1977L0311 — EN — 30.10.1997 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 29March 19 77
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the driver-perceived noise level
of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors
(77/311/EEC)
(OJ L 105, 28.4.1977, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 L 378 45 31.12.1982
►M2Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23
September 1997 L 277 24 10.10.1997
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 29March 19 77
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the driver-perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry
tractors
(77/311/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (
1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas, in order to implement the procedure for EEC type-approval
which was the subject of Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating tothe type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (
3), provi-
sions should be adopted to ensure safe working conditions and, inparticular, the protection of the hearing of agricultural workers drivingsuch tractors;
Whereas these provisions are particularly necessary as only in two
Member States does the law lay down detailed provisions concerningthe driver-perceived noise level of the abovementioned tractors;
Whereas the disparities in the abovementioned national laws are likely
to hinder trade within the Community and thus impede the establish-ment and the functioning of the common market,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. For the purposes of this Directive, ‘agricultural or forestry tractor'
means any motor vehicle, fitted with wheels or endless tracks andhaving at least two axles, the main function of which lies in its tractivepower and which is specially designed to tow, push, carry or powercertain tools, machinery or trailers intended for agricultural or forestryuse. It may be equipped to carry a load and passengers.
▼
M1
2. This Directive shall apply only to tractors defined in paragraph Iwhich are equipped with pneumatic tyres and have at least two axlesand a maximum design speed of between 6 and ►
M240 km/h ◄.
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Article 2
1. No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or
national type-approval or prohibit the sale, registration or entry intoservice of any tractor on grounds relating to the driver-perceived noiselevel if this level is within the following limits:
90 dB (A) in accordance with Annex I, or86 dB (A) in accordance with Annex II.
For a transitional period expiring on a date to be fixed before 1 October
1981 in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 ofDirective 74/150/EEC, the above limits for tests in accordance with
(1) OJ No C 127, 18. 10. 1974, p. 34.
(2) OJ No C 125, 16. 10. 1974, p. 30.
(3) OJ No L 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10.
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3.2.1.1 of Annex I and 3.2.2.1 of Annex II shall be increased by 6 dB(A).
2. For a transitional period expiring on a date to be fixed before 1
October 1981 in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13of Directive 74/150/EEC, Member States may authorize the nationaltype-approval, sale, registration or entry into service of tractors withoutcab if their noise level is within the following limits:
96 dB (A) in accordance with Annex I, or92 dB (A) in accordance with Annex II.
Article 3
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘cab' means any structure built of
rigid components, transparent or not, which totally encloses the driverand isolates him from the outside, and is capable of being kept perma-nently closed during service.
Article 4
Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that in both
the sales presentation and advertising there is nothing to suggest that thetractors have features regarding the driver-perceived noise level whichthey do not in fact possess.
Article 5
Any amendments necessary to adapt the requirements of the Annexes to
technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedurelaid down in Article 13 of Directive 74/150/EEC.
Article 6
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary to
comply with this Directive within 18 months of its notification and shallforthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of
national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive arecommunicated to the Commission.
Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
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ANNEX I
APPARATUS, CONDITIONS AND METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
1. UNIT OF MEASUREMENT AND MEASURING APPARATUS
1.1. Unit of measurement
Noise level shall be measured in dB with A-weighting, expressed as dB
(A).
1.2. Measuring apparatus
Driver-perceived noise level shall be measured by means of a sound-
level meter as described in the first edition of Publication 179/1965 ofthe International Electrotechnical Commission.
In the case of variable readings, the average of the maximum values
must be taken.
