Construction Equipment Noise Measurement and the Noise CE Certificate
2000/14/EC Noise Limit Calculator
This calculator is for information only; the binding texts are Directive 2000/14/EC (as amended by 2005/88/EC) and the national legislation transposing it.
Noise Measurement of Construction Equipment: What Do You Need to Know About the Turkish Communiqué on the Import Inspection of Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Product Safety and Inspection: 2024/2)?
Update (2026): Since 1 January 2026, the import inspection of machinery such as compressors, lift trucks and lawnmowers has been carried out under the Communiqué on the Import Inspection of Machinery (2026/32); for details and the tariff code list, see our 2026/32 GTİP list page (in Turkish). As the import inspection communiqué for construction equipment is reissued every year, the current communiqué number should be checked in the announcements of the Turkish Ministry of Trade before importing.
The communiqué published in the Official Gazette No. 32416 of 31.12.2023 entered into force on 30.06.2024. It covers the following machines, which fall under the Machinery Safety Regulation (2006/42/EC), the regulation on emission limits and type-approval for internal combustion engines for non-road mobile machinery (EU 2016/1628) and the regulation on noise emission by equipment for use outdoors (2000/14/EC):
Graders
Covered by Article 12 of 2000/14/EC: the limit is 101 dB for P ≤ 55 kW and 82 + 11 lg P for P > 55 kW. The measurement is made according to the Annex III test code, with the blade and travelling conditions defined.
Vibrating and Pneumatic-Tyred Road Rollers
Covered by Article 12 as compaction machines: the limit is 105 dB for P ≤ 8 kW, 106 dB for 8 < P ≤ 70 kW and 86 + 11 lg P for P > 70 kW.
Wheeled Earth-Moving Machines (Loaders)
Covered by Article 12 of 2000/14/EC: the limit is 101 dB for P ≤ 55 kW and 82 + 11 lg P for P > 55 kW. The measurement is based on bucket lifting and hydraulic cycle conditions.
Tracked Excavators
Covered by Article 12 of 2000/14/EC: the limit is 93 dB for P ≤ 15 kW and 80 + 11 lg P for P > 15 kW. The measurement is made under hydraulic cycle and idling conditions.
Wheeled Machines with a 360° Revolving Superstructure
Wheeled excavators are in this group. Covered by Article 12 of 2000/14/EC: the limit is 93 dB for P ≤ 15 kW and 80 + 11 lg P for P > 15 kW.
Backhoe Loaders (Excavator-Loaders)
Covered by Article 12 of 2000/14/EC: the limit is 101 dB for P ≤ 55 kW and 82 + 11 lg P for P > 55 kW. Both the loader and the excavator sides are assessed according to the test code.
Concrete Pumps
Covered by Article 13 of 2000/14/EC as conveying and spraying machines for concrete and mortar: there is no limit value; the guaranteed LWA determined from the measured value is declared on the noise label.
Self-Propelled Boring and Drilling Machines
Covered by Article 13 of 2000/14/EC as drill rigs: there is no limit value; the guaranteed LWA determined from the measured value is declared on the noise label.
1- Application for Import Inspection Prior Permission: Importers apply for an import inspection prior permission through the TAREKS system, under “E-İşlemler” on the Ministry’s website.
2- Endorsement of documents: The first and last pages of the EC Declaration of Conformity and the Type Approval Certificate of the product to be imported must be endorsed by the Turkish mission in the country of origin.
3- Upload through TAREKS: The endorsed documents are uploaded to the TAREKS system.
4- Document check: The documents uploaded to TAREKS are checked; if any document is missing or incorrect, the prior permission is refused.
5- Physical inspection and laboratory testing: Once the prior permission has been approved, the imported consignments are subject to physical inspection and the necessary laboratory tests. Where suitable conditions exist (adequate measurement area, suitable weather, etc.) and subject to the Ministry’s permission, a local notified body may carry out the 2000/14/EC noise emission conformity assessment.
6- Inspection applications: For approved products, import inspection applications are again made through TAREKS by the authorised user.
7- Referral to physical inspection: If the applications are found acceptable, the products are referred to physical inspection and the process begins.
8- Inspection process: The inspection checks the conformity of the products and whether the standards stated in the documents are current and appropriate.
9- Conclusion and sanctions: If a non-conformity is found, the company’s inspection authorisation may be suspended and its applications referred to physical inspection for a certain period.
How Is Construction Equipment Noise Measured?
Noise measurement of construction equipment is carried out according to the test codes defined for each type of machine in Annex III of Directive 2000/14/EC. The basic measurement standard is EN ISO 3744: the machine is placed on a reflecting plane at the centre of a hemispherical measurement surface, and the sound pressure levels are measured at the microphone positions on that surface. The A-weighted sound power level (LWA) of the machine is calculated from the results. Earth-moving machines such as excavators, loaders, graders, backhoe loaders and rollers are subject to noise limits under Article 12 of the Directive; their conformity is assessed by a notified body under one of the Annex VI, Annex VII or Annex VIII procedures.
