ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(74)316
Vol.1974/0057

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COMMISSIONœTHEEUROFEANCOMEfUMUSS
COM(74)316Final
Brussels,15March1974
PROPOSAL FORACOUNCILDIRECTIVE
ONTHEAPPROXIMATION OFTHELAWSOFTHEMEMBERSTATESRELATING
TOTHEDRIVERPERCEIVED NOISELEVELOFAGRICULTURAL
ORFORESTRY TRACTORSFITTEDKITHWHEELS
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission)
COM(74)315Final

EXPL/JTATORYMSTIORATIDUM
Historicalbackground
ThisproposalforaDirectiveismadeundertheCommunity
approvalprocedurewhichwasthesubjectofaDirective
(adoptedbytheCouncilonkMarch197^)«
On25January1973theUnitedKingdom,applyingtheprocedure
laiddown"bytheAgreementof18May1969on"theCommission
statusquoandinformation ,senttheCommissionaBillonthe
driver-perceived noiselevelofagricultural tractors.
TheCommission ,"byaletterdatedISFebruary1973»requested
theUnitedKingdomtodelayimplementation oftheSilluntil-
aCouncilDirectiveonthesubjecthadbeenadopted.The
competentdepartmentsintheCommission commencedwork
immediately ,inparticularintheworkingpartyontractors
andagricultural machinery,inordertopresentaproposal
totheCouncilasquicklyaspossible.However,notonlydid
differences emergebetweenexpertsfromtheMemberStates
buttherewerealsoinherentdifficulties duetothevery
technicalnatureofthesubjectmatter.
Forthesereasonsthedraftingofthisproposalwasnot
finishedwithinthetinelimitlaiddownintheAgreement
onthestatuscruotnamely25July1973.
AlthoughrequestedbytheCommissiondepartmenttodelay
adoptionoftheirBillthecompetent (authoritiesinthe
UnitedKingdomproceededtoadoptitinNovember1973.
Theimplementation ofthespecifications oftheabovementioned
project ,isfixedforthe1stSeptember1975»

Itisallthe©ore necessary therefore ,topresent aproposal
foraDirective totheCouncil andtoadopt itinorder to
solve thedifficulties which will arise from September 1975
when the new British lav;enters into force .
Even iftheresults ofthenumerous raeotings held with the
government experts andtheparties concerned didnot lead
tounanimous agreement they have ,nevertheless ,enabled
theCommission department tocollect thenecessary information
todraw upthis proposal foraDirective .Indeed ,inview of
thepersistency ofthedifferences ofopinion among the
delegations ,presentation ofthis proposal totheCouncil
should notbedelayed toolong .
Object oftheproposal foraDirective andforeseeable solutions :
Theobject ofthis proposal foraDirective isnotsimply to
harmonize theprovisions oftheMember States inorder toremove
barriers tointer-Commnity trade intractors butalso ,and
above all ,toensure safe working conditions bylaying down •
provisions aimed atprotecting thehearing ofagricultural
workers whodrive tractors byplacing alimit onthenoise
level .
Thebasic problems that hadtobesolved were thodetermination
ofthe noise limit which must not beexcooded and the method
ofmeasuring it.
Asregards thedetermination ofthenoise level ,general consensus
wasreached onthefigure of90dB(A ).Infact this isavery
important reduction ,given that thepresent driver-perceived
noise level foragricultural tractors isabout 102/103dB(A );
this reduction is .therefore more than 10dB(A )andbycomparison
with thepresent level ofemission ,represents areduction in
intensity ofabout
Although this limit of90dB(A )isnotthebest solution for
protecting thehearing ofdrivers ofagricultural tractors it
represents however ,according toscientific information andthe
most recent studies currently availablo ,anappreciable improvement
when compared with thepresent situation .

-3-
Ontheotherhand,bearinginmindtheregulationsinforcein
industryandthetechnicalandeconomicdifficulties ofagreater
reduction,thislevelwaschosenwhileindicatingthat,henceforth,
futurereductionswouldbeproposedassoonasthescientificinformation
becameavailable,ashasbeenalreadymentioned.
Conversly,themethodofmeasuringthenoiselevelperceivedby
adriverofanagriculturaltractorwhichwasworkedoutbytheOECD
andcontainedintheBritishlegislationhasbeenstudiedingreat
detail.Althoughthemajorityofthedelegationsfavouredthismethod,
namelytheUnitedKingdom,Italian,Danish,Netherlands ,Belgianand
Luxembourgdelegations,' thoseofGermanyandPrancehadreservations .
Thetwodelegationsbelieve,ineffectthattheOECDmethod,vrhich.
stipulatestestingat10C$ofthenominalrangeoftheengine,doesnot
simulateactualworkingconditions.Itshouldbenotedthatevenin
acaseofeighthoursdrivingperday,therangeofoperationofthe
tractorengineisnearer75$than100$ofitsratedspeed.Thisis
duebothtothefacethatthenormalenginerateisnotusuallyobtained
attheratedspeedand*thatchangesnecessarilyoccurinspeedandengine
rates.ForthisreasontheGermandelegationinparticularholdsthe
opinionthatthemeasurement shouldbetakenofanunloadedengine
runningat75$ratedspeedinthecaseofatractoreithernotfitted
withacaborfittedwithanopencab,and100$inthecaseofatractor
fittedwithaclosedcab.TheFrenchdelegation,ontheotherhand,felt
thatforalltractors(withorwithoutacab)themeasurementshould
betakenwiththeengineunderloadandrunningat75$ofitsrated
speed. . .. .,
Therepresentatives oftheindustryconcerneddeclaredthemselves
abletoagreeequallywellwiththeproposaloftheGermandelegation^
aswiththatoftheFrenchdelegation.
•••/•••

