Noise and Vibration Protection

Get Effective Protection against Noise, Vibration, and Shock

Protect local residents, employees, and your environment from noise and vibration. TÜV Rheinland offers a full range of effective noise and vibration protection services for authorities and manufacturers. From analysis of existing conditions and development of noise control strategies to implementation of noise control measures – we can help you develop sustainable approaches.

Since the European Commission has identified airborne noise in the environment as one of the main local environmental problems, if you intend to sell your product in the European market, requirements for airborne noise emissions by equipment for use outdoors needs to be met. At the same time a high level of environmental and consumer protection needs to be achieved, without creating any obstacles for the free movement of the equipment within the EU market.

Benefits at a Glance

With TÜV Rheinland as your noise and vibration control partner, you can:

  • Ensure compliance with the required safety standards
  • Rely on state-of-the-art technology for measurements, calculations, and expert assessments
  • Benefit from our exclusive one-stop service, many years of experience and expertise
  • Effectively utilize the knowledge of our technical experts with deep understanding of laws and requirements
  • Gain Market Access while meeting compliance with global noise protection requirements

Our Services for Noise and Vibration Protection

TÜV Rheinland has the capability to provide state-of-the-art sound testing and technical expertise. Whether the product is listed under article 12, or article 13, the manufacturer, or his authorized representative, must ensure that the equipment is marked with their certified guaranteed sound power level and issue an EC Declaration of Conformity. A copy of every EC Declaration of Conformity must be sent to the responsible authority of the member state in which the equipment is placed on the market. A copy must also be sent to the European Commission in Brussels to enable them to monitor noise levels. Some equipments were already subject to noise limits as laid down in previous EU Directives. In cases where machinery does not fall into the scope of the EU Directive 2000/14/EC, it will still be expected to meet the required European noise emission regulations, e.g., 98/37/EC (Machinery Directive).

  • Directives repealed and replaced by 2000/14/EC
  • Directive 79/113/EEC
  • Directive 84/532/EEC
  • Directive 84/533/EEC
  • Directive 84/534/EEC
  • Directive 84/535/EEC
  • Directive 84/536/EEC
  • Directive 84/537/EEC
  • Directive 84/538/EEC
  • Directive 86/662/EEC

Mandatory Requirements to comply with Directive 2000/14/EC

Directive 2000/14/EC regulates the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors. The Directive covers various types of equipment for use outdoors, which are divided into two groups:

Equipment subject to noise limits (article 12)

Equipment subject to noise marking only (article 13)

The manufacturer, or his authorized representative, placing the equipment on the market shall be responsible for ensuring that the equipment is in conformance with the provisions of the Directive and any other Directives that apply to it. The manufacturer is offered different modules regarding conformity assessment procedures (i.e., Annex V-VIII). For equipment subject to noise limits (article 12), a notified body has to check conformity with the Directive's provisions in both the design phase and production phase.

Equipment subject to noise limits

  • Builder's hoists for the transport of goods (combustion engine driven)
  • Compaction machines
  • Compressors (< 350kW)
  • Concrete breakers and picks (handheld)
  • 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
  • Lawn trimmers / lawn edge trimmers
  • Lift trucks, combustion engine driven (counterbalanced)
  • Loaders (< 500kW)
  • Mobile cranes
  • Motor hoes (< 3kW)
  • Paver finishers
  • Power generators (< 400kW)
  • Tower cranes
  • Welding generators