2. CONDITIONS OF MEASUREMENT
Measurements shall be made under the following conditions:
2.1. the tractor must be unladen, i.e. without optional accessories, but must
include coolant, lubricant, full fuel tank, tools and driver. The latter maynot wear any abnormally thick clothing, scarf or hat. There may be noobject on the tractor likely to distort the noise level;
2.2. the tyres must be inflated to the pressure recommended by the tractor
manufacturer, the engine, transmission and drive axles must be atnormal running temperature and radiator blinds when fitted must be keptopen during measurements;
2.3. if it is liable to affect the noise level, extra equipment powered by the
engine or self-powered such as windscreen wipers, warm air fan orpower take-off, for example, may not be in operation when measure-ments are being made; parts which normally operate at the same time asthe engine, such as the engine cooling fan, for example, must be inoperation when measurements are being made;
2.4. the test area must be in an open and sufficiently silent location; it may
take the form, for instance, of an open space of 50-metre radius, havinga central part with a radius of at least 20 m which is practically level, orof a level section having a solid track with as flat a surface and as fewgullies as possible. The track must be as clean and dry as possible (e.g.free of gravel, leaves, snow, etc.). Slopes and irregularities are accept-able only if the variations in noise level caused by them lie within theerror tolerances of the measuring equipment;
2.5. the surface of the track must be such as not to cause excessive tyre
noise;
2.6. the weather must be fine and dry with little or no wind. The driver-
perceived ambient noise level due to the wind or other sources of noisemust be at least 10 dB (A) below the noise level of the tractor;
2.7. if a vehicle is used for measurements, it must be towed or driven at
sufficient distance from the tractor to avoid all interference. Duringmeasurements no object interfering with the measurements or reflectivesurfaces may be located within 20 m of each side of the test track andless than 20 m to the front or rear of the tractor. This condition can beconsidered fulfilled if the variations in noise level thus caused remainwithin the error tolerances; if not, the measurements must be discon-tinued for the duration of the interference;
2.8. all measurements in a given series must be carried out on the same
track.
3. METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
3.1. The microphone must be located 250 mm to the side of the centre plane
of the seat, the side being that on which the higher noise level isencountered.
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The microphone diaphragm must face forward and the centre of the
microphone must be 790 mm above and 150 mm forward of the seatreference point described in Annex III. Excessive vibration of the micro-phone must be avoided.
3.2. The maximum noise level in dB (A) shall be determined as follows:3.2.1. all openings (e.g. doors, windows) in tractors having a closed series-
produced cab structure must be closed during an initial series of meas-urements.
3.2.1.1. During asecond series of mea surements they must be left open,
provided that when open they do not create a road safety hazard, butfold-down or fold-up windscreens must remain closed;
3.2.2. noise must be measured using slow sound-level meter response at the
load corresponding to the maximum noise in the gear giving the forwardspeed nearest to 7 ·25 km/h.
The governor control lever must be fully open. Starting with no load, the
load applied must be increased until the maximum noise level is found.After each increase of load, time must be allowed for the noise level tostabilize before making the measurement;
3.2.3. noise must be measured using slow sound-level meter response at the
load corresponding to the maximum noise in any gear other than thatreferred to in 3.2.2 in which the noise level recorded is at least 1 dB (A)above that recorded in the gear referred to in 3.2.2.
The governor control lever must be fully open. Starting with no load, the
load applied must be increased until the maximum noise level is found.After each increase of load, time must be allowed for the noise level tostabilize before making the measurement;
3.2.4. noise must be measured at the maximum design speed of the unladen
tractor.
3.3. The test report shall include noise-level measurements carried out under
the following conditions:
3.3.1. in the gear giving the speed nearest to 7 ·25 km/h;
3.3.2. in any gear, if the conditions described in 3.2.3 are fulfilled;3.3.3. at maximum design speed.
4. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The measurements described in 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3 and 3.2.4 may not
exceed the values laid down in Article 2.
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ANNEX II
APPARATUS, CONDITIONS AND METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
1. UNIT OF MEASUREMENT AND MEASURING APPARATUS
1.1. Unit of measurement
Noise level shall be measured in dB with A-weighting, expressed as dB
(A).
1.2. Measuring apparatus
Driver-perceived noise level shall be measured by means of a sound-
level meter as described in the first edition of publication 179/1965 ofthe International Electrotechnical Commission.
In the case of variable readings, the average of the maximum values
must be taken.
