Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise - Declaration by the Commission in the Conciliation Committee on the Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise
Date: 2002-06-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: access to information, action programme, dissemination of information, evaluation method, noise, noise pollution, noise protection

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DIRECTIVE 2002/49/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise

of 25 June 2002

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (4), and in the light of the joint text approved
by the Conciliation Committee on 8 April 2002,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

It is part of Community policy to achieve a high level of
health and environmental protection, and one of the
objectives to be pursued is protection against noise. In
the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy, the Commission
addressed noise in the environment as one of the main
environmental problems in Europe.

In its Resolution of 10 June 1997 (5) on the Commission
the European Parliament expressed its
Green Paper,
support
specific
that Green Paper, urged that
for
measures and initiatives should be laid down in a Direc-
tive on the reduction of environmental noise, and noted
the lack of reliable, comparable data regarding the situa-
tion of the various noise sources.

A common noise indicator and a common methodology
for noise calculation and measurement around airports
were identified in the Commission Communication of 1
December 1999 on Air Transport and the Environment.
This communication has been taken into account in the
provisions of this Directive.

Certain categories of noise emissions from products are
such as
already covered by Community legislation,
Council Directive 70/157/EEC of 6 February 1970 on

the Member States

the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust
system of motor vehicles (6), Council Directive 77/311/
EEC of 29 March 1977 on the approximation of the
laws of
relating to the driver-
perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry
tractors (7), Council Directive 80/51/EEC of 20 December
1979 on the limitation of noise emissions from subsonic
aircraft (8) and its complementary directives, Council
Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the
type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles (9)
and Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation
of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise
emission in the environment by equipment
for use
outdoors (10).

This Directive should inter alia provide a basis for devel-
oping and completing the existing set of Community
measures concerning noise emitted by the major sources,
in particular road and rail vehicles and infrastructure,
aircraft, outdoor and industrial equipment and mobile
in
machinery, and for developing additional measures,
the short, medium and long term.

Certain categories of noise such as noise created inside
means of transport and noise from domestic activities
should not be subject to this Directive.

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set
out in Article 5 of the Treaty, the Treaty objectives of
achieving a high level of protection of the environment
and of health will be better reached by complementing
the action of the Member States by a Community action
the noise
common understanding of
achieving a
problem. Data about environmental noise levels should
therefore be collected, collated or reported in accordance
with comparable criteria. This implies the use of harmo-
nised indicators and evaluation methods, as well as
criteria for the alignment of noise-mapping. Such criteria
and methods can best be established by the Community.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 251.
(2) OJ C 116, 20.4.2001, p. 48.
(3) OJ C 148, 18.5.2001, p. 7.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 December 2000 (OJ C
232, 17.8.2001, p. 305), Council Common Position of 7 June 2001
(OJ C 297, 23.10.2001, p. 49) and Decision of the European Parlia-
ment of 3 October 2001 (OJ C 87 E, 11.4.2002, p. 118). Decision
of the European Parliament of 15 May 2002 and Decision of the
Council of 21 May 2002.
(5) OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 28.

(6) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 16. Directive as last amended by Commis-

sion Directive 1999/101/EC (OJ L 334, 28.12.1999, p. 41).

(7) OJ L 105, 28.4.1977, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive

97/54/EC (OJ L 277, 10.10.1997, p. 24).

(8) OJ L 18, 24.1.1980, p. 26. Directive as last amended by Directive

83/206/EEC (OJ L 117, 4.5.1983, p. 15).

(9) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992, p. 72. Directive as last amended by Directive

2000/7/EC (OJ L 106, 3.5.2000, p. 1).

(10) OJ L 162, 3.7.2000, p. 1.

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(8)

(9)

is also necessary to establish common assessment
It
methods for ‘environmental noise’ and a definition for
‘limit values’, in terms of harmonised indicators for the
determination of noise levels. The concrete figures of any
limit values are to be determined by the Member States,
taking into account, inter alia, the need to apply the prin-
ciple of prevention in order to preserve quiet areas in
agglomerations.

The selected common noise indicators are Lden, to assess
annoyance, and Lnight, to assess sleep disturbance. It is
also useful to allow Member States to use supplementary
indicators in order to monitor or control special noise
situations.

