1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 6 February 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and
the exhaust system of motor vehicles
(70/157/EEC)
(OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 16)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►A1Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland L 73 14 27.3.1972
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 2
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 6 February 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor
vehicles
(70/157/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 the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia, to the permissible sound
level and the exhaust system;
Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the samerequirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, inorder, in particular, to allow the EEC type approval procedure whichwas the subject of the Council Directive (
3) of 6 February 1970 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the typeapproval of motor vehicles and their trailers to be applied in respect ofeach type of vehicle;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle' means any motor vehicle
intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at leastfour wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres perhour, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agriculturaltractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type approval or national
type approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to the permissible soundlevel or the exhaust system if its sound level and exhaust system satisfythe requirements set out in the Annex.
▼
A1
Article 2a
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration, entry
into service or use of avehicle on grounds rela ting to the permissiblesound level or the exhaust system if its sound level and exhaust systemsatisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.
▼
B
Article 3
The amendments necessary for adjusting the requirements of the Annex
so as to take account of technical progress, with the exception of therequirements set out under items 1.1 and 1.4.1.4, shall be adopted in
(1) OJ No C 160, 18.12.1969, p. 7.
(2) OJ No C 48, 16.4.1969, p. 16.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the CouncilDirective on the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.
Article 4
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions containing the
requirements needed in order to comply with this Directive withineighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith inform theCommission 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 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 4
▼B
ANNEX
I. PERMISSIBLE SOUND LEVELS
I.1.Limits
The sound level of the vehicles referred to in Article 1 of this
Directive, when measured under the conditions set out in this Annex,may not exceed the following levels:
Vehicle categoryValue
expressed in
dB (A) (deci-
bels (A))
I.1.1. Vehicles intended for the carriage of
passengers and comprising not more thannine seats including the driver’s seat.82
I.1.2. Vehicles intended for the carriage of
passengers, comprising more than nine seatsincluding the driver’s seat, and having apermissible maximum weight not exceeding3·5 metric tons.84
I.1.3. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods
and having a permissible maximum weightnot exceeding 3 ·5 metric tons.84
I.1.4. Vehicles intended for the carriage of
passengers, comprising more than nine seatsincluding the driver’s seat, and having apermissible maximum weight exceeding 3 ·5
metric tons.89
I.1.5. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods
and having a permissible maximum weightexceeding 3 ·5 metric tons.89
I.1.6. Vehicles intended for the carriage of
passengers, comprising more than nine seatsincluding the driver’s seat, and having anengine power equal to or exceeding 200 HPDIN.91
I.1.7. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods
or materials, having an engine power equalto or exceeding 200 HP DIN and a permis-sible maximum weight exceeding 12 metrictons.91
I.2.Measuring instruments
The noise emitted by vehicles shall be measured by means of a
sound-level meter of the type described in Publications 179, 1stedition (1965), of the International Electrotechnical Commission.
I.3.Conditions of measurement
Measurements shall be made on unladen vehicles in a sufficiently
silent and open area (ambient noise and wind noise at least 10 dB (A)below the noise being measured).
That area may take the form, for instance, of an open space of
50-metre radius having a central part of at least 20-metre radius whichis practically level, surfaced with concrete, asphalt or similar material,and not covered with powdery snow, tall grass, loose soil or ashes.
The surface of the test track shall be such as not to cause excessive
tyre noise. This condition applies only to measurement of the noisemade by vehicles in motion.
Measurement shall be carried out in fine weather with little wind. No
person other than the observer taking the readings from the apparatusmay remain near the vehicle or the microphone, as the presence ofspectators near either the vehicle or the microphone may considerablyaffect the readings from the apparatus. Marked fluctuations of the
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 5
▼B
pointer which appear to be unrelated to the characteristics of the
general sound level shall be ignored in taking readings.
I.4.Method of measurement
I.4.1.Measurement of noise of vehicles in motion (for type
approval)
At least two measurements shall be made on each side of the
vehicle. Preliminary measurements may be made for adjust-ment purposes but shall be disregarded.
The microphone shall be situated 1 ·2 metres above ground
level at a distance of 7 ·5 metres from the path of the vehicle’s
centre line, CC, measured along the perpendicular PP /prime1to that
line (Figure 1).
Two lines AA /prime1and BB /prime1, parallel to line PP /prime1and situated
respectively 10 metres forward and 10 metres rearward of thatline, shall be marked out on the test track. Vehicles shallapproach line AA /prime1at a steady speed, as specified below. The
throttle shall then be fully-opened as rapidly as practicable andheld in the fully-opened position until the rear of thevehicle (
1) crosses line BB /prime1; the throttle shall then be closed
again as rapidly as possible.