Althoughproposalsthatadistinction shouldbedrawn"between
tractorsfitted\vithacabandthosenotfittedwithacabwere
studiedingreatdepth,itwasestablishedthat,inordertotake
accountoftheneedtoprotectthehecjingofdriversofanytype
oftractor-whetherfittedwithacabornot•-andonaccount
ofthedifficulties raisedbythedefinitionofanopencaband ■
aclosedcab,thelevelof90dB(A)shouldnotbeexceeded
whenthereisnocab.Moreover,contrarytopopularbelief,
eixperienceandtestscarriedoutonthesametypeoftractor,
whetherfittedwithacabornot,haveshownthatthenoise
levelperceivedbythedriverofatractorfittedwithacab
was,inthemajorityofoases,higherthanthatfromthesame
tractornotfittedwithacab.
Asregardsthemethodproposed,theCommissionconsidersthat
theOHCDmethoddescribedabove,ascontainedintheBritish
law,meritsconsideration notonlybecauseitisalready
recognizedinternationally butalsobecauseithasbeenwell
tested.
Whileoftheopinion,bearinginmindthemeritsmentioned
above,-+t»twould..beappropriatetousetheOEGLmethod
initspresentstatetheCommissionrealisesthatthismethod
isnotwithoutcertaindisadvantages .Consequently ,,itwill
continuetostudyhowthesedisadvantages maybeeliminated
andwillnotfailtoproposethenecessaryimprovementsat
thepropermomentbytheprocedurelaiddownforthepurpose.
Moreoverinthiscontext,itwillexaminethepossibility
offurtherreducingthedriver-perceived noiselevelallowing,
ontheonehand,fortechnicalprogressand,ontheother,
withtheobjectofprotectingworkersbyoaintaining a
constantnoiselevel,forprogresswhichwouldbringabout
aSafesoundlevelcausingnolastingdamagetohearing.

-5-
III.Presentation ofthoproposalforaDirective
» Thisproposalconsistsofanoperativepart-andtwoannexes.
TheoperativepartoontainssixArticlesthefirstofwhich
definesthescopeoftheDirective,thesecondandthird
laydownprovisionswhichapplytoSECtypeapprovalofan
agricultural tractorasregardsthenoiseleveltothe
driver'shearing.TheseArticlesalsoprovidethatCommunity
provisionshavethesameeffectasnationalprovisions .
Thus,noMemberStatemay,forexample,refuse,theregistration
orsale,entryintoserviceoruseofatractoronthe?grounds
thatitdoesnotcomplywithnationalprovisionswhilst
complyingwithCommunityprovisions .Article4laysdown
theprocedureforadaptingtheprovisionsoftheAnnexesto'
technicalprogress.Article5fixesthotimelimitfor
adoptingandpublishingintheIfemberStatestheprovisions
necessarytoensurecompliancewiththeDirectiveandtho
dateonwhichtheprovisionsshallenterintoforce.The
firstofthesetimelimitsshallbefixedbefore31December
1975andthesecondfor1April1976.TheCommissionbasedthese
timelimitsonaverystricttimetablewhichmustberigorously
observedatthedifferentstagesoftheadoptionprocedurein
ordertoarriveatafinalCouncildecisioncompatiblewith
thoaimsandcircumstances describedabove.Indeed,bearing
inmindonthoonehandthedateofimplementationofthe
Britishlaw,and7ontheotherhand,theneedtoimplement
theprovisionsoftheDirectiveasquicklyaspossiblein
ordertoensuresafeworkingconditionsand,moreparticularly ,
toprotectthehearingoftractordrivers,theCommission
believesthatthefollowingtimetableshouldbecompliedwith
inordertoabidebythetimelimitslaiddowninArticle6:
-OpinionoftheEuropeanParliamentandtheESC:before
'31July1974,
-AdoptionbytheCouncil:before31December1974*

Consultation with the European Parliament and the Economic
and Social Comaittee
. . '■* .• «
Inaccordance with the second paragraph ofArticle 100
oftheESCTreaty theOpinions ofthese two "bodies must
txiobtained .
Theimplementation oftheprovisions laid down "bytheDirectives
requires inallMember States either anamendment oflegislation
orthe introduct ionofnewregulations .