(10)

Strategic noise mapping should be imposed in certain
areas of interest as it can capture the data needed to
provide a representation of the noise levels perceived
within that area.

(11) Action plans should address priorities in those areas of
interest and should be drawn up by the competent
authorities in consultation with the public.

(12)

In order to have a wide spread of information to the
public,
information channels
should be selected.

the most appropriate

(13) Data

collection and the

suitable
Community-wide reports are required as a basis for
future Community policy and for further information of
the public.

consolidation of

(14) An evaluation of the implementation of this Directive
should be carried out regularly by the Commission.

(15)

(16)

The
technical provisions governing the assessment
methods should be supplemented and adapted as neces-
sary to technical and scientific progress and to progress
in European standardisation.

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
procedures for the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (1),

to environmental noise. To that end the following actions shall
be implemented progressively:

(a) the determination of exposure to environmental noise,
assessment

through noise mapping, by methods of
common to the Member States;

(b) ensuring that information on environmental noise and its

effects is made available to the public;

(c) adoption of action plans by the Member States, based upon
noise-mapping results, with a view to preventing and redu-
cing environmental noise where necessary and particularly
where exposure levels can induce harmful effects on human
health and to preserving environmental noise quality where
it is good.

2.
This Directive shall also aim at providing a basis for devel-
oping Community measures to reduce noise emitted by the
major sources, in particular road and rail vehicles and infra-
structure, aircraft, outdoor and industrial equipment and mobile
machinery. To this end, the Commission shall submit to the
European Parliament and the Council, no later than 18 July
2006, appropriate legislative proposals. Those proposals should
take into account the results of the report referred to in Article
10(1).

Article 2

Scope

1.
This Directive shall apply to environmental noise to
which humans are exposed in particular in built-up areas, in
public parks or other quiet areas in an agglomeration, in quiet
areas in open country, near schools, hospitals and other noise-
sensitive buildings and areas.

2.
This Directive shall not apply to noise that is caused by
the exposed person himself, noise from domestic activities,
noise created by neighbours, noise at work places or noise
inside means of transport or due to military activities in mili-
tary areas.

Article 3

Definitions

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

For the purposes of this Directive:

Article 1

Objectives

1.
The aim of this Directive shall be to define a common
approach intended to avoid, prevent or reduce on a prioritised
basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure

(a) ‘environmental noise’ shall mean unwanted or harmful
outdoor sound created by human activities, including noise
emitted by means of transport, road traffic, rail traffic, air
traffic, and from sites of industrial activity such as those
defined in Annex I to Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24
September 1996 concerning integrated pollution preven-
tion and control (2);

(b) ‘harmful effects’ shall mean negative effects on human

health;

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(2) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.

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(c) ‘annoyance’ shall mean the degree of community noise

annoyance as determined by means of field surveys;

(d) ‘noise indicator’ shall mean a physical scale for the descrip-
tion of environmental noise, which has a relationship with
a harmful effect;

(e) ‘assessment’ shall mean any method used to calculate,
predict, estimate or measure the value of a noise indicator
or the related harmful effects;

(f) ‘Lden’

(day-evening-night noise indicator) shall mean the
noise indicator for overall annoyance, as further defined in
Annex I;

(g) ‘Lday’ (day-noise indicator) shall mean the noise indicator
for annoyance during the day period, as further defined in
Annex I;

(h) ‘Levening’ (evening-noise indicator) shall mean the noise indi-
cator for annoyance during the evening period, as further
defined in Annex I;

(i) ‘Lnight’ (night-time noise indicator) shall mean the noise indi-
cator for sleep disturbance, as further defined in Annex I;

(j) ‘dose-effect relation’ shall mean the relationship between

the value of a noise indicator and a harmful effect;

(k) ‘agglomeration’ shall mean part of a territory, delimited by
the Member State, having a population in excess of
100 000 persons and a population density such that the
Member State considers it to be an urbanised area;

(l) ‘quiet area in an agglomeration’ shall mean an area, delim-
ited by the competent authority, for instance which is not
exposed to a value of Lden or of another appropriate noise
indicator greater than a certain value set by the Member
State, from any noise source;

(m) ‘quiet area in open country’ shall mean an area, delimited
by the competent authority, that is undisturbed by noise
from traffic, industry or recreational activities;

