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"BCOUNCIL 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
"M1 Commission Directive 73/350/EEC of 7 November 1973 L 321 33 22.11.1973
Amended by:
"A1 Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern IrelandL 73 14 27.3.19721970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 1
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 same
requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in
order, in particular, to allow the EEC type approval procedure which was
the subject of the Council Directive (3) of 6 February 1970 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type
approval of motor vehicles and their trailers to be applied in respect of
each 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 least
four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres per
hour, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural
tractors 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 sound level
or the exhaust system if its sound level and exhaust system satisfy the
requirements set out in the Annex.
Article 2a
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration, entry
into service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to the permissible
sound level or the exhaust system if its sound level and exhaust system
satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.!B
(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.!A11970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 2
Article 3
The amendments necessary for adjusting the requirements of the Annex
so as to take account of technical progress, with the exception of the
requirements set out under items 1.1 and 1.4.1.4, shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Council
Directive 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 within
eighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith 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 are
communicated to the Commission.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.!B1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 3
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 thisAnnex, may not exceed the following levels:
Vehicle categoryValue expressed in dB (A)
(decibels (A))
I.1.1. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers and comprising not
more than nine seats including the driver’ s seat.82
I.1.2. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers, comprising more
than nine seats including the driver’ s seat, and having a permissiblemaximum weight not exceeding 3.5metric tons.84
I.1.3. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods and having a permissible
maximum weight not exceeding 3.5metric tons.84
I.1.4. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers, comprising more
than nine seats including the driver’ s seat, and having a permissiblemaximum weight exceeding 3.5metric tons.89
I.1.5. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods and having a permissible
maximum weight exceeding 3.5metric tons.89
I.1.6. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers, comprising more
than nine seats including the driver’ s seat, and having an engine
power equal to or exceeding 200 HP DIN.91
I.1.7. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods or materials, having an
engine power equal to or exceeding 200 HP DIN and a permissible
maximum weight exceeding 12 metric tons.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, 1st
edition (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
which is practically level, surfaced with concrete, asphalt or similarmaterial, and not covered with powdery snow, tall grass, loose soilor 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 noise
made 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
apparatus may remain near the vehicle or the microphone, as thepresence of spectators near either the vehicle or the microphonemay considerably affect the readings from the apparatus. Marked
fluctuations of the pointer which appear to be unrelated to the
characteristics of the general sound level shall be ignored in takingreadings.
I.4. Method of measurement
I.4.1. Measurement of noise of vehicles in motion (for typeapproval)
At least two measurements shall be made on each side of
the vehicle. Preliminary measurements may be made foradjustment purposes but shall be disregarded.!
B1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 4
The microphone shall be situated 1.2metres above ground
level at a distance of 7.5metres from the path of the
vehicle’ s centre line, CC, measured along the perpendicular
PP’to that line (Figure 1).
Two lines AA ’and BB ’, parallel to line PP ’and situated
respectively 10 metres forward and 10 metres rearward of
that line, shall be marked out on the test track. Vehiclesshall approach line AA ’at a steady speed, as specified
below. The throttle shall then be fully-opened as rapidly as
practicable and held in the fully-opened position until the
rear of the vehicle (
1) crosses line BB ’; 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. V ehicles with no gearbox
The vehicle shall approach line AA ’at a steady
speed corresponding to the lowest of the three
following speeds:
— 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. V ehicles 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 atwo-speed, three-speed or four-speed gear-
box;
I.4.1.2.2. — The third gear in the gearbox must be
engaged if the box has more than four
gears;
I.4.1.2.3. — if the transmission has a double gear
ratio (transfer gearbox or two-speed rearaxle assembly), the gearbox must be
engaged in the ratio allowing the highest
vehicle speed.
The vehicle shall approach line AA ’at a steady
speed corresponding to the lowest of the following
three speeds:
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
engine speed at which the engine develops its
maximum power;
— an engine speed equal to three-quarters of the
maximum engine speed permitted by the
governor;
— 50 kilometres per hour.
I.4.1.3. V ehicles with an automatic gearbox
The vehicle shall approach line AA ’at a
steady speed equal to the lowest of the
following two speeds:
— 50 kilometres per hour;
— three quarters of the maximum speed.
W h e r et h e r ei sac h o i c e ,t h e‘ n o r m a l ’
selector position for town driving is to beused.!
B
(1) If the vehicle includes a trailer or semi-trailer, these shall not be taken into account in
determining when line BB ’is crossed.1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 5
I.4.1.4. Interpretation of results
I.4.1.4.1. To take account of inaccuracies in the
measuring instruments, the result obtainedfrom each measurement shall be deter-mined by deducting 1 dB (A) from the
meter reading.