TUS COUxîCIL OPTH3 EUR0P3A]Ï COMMUHITIES .
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic
Community ,andinparticular Article 100thereof :
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ;
Whereas ,inorder toimplement theprocedure forEECtype approval
1which wasthesubject oftheCouncil Directive of
onthe ^approximation ofthelaws oftheMember States relating to
approval ofagricultural orforestry tractors fitted with wheels ,
provisions should "beadopted toensure safe working conditions and ,
inparticular ,theprotection ofthehearing ofagricultural workers
driving such tractors ;
Whereas these provisions areespecially necessary owing tothe fact
that only inoneMember State does thelawlaydown detailed provisions
concerning thedriver-perceived noise level oftheabove mentioned
tractors ;
Whereas the disparities inthenational laws mentioned above are
likely tohinder trade within theCommunity andthus impede the
establishment andthefunctioning oftheCommon Market ; ' ■
H/1SÂD0PT2D THIS DIRECTIVE :
OJKo.

Article1
1.The"termagricultural orforestrytractorshallmeananymotor
vehiclefittedwithwheelsorcaterpillartrackswithatleasttwo
axlesthemainfunctionofwhichliesinitstractivepowerand
whichisespeciallydesignedtotow,push,carryorpoweroertain
tools,machineryortrailersdesignedforagricultural orforestry
use.Itmay"beequippedtocarryaloadandattendants.
2.ThisDirectiveshallapplyonlytothetractorsdefined ,in
theprecedingparagraphwhicharefittedwithtyresandwhichhave
twoaxlesandamaximumdesignspeedofbetween6and25km/h.
Article2
HoMemberStatemayrefuseSECtypeapprovalornationalapproval
ofatractorongroundsrelatingtothedriver-perceived noiselevel
ifitcomplieswiththeprovisionslaiddownintheAnnexes.
Article3
NoMemberStatemayrefuseorprohibitthesalecrregistration ,
entryintoserviceoruseofavehicleongroundsrelatingtothe
drivers-perceived noiselevelifitcomplieswiththeprovisions
laiddownintheAnnexes.
ArticleA
Modifications whichareneoessarytoadapttheprovisionsofthe
Annexestotechnicalprogress,shallbeadoptedinaccordancewith
theprocedurelaiddowninArticle13oftheCouncilDirectiveof
onEECtypeapprovalofwheeledtractors.

-2-
Article5
1.TheMemberStatesshalladoptandpublishtheprovisions
necessarytoensurecompliancewiththepresentDirective "before
31December1975<mdshallinformtheCommissionimmediately .
Theyshallapplytheseprovisionswitheffectfrom1April1976.
2.AssoonasthisDirectivehasbeennotified,theMember
StatesshalltakecaretoinformtheCommission ,insufficienttime
toenableittosubmititscomments,ofanysubsequentdraftlaws,
regulationsoradministrative provisionswhichtheyintendtoadopt
inthefieldcoveredbythisDirective.
Articleo
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.

AHKEXI
LIMIT011DRIVSR-PERCEIVED NOISELEVEL,APPARATUS,CONDITIONS AND
•MHTEOD01''M3ilSUHEM3HT
1.LIMIT.
1.1.Thedriver-perceived ,noiselevelfortractorsasreferredtoin
Article1ofthisDirective,measuredinaccordancewiththe
provisionsofthisAnnex,shallnotexceedthelevelof90dB(A)
2.MEASURING APPARATUS
2.1.Driver-perceived noiselevelshal1hemeasured "byusingasound
meterofthesortdescribedinthefirsteditionofpublication
179/1965oftheInternational TechnicalCommission.
3.CONDITIONS OFMEASUmiEHT
2Measurements shallhetakeninthefollowingconditions :
3.1.Thetractormustbeunladen,thatistosaywithoutoptional
accessoriesbutwithcoolant,lubricant,fuel,toolsanddriver.
Thelattershallnotwearabnormallythickclothing,scarfor
hat.Theremustbenoobjectonthetractorcapableof
distortingthenoiselevel;
3.2.Thetyresmustbeatrégulationpressure,theenginemustbe
atnormalrunningtemperature andifthetractorhasooolmg.
louvrestheymustbeopen;.
3.3.Extraequipmentpoweredbythemotororself-powered suchas
thewindscreenwipers,forexample,orthewarmairfanor
thestarteretc.,.crustbedisconnected whenthemeasurements
arebeingmade,iftheyareliabletoinfluencethesound
level;partswhichnormallyrunatthesametineasthe
engine,forexamplethecoolingventilatorfortheengine,
shouldbeworkingwhenthemeasurements arebeingtaken;