(n) ‘major road’ shall mean a regional, national or international
road, designated by the Member State, which has more
than three million vehicle passages a year;

(o) ‘major railway’ shall mean a railway, designated by the
Member State, which has more than 30 000 train passages
per year;

(p) ‘major airport’ shall mean a civil airport, designated by the
Member State, which has more than 50 000 movements
per year (a movement being a take-off or a landing),
excluding those purely for training purposes on light
aircraft;

(r) ‘strategic noise map’ shall mean a map designed for the
global assessment of noise exposure in a given area due to
different noise sources or for overall predictions for such
an area;

(s) ‘limit value’ shall mean a value of Lden or Lnight, and where
appropriate Lday and Levening, as determined by the Member
State, the exceeding of which causes competent authorities
to consider or enforce mitigation measures;
limit values
may be different for different types of noise (road-, rail-,
air-traffic noise, industrial noise, etc.), different surround-
ings and different noise sensitiveness of the populations;
they may also be different for existing situations and for
new situations (where there is a change in the situation
regarding the noise source or the use of the surrounding);

(t) ‘action plans’ shall mean plans designed to manage noise
issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary;

(u) ‘acoustical planning’ shall mean controlling future noise by
planned measures, such as land-use planning, systems engi-
neering for traffic, traffic planning, abatement by sound-
insulation measures and noise control of sources;

(v) ‘the public’ shall mean one or more natural or legal
legislation or

persons and,
practice, their associations, organisations or groups.

in accordance with national

Article 4

Implementation and responsibilities

1. Member States shall designate at the appropriate levels
the competent authorities and bodies responsible for imple-
menting this Directive, including the authorities responsible for:

(a) making and, where relevant, approving noise maps and
action plans for agglomerations, major roads, major rail-
ways and major airports;

(b) collecting noise maps and action plans.

2.
The Member States shall make the information referred to
in paragraph 1 available to the Commission and to the public
no later than 18 July 2005.

Article 5

Noise indicators and their application

1. Member States shall apply the noise indicators Lden and
Lnight as referred to in Annex I for the preparation and revision
of strategic noise mapping in accordance with Article 7.

(q) ‘noise mapping’ shall mean the presentation of data on an
existing or predicted noise situation in terms of a noise
indicator, indicating breaches of any relevant limit value in
force, the number of people affected in a certain area, or
the number of dwellings exposed to certain values of a
noise indicator in a certain area;

Until the use of common assessment methods for the determi-
nation of Lden and Lnight
is made obligatory, existing national
noise indicators and related data may be used by Member States
for this purpose and should be converted into the indicators
mentioned above. These data must not be more than three
years old.

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2. Member States may use supplementary noise indicators
for special cases such as those listed in Annex I(3).

and for all major roads and major railways within their terri-
tories.

For acoustical planning and noise zoning, Member States

3.
may use other noise indicators than Lden and Lnight.

No later than 31 December 2008, Member States shall inform
the Commission of all the agglomerations and of all the major
roads and major railways within their territories.

4.
No later than 18 July 2005, Member States shall commu-
nicate information to the Commission on any relevant limit
values in force within their territories or under preparation,
expressed in terms of Lden and Lnight and where appropriate, Lday
and Levening, for road-traffic noise, rail-traffic noise, aircraft noise
around airports and noise on industrial activity sites, together
with explanations about the implementation of the limit values.

The strategic noise maps shall satisfy the minimum

3.
requirements laid down in Annex IV.

Neighbouring Member States shall cooperate on strategic

4.
noise mapping near borders.

Article 6

Assessment methods

The values of Lden and Lnight shall be determined by means

1.
of the assessment methods defined in Annex II.

2.
Common assessment methods for the determination of
Lden and Lnight shall be established by the Commission in accor-
dance with the procedure laid down in Article 13(2) through a
revision of Annex II. Until these methods are adopted, Member
States may use assessment methods adapted in accordance with
Annex II and based upon the methods laid down in their own
legislation.
In such case, they must demonstrate that those
methods give equivalent results to the results obtained with the
methods set out in paragraph 2.2 of Annex II.

Harmful effects may be assessed by means of the dose-

3.
effect relations referred to in Annex III.

