Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC: Are Lift Trucks in Scope?

Directive 2000/14/EC: Are Lift Trucks in Scope?

Combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks are subject to strict noise limits and notified body assessment under the EU Outdoor Noise Directive. Here is what you need to know.

 

What Is Directive 2000/14/EC? A Quick Reminder

Directive 2000/14/EC, the basis for noise measurement of outdoor equipment, was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 8 May 2000 and has applied since 3 January 2002. Its main purpose is to regulate the noise emitted into the environment by equipment for use outdoors, to safeguard free movement within the internal market through CE marking, and to protect the health of citizens.

The Directive covers a total of 57 different categories of equipment. These fall under two different regimes: equipment subject to noise limits (Article 12) and equipment subject to noise marking only (Article 13).

Key Concept: Guaranteed Sound Power Level (LWA)

All equipment covered by the Directive must bear its guaranteed sound power level (LWA) next to the CE marking. This value expresses the acoustic power on a logarithmic scale (dB/1 pW). The manufacturer guarantees that it will not be exceeded — it is calculated taking into account production variation and measurement uncertainty.

 

 

Lift Trucks: Two Categories, Two Different Obligations

Annex I, item 36 of the Directive defines “lift trucks, combustion-engine driven, counterbalanced”. Although this is listed as a single type of equipment, there is an important split in terms of the compliance regime:

⚠ Critical Distinction: Which Lift Truck Falls Under Which Article?

The Directive treats the same type of equipment in two different ways. Whether a counterbalanced lift truck falls under Article 12 or Article 13 depends on the second sub-category definition and on its rated capacity.

 

Lift Truck Scope Table

Lift Truck Sub-category	Annex I Item	Regime	Capacity Condition
Rough-terrain trucks	Item 36 (first indent)	Article 12 – Noise limit + notified body	All capacities
“Other” counterbalanced lift trucks (including standard diesel/LPG forklifts)	Item 36 (second indent)	Article 13 – Marking only	Rated capacity ≤ 10 tonnes
“Other” counterbalanced lift trucks	Item 36 (second indent)	Article 12 – Noise limit + notified body	Rated capacity > 10 tonnes
Lift trucks specifically constructed for container handling	Outside the Directive	Out of scope	—

 

Practical Consequence

The great majority of standard diesel/LPG forklifts used in warehousing and logistics are “other counterbalanced lift trucks” with a rated capacity not exceeding 10 tonnes and fall under Article 13: no noise limit applies and no notified body is needed; the manufacturer determines and marks the guaranteed sound power level. Rough-terrain trucks and lift trucks with a rated capacity above 10 tonnes fall under Article 12; their noise emission must be below the limit values and notified body assessment is mandatory.

 

 

Article 12: Permissible Noise Limits

Article 12 of the Directive provides for noise limits in two stages. Stage I has applied since 3 January 2002 and Stage II since 3 January 2006. Under 2005/88/EC, however, the Stage II values are merely indicative for combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks; the applicable limit for lift trucks is therefore the Stage I value.

Lift trucks covered by Article 12 (rough-terrain and above 10 tonnes) are assessed in the same group as wheeled dozers and wheeled loaders. The permissible sound power levels (applicable limit for lift trucks: Stage I) are:

Equipment Group	Net Power (P)	Stage I (from 2002)	Stage II (from 2006; indicative for lift trucks)
Wheeled dozers, wheeled loaders, combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks, mobile cranes, etc.	P ≤ 55 kW	104 dB	101 dB
Wheeled dozers, wheeled loaders, combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks, etc.	P > 55 kW	85 + 11 lg P dB	82 + 11 lg P dB

 

According to the FEM Industrial Trucks technical document IT-4.003, the noise value of a lift truck under the Directive is determined only in the “driving” and “lifting” modes. It does not reflect the truck’s real operating profile and can be used for comparison purposes only.

 

 

Conformity Assessment Requiring a Notified Body

For lift trucks covered by Article 12, Article 14(1) requires one of three conformity assessment procedures to be chosen. All of them require the involvement of a third-party notified body:

Option	Procedure	Description
A	Annex VI procedure	Internal control of production with assessment of technical documentation and periodical checking. The most widely used method. The notified body checks conformity at the design and production stages.
B	Annex VII procedure	Unit verification. Suitable for individual items outside series production. Each unit is verified separately by the notified body.
C	Annex VIII procedure	Full quality assurance. For manufacturers operating an approved quality management system such as ISO 9001.

 

By contrast, for equipment covered only by Article 13, internal control of production under Annex V is sufficient under Article 14(2); in that case no notified body is required.

✓ Article 13: A Lighter Obligation

Equipment under the marking-only regime (Article 13) is not subject to a noise limit, but must be marked with its guaranteed sound power level and accompanied by an EC Declaration of Conformity. No notified body involvement is required; the manufacturer demonstrates conformity with its own technical documentation.

