UNECE announces harmonised vehicle noise test procedure

ERJ staff report (DS)

Geneva, Switzerland -- UNECE (UN Economic Commission for Europe) has announced agreement on a new methodology for testing vehicle noise.

The Additional Sound Emissions Provisions (ASEP), currently under development by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) managed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will complement regular noise tests and lead to serious strengthening of noise provisions.

“The ASEP is a completely new way of measuring noise levels and it will provide a more accurate measurement because cars will be regulated in a broader engine speed range. The ultimate goal of ASEP is to prevent tweaking of test results”, said Christian Theis, representative of the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs and Chairman of the Working Party on Noise (GRB), a subsidiary body of the World Forum developing noise regulations. The GRB is expected to adopt ASEP in early 2010.

In 1982 the GRB established Regulation No. 51 which set the sound limit levels for passenger cars to 80 decibels. In 1996 this limit was reduced to 74 decibels. Furthermore, a regulation on reducing the rolling sound of tyres was adopted in 2005. Further limits on tyre noise will be introduced from2012 onwards.

Adding to the complexity of the situation is the advent of electric and hybrid vehicles: they are in fact really silent, as the only sound they emit is tyre rolling noise. This represents a risk to those who rely on the sound of a vehicle to warn them of its approach, such as visually impaired pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The World Forum is also working to address this issue, balancing out new technology with varying needs in society.

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Press release from UNECE