declaration of conformity;
method of measurement of airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors;
models of the CE marking of conformity and of the indication of the guaranteed sound power level;
internal control of production;
internal control of production with assessment of technical documentation and periodical checking;
unit verification;
full quality assurance;
minimum criteria to be taken into account by Member States for the notification of bodies;
unit verification – model of conformity certificate.

Background

The Commission Green Paper of 1996 on Noise Policy highlighted the increase of noise pollution in urban areas. Some 20 % of the population of Western Europe have to endure noise levels judged by the experts as unacceptable. While most external noise is caused by transport equipment, the extent of noise emissions as the result of the use of outdoor equipment is constantly increasing.

Termes clés
Noise limits are laid down following a general formula: L = A + B 1g P, where L is the sound emission limit, P is a power-related descriptor, A and B are product-related constants.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2000/14/EC	3.7.2000	3.7.2001	OJ L 162 of 3.7.2000

Amending act(s)	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2005/88/EC	27.12.2005	31.12.2005	OJ L 344 of 27.12.2005
Regulation (EC) No 219/2009	20.4.2009	–	OJ L 87 of 31.3.2009

Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2000/14/EC have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference purpose only.

Related Acts

Commission Recommendation of 6 August 2003 concerning the guidelines on the revised interim computation methods for industrial noise, aircraft noise, road traffic noise and railway noise, and related emission data [C(2003) 2807 – Official Journal L 212 of 22.08.2003].

The Commission recommends the interim application of the ISO 9613-2 engineering method for calculating the abatement of sound during propagation outdoors, in order to predict environmental noise levels around a variety of sources, particularly industrial sources.

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise – Declaration by the Commission in the Conciliation Committee on the Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise [Official Journal L 189 of 18.07.2002].