Article 7

Strategic noise mapping

1. Member States shall ensure that no later than 30 June
showing the situation in the
2007 strategic noise maps
preceding calendar year have been made and, where relevant,
approved by the competent authorities, for all agglomerations
with more than 250 000 inhabitants and for all major roads
which have more than six million vehicle passages a year,
major railways which have more than 60 000 train passages
per year and major airports within their territories.

No later than 30 June 2005, and thereafter every five years,
Member States shall inform the Commission of the major roads
which have more than six million vehicle passages a year,
major railways which have more than 60 000 train passages
per year, major airports and the agglomerations with more than
250 000 inhabitants within their territories.

The strategic noise maps shall be reviewed, and revised if
their

least every five years after the date of

5.
necessary, at
preparation.

Article 8

Action plans

1. Member States shall ensure that no later than 18 July
2008 the competent authorities have drawn up action plans
designed to manage, within their territories, noise issues and
effects, including noise reduction if necessary for:

(a) places near the major roads which have more than six
million vehicle passages a year, major railways which have
more than 60 000 train passages per year and major
airports;

(b) agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants. Such
plans shall also aim to protect quiet areas against an
increase in noise.

The measures within the plans are at the discretion of the
competent authorities, but should notably address priorities
which may be identified by the exceeding of any relevant limit
value or by other criteria chosen by the Member States and
apply in particular to the most important areas as established
by strategic noise mapping.

2. Member States shall ensure that, no later than 18 July
2013, the competent authorities have drawn up action plans
notably to address priorities which may be identified by the
exceeding of any relevant limit value or by other criteria chosen
by the Member States for the agglomerations and for the major
roads as well as the major railways within their territories.

3. Member States shall inform the Commission of the other
relevant criteria referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

The action plans shall meet the minimum requirements of

4.
Annex V.

2. Member States shall adopt
the measures necessary to
ensure that no later than 30 June 2012, and thereafter every
five years, strategic noise maps showing the situation in the
preceding calendar year have been made and, where relevant,
approved by the competent authorities for all agglomerations

5.
The action plans shall be reviewed, and revised if neces-
sary, when a major development occurs affecting the existing
noise situation, and at least every five years after the date of
their approval.

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Neighbouring Member States shall cooperate on the

6.
action plans for border regions.

7. Member States shall ensure that the public is consulted
about proposals for action plans, given early and effective
opportunities to participate in the preparation and review of
the action plans, that the results of that participation are taken
into account and that the public is informed on the decisions
taken. Reasonable time-frames shall be provided allowing suffi-
cient time for each stage of public participation.

If the obligation to carry out a public participation procedure
arises
simultaneously from this Directive and any other
Community legislation, Member States may provide for joint
procedures in order to avoid duplication.

Article 9

Information to the public

1. Member States shall ensure that the strategic noise maps
they have made, and where appropriate adopted, and the action
plans they have drawn up are made available and disseminated
to the public in accordance with relevant Community legisla-
in particular Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June
tion,
1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environ-
ment (1), and in conformity with Annexes IV and V to this
Directive,
including by means of available information tech-
nologies.

2.
This information shall be clear, comprehensible and acces-
sible. A summary setting out the most important points shall
be provided.

Article 10

Collection and publication of data by Member States and
the Commission

1.
No later than 18 January 2004, the Commission will
submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council
containing a review of existing Community measures relating
to sources of environmental noise.

The Member States shall ensure that the information from
2.
strategic noise maps and summaries of the action plans as
referred to in Annex VI are sent to the Commission within six
months of the dates laid down in Articles 7 and 8 respectively.

3.
The Commission shall set up a database of information
on strategic noise maps in order to facilitate the compilation of
the report referred to in Article 11 and other technical and
informative work.

4.
Every five years the Commission shall publish a summary
report of data from strategic noise maps and action plans. The
first report shall be submitted by 18 July 2009.

(1) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56.

Article 11

Review and reporting

1.
No later than 18 July 2009, the Commission shall submit
to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the
implementation of this Directive.

2.
That report shall in particular assess the need for further
Community actions on environmental noise and, if appropriate,
propose implementing strategies on aspects such as:

(a) long-term and medium-term goals for the reduction of the
number of persons harmfully affected by environmental
noise, taking particularly into account the different climates
and different cultures;

(b) additional measures for a reduction of the environmental
in particular outdoor
noise emitted by specific sources,
equipment, means and infrastructures of
transport and
certain categories of industrial activity, building on those
measures already implemented or under discussion for
adoption;

(c) the protection of quiet areas in open country.