 

 

LATEST DEVELOPMENT · MAY 2025 New Annex III Measurement Methodology in Force Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1208 has applied since 22 May 2025. It renews the noise measurement methods in Annex III of Directive 2000/14/EC. For product models placed on the market before 22 May 2025, technical reports under the former Annex III remain valid for conformity assessment until 22 May 2028.

 

The updated Application Guide published in July 2025 reflects the agreements reached at the Commission Expert Group meetings of 11 July and 5 December 2024 and 27 March 2025. Questions about the new Annex III can be sent to the Commission’s functional mailbox: GROW-DIR-NOISE@ec.europa.eu

 

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.

Compliance Checklist for Lift Truck Manufacturers and Importers

• Determine whether your lift truck is a “rough-terrain truck” (Annex I, item 36, first indent) or an “other counterbalanced lift truck” (second indent); if the latter, check whether its rated capacity exceeds 10 tonnes.
• If Article 12 applies, select a suitable notified body and start one of the Annex VI / VII / VIII procedures.
• Calculate the applicable sound power level limit for your power class (≤ 55 kW or > 55 kW; Stage I for lift trucks) and determine the guaranteed LWA value.
• For models placed on the market after 22 May 2025, carry out noise measurements according to the new Annex III methods.
• Affix the CE marking and the indication of the guaranteed sound power level to the equipment in a visible, legible and indelible form.
• Draw up the EC Declaration of Conformity and keep it for 10 years after the last unit is manufactured.
• Keep the technical documentation (under Annexes V–VIII) available for presentation to the competent authorities.
• Where the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC also applies, the noise measurement must be carried out according to Directive 2000/14/EC.

 

 

Importing Lift Trucks and Compressors into Türkiye

Under the Communiqué on the Import Inspection of Machinery (2026/32), in force since 1 January 2026, compliance with the noise regulation is checked through TAREKS for products such as self-propelled lift trucks (GTİP 8427.20.90.00.00) and compressors; for products with a combustion engine, compliance with 2000/14/EC is required even where it is not stated against the tariff code. For the full list, see our 2026/32 GTİP list page (in Turkish).

Accredited Noise Measurement under Directive 2000/14/EC with TESTPLUS

For equipment covered by Article 12 of Directive 2000/14/EC, noise measurement is not only a technical requirement; it is also the key step of the notified body process and the conformity assessment. The right measurement infrastructure and an experienced technical team make the difference.

T E S T P L U S Accredited Noise Measurement and Testing Services

TESTPLUS provides accredited noise measurement services for all outdoor equipment, including lift trucks, under Directive 2000/14/EC and the new Annex III methodology. With the technical expertise built up over many years and advanced measurement equipment that we can bring to site, we offer manufacturers independent and reliable measurement at the most critical step of conformity assessment. Why TESTPLUS?

✔ Accredited service: Measurements performed within the scope of accreditation are directly accepted in notified body and competent authority processes.

✔ 10-channel simultaneous measurement: With our portable 10-channel noise measurement system, all operating modes of a lift truck (driving, lifting, idling) are captured simultaneously in a single test session. This improves measurement accuracy and minimises operational downtime.

✔ On-site set-up: We come to where your equipment is — warehouse, factory site or open test area — with no need for a fixed laboratory. The environmental correction factor (K2A) calculations under the new Annex III are also carried out on site.

✔ Many years of experience: We have carried out noise measurement, noise limit verification and technical documentation assessment for the equipment of a large number of manufacturers and importers.

✔ New Annex III compliance: Our procedures are fully in line with the measurement methodology applicable since 22 May 2025. We also cover tests of earlier models within the transition period (2025–2028).

Contact TESTPLUS for the noise test and conformity process of your lift truck under Directive 2000/14/EC.

 

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.

Sources and References

Source	Description
Directive 2000/14/EC	CELEX:32000L0014 — framework directive on noise emission of 8 May 2000. eur-lex.europa.eu
Directive 2005/88/EC	Amending directive updating the Article 12 noise limit table
Reg. (EU) 2024/1208	Commission regulation updating the Annex III measurement methods, applicable from 22 May 2025
Application Guide (Jul. 2025)	Commission guidance document on the application of the Directive, DG GROW. GROW-DIR-NOISE@ec.europa.eu
FEM IT-4.003	Guide to lift truck noise measurement under Directive 2000/14/EC, fem-eur.com
EUR-Lex 02000L0014-20251129	Consolidated text as at 29 November 2025

 

This article does not constitute legal advice. For compliance decisions, consult an accredited notified body and a legal adviser. eur-lex.europa.eu and european-union.europa.eu should always be used as the primary sources.