Noise emissions for outdoor equipment
The Noise 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 was approved on 8 may 2000.
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.
The Directive requires noise marking for 57 types of equipment used outdoors. For 22 of these equipment types, the Directive also sets noise limit values.
For all types of equipments covered by the Directive, procedures and operating conditions are specified for measurement of the sound power level.
Certain types of equipment are included in article 13, and require a labelling, and others are included in article 12, which means that they are submitted to limit emission values.
In order to allow certain types of equipment (for which clear evidence has been provided that stage II limits are presently not yet technically feasible) to be placed on the market, an amending Directive 2005/88/EC was adopted which made the stage II permissible sound power levels for certain types of equipment indicative only.
Workshop “Towards a greater awareness of low-noise outdoor machinery”, 29 October 2010 in Brussels
The European Commission and Belgian Presidency prompt reflection upon a range of policy instruments to develop the market of environmentally friendly outdoor machinery
The workshop, organised by the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, brought together various stakeholders, representatives from national governments and noise experts in order to launch a dialogue on complementary measures in order to develop a market for low-noise machinery and to enhance environmental awareness and commitment. Further information
