Noise Emission in the Environment Directive Explained


The aim of the Noise Emission in the Environment Directive is to harmonise the laws of the Member States relating to noise emission standards, conformity assessment procedures, marking, technical documentation and collection of data concerning the noise emission in the environment of equipment for use outdoors. It contributes to the smooth functioning of the internal market, while protecting human health and well-being.


The noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors Directive covers only equipment that is placed on the market or put into service as an entire unit suitable for the intended use. The non-powered attachments that are separately sold or put into service are excluded, except for hand-held concrete-breakers and picks as well as hydraulic hammers.


WHICH PRODUCTS ARE COVERED BY THE NOISE EMISSION IN THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTIVE 2000/14/EC?


Equipment subject to noise limits:

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

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

- compressors

- concrete-breakers and picks, hand-held

- construction winches (combustion-engine driven)

- dozers

- dumpers

- excavators, hydraulic or rope-operated

- excavator-loaders

- graders

- hydraulic power packs

- landfill compactors, loader-type with bucket

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

- lawn trimmers/lawn edge trimmers

- lift trucks, combustion-engine driven, counterbalanced

- loaders

- mobile cranes

- motor hoes

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

- power generators

- tower cranes

- welding generators


Equipment subject to noise marking only:

- 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

- concrete or mortar mixers

- construction winches (with electric motor)

- conveying and spraying machines for concrete and mortar

- conveyor belts

- cooling equipment on vehicles

- drill rigs

- equipment for loading and unloading silos or tanks 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

- mobile waste containers

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

- piling equipment

- pipelayers

- piste caterpillars

- power generators

- 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)


WHICH PRODUCTS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE NOISE EMISSION IN THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTIVE 2000/14/EC?


Excluded from the Noise Emission in the Environment Directive are:

- all equipment primarily intended for the transport of goods or persons by road or rail or by air or on waterways,

- equipment specially designed and constructed for military and police purposes and for emergency services.


HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE NOISE EMISSION IN THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTIVE 2000/14/EC:


The noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors Directive offers two ways to perform conformity assessment:

1. Internal Production Control or CE marking self-certification: the manufacturer performs the conformity assessment and documents the assessment in his own right.

2. Involvement of a Notified Body: in the case when the manufacturer operates an approved quality assurance system for design, manufacture and final product inspection and testing.