3.
The report shall include a review of the acoustic environ-
ment quality in the Community based on the data referred to in
Article 10 and shall take account of scientific and technical
progress and any other relevant information. The reduction of
harmful effects and the cost-effectiveness ratio shall be the main
criteria for
the strategies and measures
proposed.

the selection of

4. When the Commission has received the first set of stra-
tegic noise maps, it shall reconsider:

— the possibility for a 1,5 metre measurement height

in
Annex I, paragraph 1, in respect of areas having houses of
one storey,

— the lower limit for the estimated number of people exposed

to different bands of Lden and Lnight in Annex VI.

5.
The report shall be reviewed every five years or more
often if appropriate. It shall contain an assessment of the imple-
mentation of this Directive.

The report shall,

6.
proposals for the amendment of this Directive.

if appropriate, be accompanied by

Article 12

Adaptation

The Commission shall adapt Annex I, point 3, Annex II and
Annex III hereto to technical and scientific progress in accor-
dance with the procedure provided for in Article 13(2).

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Article 13

Committee

The Commission shall be assisted by the committee set

1.
up by Article 18 of Directive 2000/14/EC.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by
the Member States.

2.
The Member States shall communicate to the Commission
the texts of the provisions of national law that they adopt in
the field governed by this Directive.

Article 15

Entry into force

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at three months.

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 14

Transposition

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive no later than 18 July 2004. They shall inform the
Commission thereof.

they shall
When the Member States adopt these measures,
contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by
such a reference on the occasion of their official publication.

Article 16

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 25 June 2002.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

J. MATAS I PALOU

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ANNEX I

NOISE INDICATORS

referred to in Article 5

1. Definition of the day-evening-night level Lden

The day-evening-night level Lden in decibels (dB) is defined by the following formula:

in which:

— Lday is the A-weighted long-term average sound level as defined in ISO 1996-2: 1987, determined over all the day

periods of a year,

— Levening is the A-weighted long-term average sound level as defined in ISO 1996-2: 1987, determined over all the

evening periods of a year,

— Lnight

is the A-weighted long-term average sound level as defined in ISO 1996-2: 1987, determined over all the

night periods of a year;

in which:

— the day is 12 hours, the evening four hours and the night eight hours. The Member States may shorten the evening
period by one or two hours and lengthen the day and/or the night period accordingly, provided that this choice is
the same for all the sources and that they provide the Commission with information on any systematic difference
from the default option,

— the start of the day (and consequently the start of the evening and the start of the night) shall be chosen by the
Member State (that choice shall be the same for noise from all sources); the default values are 07.00 to 19.00,
19.00 to 23.00 and 23.00 to 07.00 local time,

— a year is a relevant year as regards the emission of sound and an average year as regards the meteorological

circumstances;

and in which:

— the incident sound is considered, which means that no account is taken of the sound that is reflected at the façade
of the dwelling under consideration (as a general rule, this implies a 3 dB correction in case of measurement).

The height of the Lden assessment point depends on the application:
— in the case of computation for the purpose of strategic noise mapping in relation to noise exposure in and near
buildings, the assessment points must be 4,0 ± 0,2 m (3,8 to 4,2 m) above the ground and at the most exposed
façade; for this purpose, the most exposed façade will be the external wall facing onto and nearest to the specific
noise source; for other purposes other choices may be made,

— in the case of measurement for the purpose of strategic noise mapping in relation to noise exposure in and near
buildings, other heights may be chosen, but they must never be less than 1,5 m above the ground, and results
should be corrected in accordance with an equivalent height of 4 m,

— for other purposes such as acoustical planning and noise zoning other heights may be chosen, but they must never

be less than 1,5 m above the ground, for example for:

— rural areas with one-storey houses,

— the design of local measures meant to reduce the noise impact on specific dwellings,

— the detailed noise mapping of a limited area, showing the noise exposure of individual dwellings.

