Outdoor Noise Regulations

 

By Michael Wood, Technical & Managing Director,

EMC Projects Ltd

 

 

As of 3rd January 2002, the “Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors” directive comes into force. The EU Directive 2000/14/EC, was implemented into UK law by the Statutory Instrument SI 2001/1701) and affects some 57 categories of equipment for use outdoors, ranging from lawnmowers to construction machinery. This Directive requires manufacturer’s to determine the noise emission levels, create a Technical File and affix a label showing the “guaranteed sound power level” of each machine. This is in addition to the procedures for CE marking. The Regulations sets noise limits for 22 of the 57 categories of equipment, which have to be fully complied with.

 

The Regulations do not cover: second hand equipment, non-powered attachments (separately placed on the market), equipment primarily intended for transport of goods/persons by road, rail, air or waterways and equipment specially designed and constructed for military, police/emergency services.

 

The limits for the guaranteed sound power level are to be tightened as from 3rd January 2006 and it is expected that more categories of equipment will be subject to these limits.

 

Prior to placing the product on the market, the manufacturer, for all categories of equipment, has to undertake the noise emission measurements in accordance with the relevant ISO EN Standards and produce a Technical File. The measurements should be carried out on a randomly selected production sample (typically at least 5 units) in order that the evaluation of the uncertainties due to measurement and production can be determined. This will enable the manufacturer to determine the “GUARANTEED SOUND POWER LEVEL” which he has to declare and display on the equipment in addition to the CE marking (which covers ALL relevant Directives applicable to the product).

 

 

 

 For equipment not subject to the limits (eg: chain saws, concrete mixers, hedge trimmers, high pressure washers, water pump units etc;) the manufacturer has to draw up the technical documentation (as detailed in Annex V of the Directive). This will generally contain information regarding the equipment, manufacturer, construction details, technical report of noise measurements and the technical instruments applied in the calculation of the guaranteed sound power level.

 

For equipment subject to the limits (eg: compressors <350kW, lawnmowers, lawn trimmers, mobile cranes, power generators <400kW, Welding generators etc;)the manufacturer has to undertake procedures before placing on the market and during production. He has three choices of routes each requiring him to assign a Notified Body of his choice (one only):

 

1.  Internal control of production with assessment of technical documentation and periodical checking (Annex VI). This involves drawing up technical documentation (as above) and submitting it to a Notified Body (NB) for evaluation. After the successful evaluation by the NB the manufacturer may affix the CE marking and issue a Declaration of Conformity. The Notified Body shall continue to be involved in the production phase by carrying out periodical checks to verify continuing compliance.

 

2.  Unit Verification (Annex VII).  This procedure is only for “one off” types of equipment. The application is to be made to a Notified Body who will examine the equipment, determine the location for testing, carry our or have carried out the noise tests and, if satisfactory,  issue a Certificate of Conformity.

 

3.  Full Quality Assurance (Annex VIII). The manufacturer lodges an application with a Notified Body for the assessment of his quality assurance system. The NB will fully assess the documentation to determine that it satisfies the requirements and continue a surveillance activity by periodical audits.

 

In all cases the manufacturer must send a copy of his Declaration of Conformity to a Member State and the Commission.

 

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), an Executive Agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, is responsible for the enforcement of the UK regulations. They will be undertaking proactive surveillance and responding to complaints.

 

 

 

EMC Projects of Ringwood have been appointed as one of the four current UK Notified Bodies to undertake Noise emission testing, inspection and Certification.

 

The test site at Holly Grove Farm is UKAS accredited to carry out measurements on certain ranges of equipment and this complements the EMC testing facilities.

 

The company is also a Competent Body under the EMC Directive and a Notified Body under the Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive.

 

Further information on all the above directives and general CE marking of equipment can be obtained from Michael Wood, Technical & Managing Director, +44 (0)1425 479979.