The European Commission has recently published a new edition of the guidelines for the implementation of Directive 2000/14/EC on noise emissions in the environment by equipment for use outdoors.
This update incorporates the agreements reached in the Commission's Expert Group on Outdoor Noise Emissions, in the meetings held in 2024 and 2025, and introduces clarifications on different aspects of the Directive, such as:
- Electric generators integrated in more complex assemblies (article 2).
- Economic operators established in the Union (Article 4.2).
- Single-handed portable chainsaws (Annex I, item 6).
- Excavators and other material handling machines (Annex I, item 20).
- Mobile cranes and gantry cranes (Annex I, item 38).
- Pumps for swimming pools (Annex I, item 56).
- Address of the person responsible for keeping the technical documentation (Annex II).
It should be noted that these guidelines still include Annex III (noise measurement methods) of Directive 2000/14/EC, which was applicable before 22 May 2025 and may still be used in exceptional circumstances. For the measurement methods of the new Annex III, in force from 22 May 2025, please refer to the diagram published by the Commission in a separate document.