2. Definition of the night-time noise indicator

The night-time noise indicator Lnight is the A-weighted long-term average sound level as defined in ISO 1996-2: 1987,
determined over all the night periods of a year;

in which:

— the night is eight hours as defined in paragraph 1,

— a year is a relevant year as regards the emission of sound and an average year as regards the meteorological

circumstances, as defined in paragraph 1,

— the incident sound is considered, as laid down in paragraph 1,

— the assessment point is the same as for Lden.

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3. Supplementary noise indicators

In some cases, in addition to Lden and Lnight, and where appropriate Lday and Levening, it may be advantageous to use
special noise indicators and related limit values. Some examples are given below:

— the noise source under consideration operates only for a small proportion of the time (for example, less than 20 %
of the time over the total of the day periods in a year, the total of the evening periods in a year, or the total of the
night periods in a year),

— the average number of noise events in one or more of the periods is very low (for example, less than one noise
event an hour; a noise event could be defined as a noise that lasts less than five minutes; examples are the noise
from a passing train or a passing aircraft),

— the low-frequency content of the noise is strong,

— LAmax, or SEL (sound exposure level) for night period protection in the case of noise peaks,
— extra protection at the weekend or a specific part of the year,

— extra protection of the day period,

— extra protection of the evening period,

— a combination of noises from different sources,

— quiet areas in open country,

— the noise contains strong tonal components,

— the noise has an impulsive character.

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ANNEX II

ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR THE NOISE INDICATORS

referred to in Article 6

1. Introduction

The values of Lden and Lnight can be determined either by computation or by measurement (at the assessment position).
For predictions only computation is applicable.

Provisional computation and measurement methods are set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.

2. Interim computation methods for Lden and Lnight

2.1. Adaptation of existing national computation methods

If a Member State has national methods for the determination of long-term indicators those methods may be
applied, provided that they are adapted to the definitions of the indicators set out in Annex I. For most national
methods this implies the introduction of the evening as a separate period and the introduction of the average
over a year. Some existing methods will also have to be adapted as regards the exclusion of the façade reflection,
the incorporation of the night and/or the assessment position.

The establishment of the average over a year requires special attention. Variations in emission and transmission
can contribute to fluctuations over a year.

2.2. Recommended interim computation methods

For Member States that have no national computation methods or Member States that wish to change computa-
tion method, the following methods are recommended:

For INDUSTRIAL NOISE: ISO 9613-2: ‘Acoustics — Abatement of sound propagation outdoors, Part 2: General
method of calculation’.

Suitable noise-emission data (input data) for this method can be obtained from measurements carried out in
accordance with one of the following methods:

— ISO 8297: 1994 ‘Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels of multisource industrial plants for

evaluation of sound pressure levels in the environment — Engineering method’,

— EN ISO 3744: 1995 ‘Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels of noise using sound pressure —

Engineering method in an essentially free field over a reflecting plane’,

— EN ISO 3746: 1995 ‘Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels of noise sources using an enveloping

measurement surface over a reflecting plane’.

For AIRCRAFT NOISE: ECAC.CEAC Doc. 29 ‘Report on Standard Method of Computing Noise Contours around
Civil Airports’, 1997. Of the different approaches to the modelling of flight paths, the segmentation technique
referred to in section 7.5 of ECAC.CEAC Doc. 29 will be used.

For ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE: The French national computation method ‘NMPB-Routes-96 (SETRA-CERTU-LCPC-
CSTB)’, referred to in ‘Arrêté du 5 mai 1995 relatif au bruit des infrastructures routières, Journal Officiel du 10
mai 1995, Article 6’ and in the French standard ‘XPS 31-133’. For input data concerning emission, these docu-
ments refer to the ‘Guide du bruit des transports terrestres, fascicule prévision des niveaux sonores, CETUR
1980’.

For RAILWAY NOISE: The Netherlands national computation method published in ‘Reken- en Meetvoorschrift
Railverkeerslawaai ’96, Ministerie Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer, 20 November 1996’.

Those methods must be adapted to the definitions of Lden and Lnight. No later than 1 July 2003 the Commission
will publish guidelines in accordance with Article 13(2) on the revised methods and provide emission data for
aircraft noise, road traffic noise and railway noise on the basis of existing data.

3. Interim measurement methods for Lden and Lnight

If a Member State wishes to use its own official measurement method, that method shall be adapted in accordance
with the definitions of the indicators set out in Annex I and in accordance with the principles governing long-term
average measurements stated in ISO 1996-2: 1987 and ISO 1996-1: 1982.

