The II stage of 2000/14/EC Directive and the case of construction machines

The 2000/14/EC Directive is the European legislation concerning the limitation of noise emissions in the environment by equipment for use outdoors. It covers a wide range of different machines and lays down the requirements with regard to permissible noise levels, noise test codes, marking and conformity assessment procedures. This paper describes the novelties introduced by this legislation and the problems which are accompanying its application for different kinds of machines. Finally, the case of construction machines has been considered with the purpose to show whether and to what extent the technical progress in this specific field will guarantee the fulfilment of the reduced noise limits starting from 2006 (stage II of the Directive).