2. CONDITIONS OF MEASUREMENT
Measurements shall be made under the following conditions:
2.1. the tractor must be unladen, i.e. without optional accessories, but must
include coolant, lubricant; full fuel tank, tools and driver. The latter maynot wear any abnormally thick clothing, scarf or hat. There may be noobject on the tractor likely to distort the noise level;
2.2. the tyres must be inflated to the pressure recommended by the tractor
manufacturer, the engine, transmission and drive axles must be atnormal running temperature and, if the engine has cooling louvres, thesemust remain completely open;
2.3. if it is liable to affect the noise level, extra equipment powered by the
engine or self-powered such as windscreen wipers, warm air fan orpower take-off, for example, may not be in operation when measure-ments are being made; parts which normally operate at the same time asthe engine, such as the engine cooling fan, for example, must be inoperation when measurements are being made;
2.4. the test area must be in an open and sufficiently silent location: it may
take the form, for instance, of an open space of 50-metre radius, havinga central part with a radius of at least 20 m which is practically level, orof a level section having a solid track with as flat a surface and as fewgullies as possible. The track must be as clean and dry as possible (e.g.free of gravel, leaves, snow, etc.). Slopes and irregularities are accept-able only if the variations in noise level caused by them lie within theerror tolerances of the measuring equipment;
2.5. the surface of the track must be such as not to cause excessive tyre
noise;
2.6. the weather must be fine and dry with little or no wind.
The driver-perceived ambient noise level due to the wind or other
sources of noise must be at least 10 dB (A) below the noise level of thetractor;
2.7. if a vehicle is used for measurements, it must be towed or driven at
sufficient distance from the tractor to avoid all interference. Duringmeasurements no object interfering with the measurements or reflectivesurfaces may he located within 20 m of each side of the test track andless than 20 m to the front or rear of the tractor. This condition can beconsidered fulfilled if the variations in noise level thus caused remainwithin the error tolerances; if not, the measurements must be discon-tinued for the duration of the intereference;
2.8. all measurements in a given series must be carried out on the same
track.
3. METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
3.1. The microphone must be located 250 mm to the side of the central plane
of the seat, the side being that on which the higher noise level isencountered.
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The microphone diaphragm must face forward and the centre of the
microphone shall be 790 mm above and 150 mm forward of the seatreference point described in Annex III. Excessive vibration of the micro-phone must be avoided.
3.2. Noise level shall be determined as follows:3.2.1. the tractor must travel along the section at the same test speed at least
three times for at least 10 seconds;
3.2.2. all openings (e.g. doors, windows) in tractors having a closed series-
produced cab structure must be closed during an initial series of meas-urements.
3.2.2.1. During asecond series of mea surements they must be left open,
provided that when open they do not create a road safety hazard, butfold-down or fold-up windscreens must remain closed;
3.2.3. noise must be measured at the maximum rpm using slow sound-level
meter response i.e. in the gear giving the speed nearest to 7 ·25 km/h at
the rated rpm. The tractor must be unladen when measurements arebeing made.
4. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The measurements described in 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 may not exceed the
values laid down in Article 2.
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ANNEX III
DETERMINATION OF SEAT REFERENCE POINT
1. DEFINITION
1.1. The seat reference point (S) shall be the point in the central longitudinal
plane of the seat where the tangential plane of the lower backrest and ahorizontal plane intersect. This horizontal plane cuts the lower surface of theseat-pan board 150 mm in front of the seat reference point.
2. DETERMINATION OF SEAT REFERENCE POINT
2.1. The reference point shall be obtained using the device illustrated in figures
1 and 2 of the Appendix to this Annex, which makes it possible to simulateloading by a human occupant.
2.2. The seat must be set at the mid point of the range allowed for vertical
adjustment, this adjustment being independent of the horizontal adjustment.For purposes of determining the microphone location referred to in section 3of Annexes I and II, the seat must be at or as near as possible to the midpoint of the horizontal adjustment range.
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE
3.1. The device referred to in 2.1 shall consist of a seat-pan board and two
backrest boards.
3.2. The lower backrest board shall be jointed in the region of the ischium
humps (A) and loin (B), the joint (B) being adjustable in height (see figure2).
4. SETTING UP THE DEVICE
The device shall be set up as follows:
4.1. the device shall be positioned on the seat;4.2. it shall then be loaded with a force of 550 N at a point 50 mm in front of
joint (A), and the two backrest boards shall be lightly pressed tangentiallyagainst the backrest;
4.3. if it is not possible to determine a definite tangent to the lower area of the
backrest, the lower backrest board in vertical position must be lightlypressed against the backrest;
4.4. in the case of seats with a suspension adjustable to the driver’s weight, the
suspension shall be set so that the seat is at a point equidistant from its twoextreme positions.
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APPENDIX

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