Give noise a voice so it can be better understood.
Sebastian Wschiansky · NOISE-CON proceedings · 2023
The purpose of the European Outdoor Noise Directive (OND) 2000/14/EC is to provide to the buyer of a machine relevant noise information so an informed buying decision favoring low noise machinery will be made. This in return should incentivize manufacturers over time to produce quieter machinery. However, the results of this strategy have yet to meet the expectations. Multiple issues have been recognized and investigated over the last years. As a result two guides were published, one for manufacturers to provide correct noise information and one for buyers in their purchases. Efforts are made to resolve issues with measurement standards. The actual noise label applied on OND-machines is also one of the identified issues at time of purchase. And for market surveillance it provides no real help. So what could be done to improve the situation? What key parts in the process involving different stakeholders and procedures should be addressed? This paper proposes a technical solution to provide understandable noise information to buyers in an effective way by leveraging mobile communication technology and by taking in account insights about human buying behavior. The solution could also help making market surveillance more effective.