Acoustic Noise

Notified Body:

Manufacturers of motorized equipment intended for outdoor use and destined for the European market must comply with EU Noise Directive 2000/14/EC.

Norwegian authorities have appointed Nemko as a Notified Body for the directive and to provide certifications for all equipment categories.

Facts about the Noise Directive

Directive 2000/14/EC applies to a variety of equipment, including products that previously were not subject to sound power level limits, lowering the permissible sound power level of all machinery designed for outdoor use.

The Directive specifies in Article 12 equipment that must rely on a Notified Body in order to obtain certification. A manufacturer shall submit their equipment according to one of the following conformity assessment procedures. The following all require the involvement of a Notified Body:

• Annex VI: requires a Notified Body to review the technical documentation compiled by the manufacturer. Periodic checks during the production phase are required.
• Annex VII: requires a Notified Body to examine and test every single unit, resulting in an individual certificate of conformity.
• Annex VIII: requires the manufacturer to operate an effective full quality assurance system that is audited on a regular basis for compliance with the requirements of the Directive.

Equipment not subject to sound power level limitation is listed in Article 13, where a Notified Body can act as a third party for measurement or as a consultant - providing expertise.