The maximum sound level recorded shall constitute the result
of the measurement.
I.4.1.1.Vehicles with no gearbox
The vehicle shall approach line AA /prime1at a steady speed
corresponding to the lowest of the three followingspeeds:
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
engine speed at which the engine develops itsmaximum power;
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
maximum engine speed permitted by thegovernor;
— 50 kilometres per hour.
I.4.1.2.Vehicles with a manually operated gearbox
I.4.1.2.1. — The second gear in the gearbox must be
engaged if the vehicle is fitted with a two-speed, three-speed or four-speed gearbox;
I.4.1.2.2. — The third gear in the gearbox must be
engaged if the box has more than fourgears;
I.4.1.2.3. — if the transmission has a double gear
ratio (transfer gearbox or two-speed rearaxle assembly), the gearbox must beengaged in the ratio allowing the highestvehicle speed.
The vehicle shall approach line AA /prime1at a steady speed
corresponding to the lowest of the following threespeeds:
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
engine speed at which the engine develops itsmaximum power;
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
maximum engine speed permitted by thegovernor;
(1) If the vehicle includes a trailer or semi-trailer, these shall not be taken into account
in determining when line BB /prime1is crossed.
1970L0157 —EN— 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 6
▼B
— 50 kilometres per hour.
I.4.1.3.Vehicles with an automatic gearbox
The vehicle shall approach line AA /prime1at a steady speed
equal to the lowest of the following two speeds:
— 50 kilometres per hour;
— three quarters of the maximum speed.
Where there is achoice, the ‘norma l'selector position
for town driving is to be used.
I.4.1.4.Interpretation of results
I.4.1.4.1. To take account of inaccuracies in the meas-
uring instruments, the result obtained fromeach measurement shall be determined bydeducting 1 dB (A) from the meter reading.
I.4.1.4.2. The measurements shall be considered valid
if the difference between two consecutivemeasurements on the same side of thevehicle does not exceed 2 dB (A).
I.4.1.4.3. The highest sound level measured shall
constitute the test result. Should that resultexceed by 1 dB (A) the maximum permis-sible sound level for the category of vehicletested, two further measurements shall bemade. Three of the four measurements thusobtained must fall within the prescribedlimits.
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 7
▼B
Measuring positions for vehicles in motion
Figure 1
I.4.2.Measurement of noise of stationary vehicles
I.4.2.1.Position of sound-level meter
Measurements shall be made at point X (shown in
Figure 2) at a distance of 7 metres from the nearestsurface of the vehicle.
The microphone shall be situated 1 ·2 metres above
ground level.
I.4.2.2.Number of measurements
At least two measurements shall be made.
I.4.2.3.Vehicle test conditions
The engine of avehicle without aspeed governor
shall be run at three-quarters of the rpm speed atwhich, according to the vehicle manufacturer, itdevelops its maximum power. The rpm speed of theengine shall be measured by means of an independentinstrument, e.g. aroller bed a nd ata chometer. If theengine is fitted with agovernor preventing the enginefrom exceeding the speed at which it develops itsmaximum power, it shall be run at the maximumspeed permitted by the governor.
1970L0157 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 8
▼B
Before taking any measurements, the engine shall be
brought to its normal running temperature.
I.4.2.4.Interpretation of results
All sound-level readings recorded shall be given in the
report.
The method used to calculate the engine power shall
also be shown, where possible. The state of loading ofthe vehicle must also be given.
The measurements shall be considered valid if the
difference between two consecutive measurements onthe same side of the vehicle does not exceed 2 dB (A).
The maximum figure recorded shall constitute the
result of the measurement.
Measuring positions for stationary vehicles
Figure 2
II. EXHAUST SYSTEM (SILENCER)
II.1. If the vehicle is fitted with adevice designed to reduce the exha ust
noise (silencer), the requirements of item II shall apply. If the inlet ofthe engine is fitted with an air filter which is necessary in order toensure compliance with the permissible sound level, the filter shall beconsidered to be part of the silencer, and the requirements of item IIshall also apply to that filter.
II.2. A drawing of the exhaust system shall be annexed to the vehicle type
approval certificate.
II.3. The silencer must be marked with a reference to its make and type
which is clearly legible and indelible.
II.4. The use of fibrous absorbent material is permitted in the construction
of silencers only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
II.4.1. The fibrous absorbent material may not be placed in those
parts of the silencer through which the gases pass.
II.4.2. Suitable devices must ensure that the fibrous absorbent
material is kept in place for the whole time that thesilencer is being used.
II.4.3. The fibrous absorbent material must be resistent to a
temperature at least 20 % higher than the operatingtemperature which may occur in the region of the silencerwhere these fibrous absorbent materials are situated.