Sounding Out Noise

 

Taking a look at Directive 2000/14/EC

 

Towards a goal of the free movement of goods within the EC, the objective of a global approach to certification and testing is a high priority.  One Directive now in force is a little different to others as it states how testing should be carried out. We take a look at the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Directive.

 

From January 3 this year, all equipment for use outdoors was placed within the scope of the Directive 2000/14/EC, the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Directive. In short, all products and equipment placed on the market or put into service in the community have to comply with the provisions of the Directive. And if they do not comply, the respective products can be prohibited from the EC market. Alternatively, if they came on to the market after January 3, they can be withdrawn.

 

The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Directive sets out to harmonise national laws of EC member states on noise emission, setting limits and labelling requirements at the manufacturing stage.

 

57 types of equipment for use outdoors are covered by the Directive and these require noise emission measurements to be taken, and the fixing of labelling to identify a guaranteed noise level of respective machines and equipment. Additionally, of the 57 categories, 22 have noise limits set by the Directive. Where any equipment is subject to noise limits within the scope of the Directive the involvement of a notified body is required.

 

 

The Directive states how products must be tested and also how notified bodies conducting the testing need to make the measurements. It sets out to invoke a policy of outdoor noise with products initially identified at source. Manufacturers and suppliers under the CE marking scheme need to assess their products according to Articles 12 and 13 – see box items – as specified by the Directive.

 

Under the Directive, Article 12 calls for testing and factory surveillance limits to ensure that the products in manufacturing are to the same standard as those tested. Testing under the Directive must be carried out by a notified body.

 

Article 13 puts forward a noise figure for people to evaluate. Although Article 13 does not recommend notified body ratification of noise levels under the Directive, it is a good idea, however, to use a notified body such as SGS, to lower the risk of liability.   However, it is possible to have noisy kit under Article 13 but with label identification, it raises – hopefully – the question of who will buy equipment with a noise figure stated over a recommended limit. 

 

 

 

Equipment subject to noise limits and noise marking – Article 12:

 

Builders’ hoists for the transport of goods (combustion-engine driven)

Compaction machines (only vibrating and non-vibrating rollers, vibratory plates, and vibratory rammers)

Compressors (< 350kW)

Concrete-breakers and picks, hand-held

Construction winches (combustion-engine driven)

Dozers (< 500kW)

Dumpers (< 500kW)

Excavators, hydraulic or rope-operated (< 500kW)

Excavator-loaders (< 500kW)

Graders (< 500kW)

Hydraulic power packs

Landfill compactors, loader-type with bucket (< 500kW)

Lawnmowers (excluding agricultural and forestry equipment, and multi-purpose devices, the main motorised component of which has an installed power of more than 20kW)

Lawn trimmers/lawn edge trimmers

Lift trucks, combustion-engine driven, counterbalanced (excluding ‘other counterbalanced lift trucks’ with a rated capacity of not more than 10 tonnes)

Loaders (< 500kW)

Mobile cranes

Motor hoes (< 3kW)

Paver-finishers (excluding paver-finishers equipped with a high-compaction screed)

Power generators (< 400kW)

Tower cranes

Welding generators

 

 

Equipment subject to noise marking only – Article 13:

 

Aerial access platforms with combustion engine

Brush cutters

Builders’ hoists for the transport of goods (with electric motor)

Building site band saw machines

Building site circular saw benches

Chain saws, portable

Combined high pressure flushers and suction vehicles

Compaction machines (explosion rammers only)

Concrete or mortar mixers

Construction winches (with electric motor)

Conveying and spraying machines for concrete and mortar

Conveying belts

Cooling equipment on vehicles

Drill rigs

Equipment for loading and unloading tanks or silos on trucks

Glass recycling containers

Grass trimmers/grass edge trimmers

Hedge trimmers

High pressure flushers

High pressure water jet machines

Hydraulic hammers

Joint cutters

Leaf blowers

Leaf collectors

Lift trucks, combustion engine driven, counterbalanced (only ‘other counterbalanced lift trucks’ with a rated capacity of not more than 10 tonnes)

Mobile waste containers

Paver finishers (equipped with a high compaction screed)

Piling equipment

Pipe layers

Piste caterpillars

Power generators (= or > 400kW)

Power sweepers

Refuse collection vehicles

Road milling machines

Scarifiers

Shredders/chippers

Snow removing machines with rotating tools (self-propelled, excluding attachments)

Suction vehicles

Trenchers

Truck mixers

Water pump units (not for use under water)

 

 

SGS UK Achieves Notified Body Status Under EC Noise Directive

 

Following a successful audit by UKAS, SGS UK Ltd is now accredited as a Notified Body under the EC Noise Directive 2000/14/EC (Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors).

 

”SGS has worked extremely hard in the UK to achieve this accreditation,” said Alan Reynard, Technical Manager, “and this now enables us to provide a total service to our customers seeking CE testing and approvals for specific garden equipment and other outdoor equipment.”

 

The Noise Directive sets out to harmonise national laws of EC member states under CE marking and approvals, to control noise emission and product labelling requirements at the manufacturing stage. Compliance failure may result in the withdrawal or prohibition from EC markets.

 

Ever striving for continual improvement in its customer services, SGS has dedicated time and resources to reappraise the extent of service that customers expect from a testing facility. The achievement of this accreditation as a notified body under the EC Noise Directive is the first step in a major move by the company to keep ahead of changing standards and approvals requirements for the benefit of customers needing to satisfy ever more demanding standards.

 

SGS’s Noise Directive capabilities as a Notified Body in conjunction with its EMC, Low Voltage, R&TTE, Automotive and Machinery Directives now stand the company in good stead as a single source solution for approvals testing to help and guide its customers to meet and achieve EC standards. The company is part of the world’s largest independent testing organisation which comprises over 1200 respected facilities and laboratories in over 140 countries.

Email: areynard@sgsgroup.com

Telephone: +44 (0)191 3772000  

Website: http://www.sgs.co.uk/