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If a Member State has no measurement method or if it prefers to apply another method, a method may be defined on
the basis of the definition of the indicator and the principles stated in ISO 1996-2: 1987 and ISO 1996-1: 1982.

Measurement data in front of a façade or another reflecting element must be corrected to exclude the reflected contri-
bution of this façade or element (as a general rule, this implies a 3 dB correction in case of measurement).

ANNEX III

ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR HARMFUL EFFECTS

referred to in Article 6(3)

Dose-effect relations should be used to assess the effect of noise on populations. The dose-effect relations introduced by
future revisions of this Annex in accordance with Article 13(2) will concern in particular:

— the relation between annoyance and Lden for road, rail and air traffic noise, and for industrial noise,
— the relation between sleep disturbance and Lnight for road, rail and air traffic noise, and for industrial noise.
If necessary, specific dose-effect relations could be presented for:

— dwellings with special insulation against noise as defined in Annex VI,

— dwellings with a quiet façade as defined in Annex VI,

— different climates/different cultures,

— vulnerable groups of the population,

— tonal industrial noise,

— impulsive industrial noise and other special cases.

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ANNEX IV

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR STRATEGIC NOISE MAPPING

referred to in Article 7

1. A strategic noise map is the presentation of data on one of the following aspects:

— an existing, a previous or a predicted noise situation in terms of a noise indicator,

— the exceeding of a limit value,

— the estimated number of dwellings, schools and hospitals in a certain area that are exposed to specific values of a

noise indicator,

— the estimated number of people located in an area exposed to noise.

2. Strategic noise maps may be presented to the public as:

— graphical plots,

— numerical data in tables,

— numerical data in electronic form.

3. Strategic noise maps for agglomerations shall put a special emphasis on the noise emitted by:

— road traffic,

— rail traffic,

— airports,

— industrial activity sites, including ports.

4. Strategic noise mapping will be used for the following purposes:

— the provision of the data to be sent to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(2) and Annex VI,

— a source of information for citizens in accordance with Article 9,

— a basis for action plans in accordance with Article 8.

Each of those applications requires a different type of strategic noise map.

5. Minimum requirements for the strategic noise maps concerning the data to be sent to the Commission are set out in

paragraphs 1.5, 1.6, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 of Annex VI.

6. For the purposes of informing the citizen in accordance with Article 9 and the development of action plans in accor-

dance with Article 8, additional and more detailed information must be given, such as:

— a graphical presentation,

— maps disclosing the exceeding of a limit value,

— difference maps, in which the existing situation is compared with various possible future situations,

— maps showing the value of a noise indicator at a height other than 4 m where appropriate.

The Member States may lay down rules on the types and formats of these noise maps.

7. Strategic noise maps for local or national application must be made for an assessment height of 4 m and the 5 dB

ranges of Lden and Lnight as defined in Annex VI.

8. For agglomerations separate strategic noise maps must be made for road-traffic noise, rail-traffic noise, aircraft noise

and industrial noise. Maps for other sources may be added.

9. The Commission may develop guidelines providing further guidance on noise maps, noise mapping and mapping

softwares in accordance with Article 13(2).

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ANNEX V

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTION PLANS

referred to in Article 8

1. An action plan must at least include the following elements:

— a description of the agglomeration, the major roads, the major railways or major airports and other noise sources

taken into account,

— the authority responsible,

— the legal context,

— any limit values in place in accordance with Article 5,

— a summary of the results of the noise mapping,

— an evaluation of the estimated number of people exposed to noise, identification of problems and situations that

need to be improved,

— a record of the public consultations organised in accordance with Article 8(7),

— any noise-reduction measures already in force and any projects in preparation,

— actions which the competent authorities intend to take in the next five years, including any measures to preserve

quiet areas,

— long-term strategy,

— financial information (if available): budgets, cost-effectiveness assessment, cost-benefit assessment,

— provisions envisaged for evaluating the implementation and the results of the action plan.

2. The actions which the competent authorities intend to take in the fields within their competence may for example

include:

— traffic planning,

— land-use planning,

— technical measures at noise sources,

— selection of quieter sources,

— reduction of sound transmission,

— regulatory or economic measures or incentives.

3. Each action plan should contain estimates in terms of the reduction of the number of people affected (annoyed, sleep

disturbed, or other).

