No C 20/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 27.1.87 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 84/538/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound power level of lawnmowers 
COM(86) 682 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 22 December 1986) 
(87/C 20/02) 
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 Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas provisions to limit noise at operator's positions 
and methods of measuring airborne noise differ from 
one Member State to another, which constitutes a barrier 
to trade in such lawnmovers; whereas such provisions 
should therefore be approximated; 
Whereas Council Directive 79/113/EEC of 19 De­
cember 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to the determination of the noise 
emission of construction plant and equipment (*), as 
amended by Directive 85/405/EEC (2), laid down in 
particular the method to be used for determining 
airborne noise emitted at the operator's position by a 
lawnmower; 
Whereas, during the Council meeting on 18 and 19 
December 1978, Ministers of the Environment stated 
that technical procedures for the measurement of 
airborne noise emitted at the driving position must be 
included in the Annexes to the Directives relevant to 
each equipment type; 
Whereas it is opportune to regroup in one Directive all 
the technical procedures for determining the sound 
emissions of lawnmowers; Whereas, in order to take account of these various 
requirements, Council Directive 84/538/EEC (J) should 
be amended, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Directive 84/538/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 
(1) Article 1 (1) is replaced by the following: 
'1. The purpose of this Directive is to restrict the 
permissible sound-power level of airborne noise 
emitted in the environment by lawnmowers and the 
permissible sound-pressure level of airborne noise 
emitted to the operator's position by lawnmowers 
with a cutting width exceeding 120 cm and to 
specify the methods for measuring these levels.' 
(2) Article 2 is replaced by the following: 
Article 2 
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to 
ensure that lawnmowers as defined in Article 1 may 
not be placed on the market unless 
— their sound-power levels, as measured under the 
conditions specified in Annex I, do not exceed 
the permissible level for the cutting width of the 
mower as shown in the following tables: 
Cutting width 
of lawnmower (L) 
L < 50 cm 
50 cm < L < 120 cm 
L > 120 cm Permissible 
sound power level 
in dB (A)l pW 
96 
100 
105 
(•) OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 15. 
(2) OJ No L 233, 30. 8. 1985, p. 9. (») OJ No L 300, 19. 11. 1984, p. 171. 
27.1.87 Official Journal of the European Communities 
j No C 20/3 
— for lawnmowers with a cutting width exceeding 
120 cm, the sound-pressure level of airborne 
noise, in dB (A), measured at the operator's 
position under the conditions specified in Annex 
I a, does not exceed the level of 92 dB(A).' 
(3) Article 4 is replaced by the following: 
'Article 4 
Prior to being placed on the market, lawnmowers 
shall, in a clearly visible and durable fashion either 
directly or on a plate (such as a riveted or self-
adhesive plate) permanently attached to them, bear 
marks identifying the manufacturer, describing the 
type and indicating the maximum sound power level 
expressed in dB (A)/l pW and for lawnmowers with 
a cutting width exceeding 120 cm, an indication of 
the sound-pressure level expressed in dB (A)/20 uPa 
at the operator's position, guaranteed by the manu­
facturer. 
The models for these indications are set out in 
Annex III. The indication shall not be required on electrically-
powered lawnmowers with a cutting width of less 
than 30 cm.' 
(4) A new Annex la, the text of which is given in Annex 
I to this Directive, is inserted. 
(5) Annex III is supplemented by the mark given in 
Annex II to this Directive. 
Article 2 
1. The Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to 
comply with this Directive by 1 July 1987, and shall 
forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 
2. Member States shall communicate to the 
Commission the texts of the provisions of national law 
which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. 
"*' ^Article 3 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX I 
'Annex la 
Method of measuring airborne noise emitted by lawnmowers at the operator's positions 
This method is applicable to lawnmowers with a cutting width exceeding 120 cm and having a seat 
attached in a suitable way to a structural member of the lawnmower. It lays down the test procedures for 
determining the sound pressure level at the operator's positions. 
These technical procedures comply with the requirements of Annex II to Directive 79/113/EEC, as 
amended by Directive 81/1051/EEC, and the provisions of that Annex apply to lawnmowers subject to the 
following amendments and additions: 
6. Operator 
An operator shall occupy the operator's position. 
6.2.1. Standing operator 
This point shall not be taken into consideration. 
7.1. General 
The microphone shall be located as specified in Section 7.3. 
9.1. General 
The conditions required for installing and operating the lawnmower are laid down in point 6.2. of 
Annex I. 
9.2. Operation of a lawnmower with adjustable features. 
This point shall not be taken into consideration. 
No C 20/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 27.1.87 
10.2.2. Using the A-weighted sound pressure levels LpA 
If a sound level meter is used, T is five seconds. The number of measurements is five. 
ANNEX II 
'Model for mark stating the sound pressure level at the operator's position 
All the dimensions given may be multiplied, for example, by V*, lh, 2, 3, 4, etc, on condition that the 
specifications laid down in Article 4 are adhered to. 
A tolerance of 20 % shall be allowed on all the above dimensions:'