3.4-Themeasuringcourseshall "beinanopenandsufficiently
noiselessarea(environmental and.windnoisesoflessthan
10dB(A)inrelationtothenoisetohemeasured);this
coursemayconsist,forinstance,ofanopenspaceof
50radius,thecentralpartofwhich(witharadius ^of
about20m.)must"bepracticallyhorizontalandcoveredwith
concrete,asphalt,orasimilarmaterialandmustnothe
coveredwithpowderedsnow,highgrass,loosesoilorcinders;
3.5»Thesurfaceofthetrackmast"beofsuchacompositionthat
thetyresmakenoexcessivenoise;
3.6.Theweathermust"befairandthewindlight;
3.?.Ifavehicleisusedformeasurements ,itshall "botowedor
driventoaplacesufficiently distantfromthetractorthat
allinterference shallheavoided.
4.METHODOPIŒL1SUREM2-IT.
4.1.Themicrophoneshall"belocated250mmtothesideofthecentre
planeoftheseat,thesidebeingthatonwhichthehigher
noiselevelisencountered .Themicrophonediaphragmshall
faceforwardandthecentreofthemicrophoneshallhe790nun
ahoveand150mmforwardoftheseatreferencepointdescribed
inAnnexII.'Excessivevibrationofthemicrophoneshall
'beâvoidéd.
4.2.Maximumnoiselevelin&B(A)shallbeobtainedby:
4.2.1.measuringthe.noiseusingfastsoundmeterresponseatthe
loadcorresponding withmaximumnoiseinthegeargiving
thenearestforwardspeedto7.25kn/h; .

-3-
#
4.2.2.measuring thenoise using fast sound meter response atthe
load corresponding with maximum noise inanyother field gear
inwhich anoise level atleast 1dB(A )above that ofthe
above mentioned gear isrecorded ;
4.2„3 „measuring thenoise atmaximum speed ofanunladen tractor ;
4.3 .Thethree measurements determined under 4.2.1 .,4«2 .2.and
4.2.3 .must notexceed thelimit of90dB(A )fixed initem
1.1 .
4.4 «Thereport shall include thefollowing measurements ofnoise
level :
4.4»l.in "thegear giving thenearest forward speed to7.25 kn/h;
4.4«2.inanyfield gear iftheconditions above arefulfilled ;
4.4*3 .intopgear
4.5 .Anyunusual characteristics giving annoyance tothedriver
about which there isdoubt shall bementioned .

ahhex -II
IETEIMINATION OFSEAT RSPB3ERUB POINT
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 .The seat reference point isthepoint inthecentre longitudinal
plane oftheseat where thetangential piano ofthelower
backrest andahorizontal plane intersect .This horizontal
plane cuts thelower surface oftheseat panhoard 150mm
infront oftheabove mentioned tangent .
2. DETERMINATION OFSEAT REFERENCE POINT
2.1 .Thereference point shall "beobtained using theapparatus
illustrated inFigs .1and 2oftheappendix tothis annex
tosimulate loading byahuman occupant .
2.2 .The seat shall besetatthemidpoint ofanyvertical
adjustment range where this isindependent ofadjustment
ofitshorizontal position .Forpurposes ofdetermining
themicrophone location referred toinItem 4ofAnnex I,
the seat shall beatora.snear aspossible tothemid
point ofthis range .
3. DESCRIPTION OFTHEAPPARATUS .
3.1 .Anapparatus consisting ofaseat panboard andbackrest
boards shall beused .
3.2 .Thelower backrest board shall bejointed intheregion of
theischium hunps (A)andloin (B),thejoint (B)being
adjustable inheight .
4. SETTING UPOFTHEAPPARATUS
Theapparatus shall besetupinthefollowing manner :
4.1 .theapparatus shall bepositioned onthe seat .

4.2.itshallthen"beloadedwithaweightof55kgatapoint
50nuninfrontofthejoint(A),andthetwopartsofthe
"backrest "boardshall"belightlypressedtangentially against
the"backrest.
4.3.ifitisnotpossibletodetermineadefinitetangenttothe
lowerareaofthe"backrest,thelowerpartofthe"baokrest
"boardshall "belightlypressedagainstthe"backrestvertically.
4.4.whereaseatsuspensionisprovidedwithadjustmentforthe
weightofthedriverthisshall "besetsothattheseatis
atthemidpointofitsdynamicrange.

••• • •-2-
•'"■.;•':APPENDIXTOPOINT2.1.■
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