4. The Commission may develop guidelines providing further guidance on the action plans in accordance with Article

13(2).

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ANNEX VI

DATA TO BE SENT TO THE COMMISSION

referred to in Article 10

The data to be sent to the Commission are as follows:

1. For agglomerations

1.1. A concise description of the agglomeration:

location, size, number of inhabitants.

1.2. The responsible authority.

1.3. Noise-control programmes that have been carried out in the past and noise-measures in place.

1.4. The computation or measurement methods that have been used.

1.5. The estimated number of people (in hundreds) living in dwellings that are exposed to each of the following bands
of values of Lden in dB 4 m above the ground on the most exposed façade: 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, > 75,
separately for noise from road, rail and air traffic, and from industrial sources. The figures must be rounded to the
nearest hundred (e.g. 5 200 = between 5 150 and 5 249; 100 = between 50 and 149; 0 = less than 50).

In addition it should be stated, where appropriate and where such information is available, how many persons in
the above categories live in dwellings that have:
— special insulation against the noise in question, meaning special insulation of a building against one or more
types of environmental noise, combined with such ventilation or air conditioning facilities that high values of
insulation against environmental noise can be maintained,

— a quiet façade, meaning the façade of a dwelling at which the value of Lden four metres above the ground and
two metres in front of the façade, for the noise emitted from a specific source, is more than 20 dB lower than
at the façade having the highest value of Lden.

An indication should also be given on how major roads, major railways and major airports as defined in Article 3
contribute to the above.

1.6. The estimated total number of people (in hundreds) living in dwellings that are exposed to each of the following
bands of values of Lnight in dB 4 m above the ground on the most exposed façade: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69,
> 70, separately for road, rail and air traffic and for industrial sources. These data may also be assessed for value
band 45-49 before the date laid down in Article 11(1).

In addition it should be stated, where appropriate and where such information is available, how many persons in
the above categories live in dwellings that have:
— special
— a quiet façade, as defined in paragraph 1.5.

insulation against the noise in question, as defined in paragraph 1.5,

It must also be indicated how major roads, major railways and major airports contribute to the above.

1.7. In case of graphical presentation, strategic maps must at least show the 60, 65, 70 and 75 dB contours.

1.8. A summary of the action plan covering all the important aspects referred to in Annex V, not exceeding ten pages

in length.

2. For major roads, major railways and major airports

2.1. A general description of the roads, railways or airports:

location, size, and data on the traffic.

2.2. A characterisation of their surroundings: agglomerations, villages, countryside or otherwise, information on land

use, other major noise sources.

2.3. Noise-control programmes that have been carried out in the past and noise-measures in place.

2.4. The computation or measurement methods that have been used.

2.5. The estimated total number of people (in hundreds) living outside agglomerations in dwellings that are exposed to
each of the following bands of values of Lden in dB 4 m above the ground and on the most exposed façade:
55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, > 75.

In addition it should be stated, where appropriate and where such information is available, how many persons in
the above categories live in dwellings that have:
— special
— a quiet façade, as defined in paragraph 1.5.

insulation against the noise in question, as defined in paragraph 1.5,

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2.6. The estimated total number of people (in hundreds) living outside agglomerations in dwellings that are exposed to
each of the following bands of values of Lnight in dB 4 m above the ground and on the most exposed façade:
50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, > 70. These data may also be assessed for value band 45-49 before the date laid
down in Article 11(1).

In addition it should be stated, where appropriate and where such information is available, how many persons in
the above categories live in dwellings that have:
— special
— a quiet façade, as defined in paragraph 1.5.

insulation against the noise in question, as defined in paragraph 1.5,

2.7. The total area (in km2) exposed to values of Lden higher than 55, 65 and 75 dB respectively. The estimated total
number of dwellings (in hundreds) and the estimated total number of people (in hundreds) living in each of these
areas must also be given. Those figures must include agglomerations.

The 55 and 65 dB contours must also be shown on one or more maps that give information on the location of
villages, towns and agglomerations within those contours.

2.8. A summary of the action plan covering all the important aspects referred to in Annex V, not exceeding ten pages

in length.

3. Guidelines

The Commission may develop guidelines to provide further guidance on the above provision of information, in
accordance with Article 13(2).