I.4.1.4.2. The measurements shall be considered
valid if the difference between two con-secutive measurements on the same side
of the vehicle 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 maximumpermissible sound level for the category
of vehicle tested, two further measure-
ments shall be made. Three of the fourmeasurements thus obtained must fallwithin the prescribed limits.
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.!
B1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 6
The microphone shall be situated 1.2metres above
ground level.
I.4.2.2. Number of measurements
At least two measurements shall be made.
I.4.2.3. V ehicle test conditionsThe engine of a vehicle without a speed governor
shall be run at three-quarters of the rpm speed atwhich, according to the vehicle manufacturer, it
develops its maximum power. The rpm speed of the
engine shall be measured by means of an indepen-dent instrument, e.g. a roller bed and a tachometer.If the engine is fitted with a governor preventing the
engine from exceeding the speed at which it
develops its maximum power, it shall be run at themaximum speed permitted by the governor.
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
of the vehicle must also be given.
The measurements shall be considered valid if the
difference between two consecutive measurements
on the 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!B1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 7
!M1
II. EXHAUST SYSTEM (SILENCERS)
II.1. If a vehicle is fitted with devices designed to reduce exhaust noise
(silencers), the requirements contained in this heading II shall be met.
If the engine air intake is fitted with an air filter which is necessary inorder to conform to the permissible noise level, this filter shall beconsidered to form part of the silencer and the requirements of this
heading II shall also apply to this filter.
II.2. A diagram of the exhaust system shall be appended to the
type-approval certificate for the vehicle.
II.3. The silencer shall bear a clearly legible, indelible indication of its mark
and type.
II.4. Fibrous absorbing materials shall not be used in the construction of
silencers unless suitable measures are undertaken at the design or
production stages to ensure that the efficiency to comply with the
limits imposed in Heading I is achieved on the road. Such a silencershall be considered to be efficient on the road if:
II.4.1. the silencer on the prototype vehicle tested in accordance with the
requirements of items 1.3 and 1.4 has been put into a normal state for
road use before the noise level measurements are taken.
This can be carried out:
II.4.1.1. by continuous operation on the road for 10 000 km;II.4.1.1.1. about one half of this operation shall consist in town driving and the
other half in long-distance runs at high speed; the continuous operation
on the road may be replaced by a corresponding programme of tracktests;
II.4.1.1.2. Care must be taken to alternate several times between the two ranges of
road speed;
II.4.1.1.3. The complete test programme must include a minimum of 10 breaks of
at least three hours’ duration in order to reproduce the effects of
cooling and of any condensation which may occur;
II.4.1.2. or by bench tests under the following conditions:II.4.1.2.1. using standard parts and observing the vehicle manufacturer’s
instructions, the silencer shall be fitted to the engine, which itself is
coupled to a dynamometer;
II.4.1.2.2. The tests shall be performed in six six-hours periods with a break of at
least 12 hours between each period in order to reproduce the effects ofcooling and of any condensation which may occur;
II.4.1.2.3. During each six-hours period the engine shall be run successively
under the following conditions:
1. five-minute sequence at idling speed;2. one-hour sequence under 1/4 load at 3/4 of the peak power speed;3. one-hour sequence under 1/2 load at 3/4 of the peak power speed;
4. ten-minute sequence under full load at 3/4 of the peak power
speed;
5. fifteen-minute sequence under 1/2 load at peak power speed;6. thirty-minute sequence under 1/4 load at peak power speed;
The phrase ‘peak power speed’ means that to be quoted by the
manufacturer.
Total length of the 6 sequences: 3 hours.
Each period shall comprise two sets of the six sequences above;
II.4.1.2.4. During the tests the silencer shall not be cooled by any forced draught
simulating the slipstream about the vehicle.
Nevertheless cooling may be authorized at the request of the
manufacturer in order not to exceed the temperature recorded at thesilencer inlet when the vehicle is travelling at maximum speed;
II.4.1.3. or by the removal of the fibrous matter from the silencer.1970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 8
II.4.1.4. After the conditioning of the silencer as described under Item II.4.1,
the noise measurement shall be carried out in conformity with the
requirements of Item I.4.1, above. The measured noise level shall not
exceed that laid down in Item I.1 for the category to which the vehiclebelongs.
II.5. In cases where Article 8 (3) of the Council Directive concerning
‘type-approval’ must be applied, the method of testing specified inItem II.4.1.2 above shall be the valid method.
II.6. Suitable attachments shall ensure that the fibrous absorbing materials
remain in position throughout the operating life of the silencer.!
M11970L0157 — EN — 16.11.1973 — 002.001 — 9