Noise control

Noise control is the goal of all measures of noise abatement. He shall ensure the well -being of humans and animals in terms of noise. The measures of noise abatement projects focus on protection against ambient noise ( aircraft noise, road traffic noise, railway noise, industrial noise ), Sports noise, recreational noise and disturbance.

The term noise protection is not synonymous with the term " soundproof ". Sound is a measurable quantity. Only through non-measurable individual or socio - cultural aspects is disturbing sound to noise.

Noise control is an important part of the labor and environmental protection. It is designed to protect against physical, emotional, and material damage:

  • Physical stress
  • Physical damage: Noise induced hearing loss and acoustic trauma
  • Damage to the immune
  • Damage to the cardiovascular system

Legal regulations

Germany

The legal regulations for noise protection serve the balance of interests between noise polluters (such as plant operators or the evening barbeque party ) and the affected neighborhood. For the various types of noise, the Federal Pollution Control Act ( Federal Pollution Control Act ) and subordinate regulations are relevant mainly. These include:

  • VLärmSchR 97 - Guidelines for traffic noise protection on federal highways of public easement
  • 18 BlmSchV - Sports Noise Ordinance
  • 24 BlmSchV - Road Noise Protection Measures Regulation
  • DIN 18005 - Noise abatement in town, contains, inter alia, Orientation values ​​for land use planning
  • 32 BlmSchV - machinery and equipment Noise Ordinance
  • Technical Instructions on Noise Abatement (TA noise).

For aircraft noise own statutory provisions apply, for example, are stipulated in the Law on the protection against aircraft noise. For the assessment of leisure noise was in different states, the so-called " leisure noise " Directive introduced. This applies to the area of leisure noise, which is not already regulated as a sport noise by 18 BlmSchV.

Noise in the workplace is covered by the Labour Protection Act and the Noise and Vibration OSH Ordinance.

Often, these rules contain no limits, but as a guide and orientation values ​​may be waived in an individual case.

Germany has recognized noise as an environmental problem as well as set out in its environmental policy and follows with the concern for protection against noise on the principles of sustainability. Responsible department is the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety building.

Switzerland

European Union - Noise mapping and noise action planning

At European level, the Environmental Noise Directive was adopted in 2002. This is since 24 June 2005, and the Act on the Implementation of the EC Directive on the assessment and management of environmental noise (amendment of § § 47 af BimSchG ) and the Regulation on Noise Mapping ( 34 BlmSchV March 2006 ) into national law implemented.

Until 30 June 2007 strategic noise maps were set up for:

  • Agglomerations > 250,000 inhabitants
  • Major roads > 6 million vehicles / year
  • Railways > 60,000 units / year
  • Major airports > 50,000 flight movements / year

17.000 km of main roads, 4400 km railways, 9 major airports and 27 metropolitan areas were mapped.

The cards contain the risks posed by the respective sources of noise emissions, shown as contour lines of different value ranges. Furthermore, the calculated noise exposure situation ( Loaded numbers) about the intersection of the isolines with existing building structure or its occupants. In Germany in 2007, 1.2 million sufferers in urban areas and 700,000 sufferers along major thoroughfares were detected at levels exceeding 65 dB ( A) in daily average, according to mapping from the year. The cards and the number of persons affected and other results had to be reported to the EU.

Until 18 July 2008 were set up by the authorities responsible action plans to control noise problems identified. On the basis of the next stage of the noise mapping of the procedure must be repeated also until July 18, 2013. Then all is five years conduct a review of whether a statement must be made again. In the process of noise action planning public involvement is required by law.

As part of the noise action planning, it came in the first stage to some problems in the implementation. Among other things:

  • Was the period between noise mapping and the preparation of the noise action plans too short ( particularly in terms of public participation );
  • Were the values ​​that serve to initiate action plans are released, which resulted in no nationally standardized approach;
  • Were particularly smaller municipalities with the preparation mostly overwhelmed (this is because that smaller municipalities often do not have the busy roads in their easement and thus in their responsibility for this but ultimately should establish measures );
  • Are some concepts out of focus or not defined. So, for example, to " quiet areas " are reported without a clear definition was made;
  • The plans are not legally binding. To apply for road construction for new construction of ( or expand existing ) systems already limits to be observed for measures of other existing roads or railways do not exist this. Since noise action plans, however, relate primarily to existing installations, no handle on the implementation of measures is legally given. The expectation that was generated in the population often, could thus not be met.

Nevertheless, were recorded by the noise action planning successes:

  • So the theme was often the first time brought to the municipalities in the focus of perception and in the municipalities, the administration is sensitized in dealing with the problem.
  • The Confederation provided for noise abatement programs for existing federal trunk roads and railways more resources available.
  • In the economic stimulus package infrastructure were asked a total of 3.5 billion euros available in the communities and countries for the investment focus that could be used for noise protection measures on municipal roads.
  • The National Traffic Noise Package II a letter of intent was given to lower the action levels for noise abatement on federal highways of public easement by 3 dB. The lowering of the trigger values ​​were in 2010.

In a second step should be to 30 June 2012, again noise maps are created, with the boundaries for areas to be mapped were largely lowered. Accordingly, to map:

  • Agglomerations > 100,000 inhabitants
  • Major roads > 3 million units / year
  • Railways > 30,000 units / year
  • Major airports > 50,000 flight movements / year ( no change)

Methods of noise protection

Technically, a distinction is made:

  • Active noise control. It includes measures to the sound source, such as vibration isolation, use of quieter cars, less noisy lawn mowers and Quiet shredders, insulation of industrial equipment, flight bans, construction of noise walls and ramparts, impact sound by sound-insulated ceiling and stairs. So also noise abatement fences or walls are mainly used in applications where increased noise level prevails. Especially with busy roads and highways this line mostly the streetscape, but also from playgrounds and industrial sites which are mostly represented.
  • Passive noise protection. It includes measures at the immission, eg the use of soundproof windows for windows, soundproof doors, hearing protection, ear plugs.

Since 1998, every year in April, the International Noise Awareness Day - International Noise Awareness Day instead. The date is based on the International Noise Awareness Day in the U.S. and takes place worldwide on the same day. Meanwhile, among others in Europe Austria, Switzerland and Spain involved. In Germany, the German Acoustical Society ( DEGA ) informed with this annual day of action the public about noise and its causes and its effects. Is being organized by the labor action noise of the ring DEGA (ALD ) and the DEGA committees " noise: Effects and Protection" and " Hearing Aids ".

Stress (biology) Municipality
499306
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