REVISION OF 2000/14/EC DIRECTIVE: SOUND POWER TESTS ACCORDING TO OLD OR REVISED TEST METHODS

For more than ten years, the 2000/14/EC Directive has been governing the noise emissions in the environment of 57 types of equipment and machinery for use outdoors. It lays down requirements with regard to test codes to be used and the Standards to refer to. In recent years many test codes have been revised and now new standards replace the old ones, with procedures sometimes significantly different. The Directive, however, requires the use of the old methods, even if included in withdrawn standards. The revision process of 2000/14/EC Directive is now in progress and data are requested in order to assess the opportunity to replace the current test cycles with the new ones. This paper describes some results of investigations carried out by the Work Group of European Notified Bodies on chain saws and dumpers. The objective was to support the Commission with reliable data on the comparison between new and old sound power methods.