The guaranteed sound power level is determined by adding the measurement uncertainty and production variations to the measured value. This value is shown on the noise label on the machine together with the CE marking and is stated in the EC declaration of conformity. The guaranteed value must not exceed the limit set in the Directive according to the power or mass of the machine. Before the measurement, the operating conditions of the machine (idling, operation under load, hydraulic cycle, etc.) must be set according to the test code and the background noise of the measurement site must be checked.
2000/14/EC Noise Limit Values (Article 12 – Stage II)
For outdoor equipment covered by Article 12 of the Directive, the guaranteed A-weighted sound power level (LWA, dB / 1 pW) must not exceed the limits below. The limits depend on the machine’s net installed power (P, kW), for generators the electric power (Pel, kW), for breakers the mass (m, kg), and for lawnmowers the cutting width (L, cm).
| Type of equipment | Parameter range | Limit LWA (dB) |
|---|---|---|
| Compaction machines (vibrating rollers, vibratory plates, vibratory rammers) | P ≤ 8 | 105(2) |
| 8 < P ≤ 70 | 106(2) | |
| P > 70 | 86 + 11 lg P(2) | |
| Tracked dozers, tracked loaders, tracked excavator-loaders | P ≤ 55 | 103(2) |
| P > 55 | 84 + 11 lg P(2) | |
| Wheeled dozers, wheeled loaders, wheeled excavator-loaders (backhoe loaders), dumpers, graders, loader-type landfill compactors, combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks, mobile cranes, non-vibrating rollers, paver-finishers, hydraulic power packs | P ≤ 55 | 101(2) |
| P > 55 | 82 + 11 lg P(2) | |
| Excavators, builders’ hoists for the transport of goods, construction winches, motor hoes | P ≤ 15 | 93 |
| P > 15 | 80 + 11 lg P | |
| Hand-held concrete-breakers and picks | m ≤ 15 | 105 |
| 15 < m < 30 | 92 + 11 lg m(2) | |
| m ≥ 30 | 94 + 11 lg m | |
| Tower cranes | — | 96 + lg P |
| Welding and power generators(1) | Pel ≤ 2 | 95 + lg Pel |
| 2 < Pel ≤ 10 | 96 + lg Pel | |
| Pel > 10 | 95 + lg Pel | |
| Compressors | P ≤ 15 | 97 |
| P > 15 | 95 + 2 lg P | |
| Lawnmowers, lawn trimmers / lawn edge trimmers | L ≤ 50 | 94(2) |
| 50 < L ≤ 70 | 98 | |
| 70 < L ≤ 120 | 98(2) | |
| L > 120 | 103(2) |
(1) For welding generators, Pel is the conventional welding current multiplied by the conventional load voltage for the lowest value of the duty factor. For power generators, Pel is the prime power according to ISO 8528-1, clause 13.3.2.
(2) The Stage II values are merely indicative for the following equipment, for which the Stage I values continue to apply: walk-behind vibrating rollers, vibratory plates (> 3 kW), vibratory rammers, dozers with steel tracks, loaders with steel tracks (> 55 kW), combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks, paver-finishers with a compaction screed, hand-held combustion-engine driven concrete-breakers and picks (15 < m < 30 kg), lawnmowers and lawn trimmers / lawn edge trimmers (L ≤ 50, 70 < L ≤ 120 and L > 120 cm).
The calculated limit is rounded to the nearest whole number (down if less than 0.5, up if 0.5 or more). “lg” is the base-10 logarithm.
For the equipment lists under 2000/14/EC, the conformity assessment procedures, the noise limit calculator and the documents requested for imports, see our noise certification (2000/14/EC CE certification) page.
Voluntary Third-Party Noise Verification
For Article 13 equipment, which is subject to noise marking only, a notified body is not mandatory and the manufacturer declares the guaranteed sound power level under Annex V on its own responsibility. TESTPLUS also serves this area on a voluntary basis as an independent third-party body: the measured and guaranteed values are verified impartially, errors are identified before the equipment reaches the market, and buyers, importers and market surveillance authorities receive evidence they can rely on.
Voluntary certificates are issued outside our notified body scope and do not replace the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity.
The New Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and Construction Equipment
From 20 January 2027, the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 will replace the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Manufacturers and importers of construction equipment will need to update the EC declaration of conformity and the technical files presented in TAREKS inspections to the new Regulation. On the noise side, Directive 2000/14/EC continues to apply; for construction equipment, machinery safety and noise emission compliance should therefore be planned together.
As Notified Body No. 2908, accredited under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC, TESTPLUS carries out conformity assessment on site and at production facilities. For details on construction equipment noise measurement, contact our technical team.
