Noise laws and regulations

A few decades ago, authorities and regulatory bodies around the world have started addressing the problem of modern populations being exposed to various types of loud community noises every day. In response, several international standards, national and local laws and regulations have been implemented for safeguarding people’s health.

The constant noise of busy modern cities is something we may not always be aware of. We accept it as something that runs in the background of our lives. We rarely acknowledge its existence and worry about its effects even less.

However, international health organizations and local health and safety authorities have taken it upon them to define these noises and regulate their effect on human health.

Community Noise

The term that defines the city noises associated with modern living is ‘community noise’ or ‘environmental noise’. It is separate from industrial noise and refers to traffic (from cars, public transport, aircraft), construction, and neighborhood noise. Neighborhood noises can be the sounds we hear outside from things like cafes, restaurants, live music, playgrounds, animals, or inside from ventilation systems or home or office appliances.

Industrial, construction, and traffic noise have been regulated by relevant authorities by adopting emission standards and increasing requirements for the acoustical properties of buildings. However, community noise has not been as strictly regulated. One of the reasons why is because it’s harder to define, measure, and control.

Health Effects of Community Noise

Scientists studying the effects of human long-term exposure to loud noises in city environments have concluded that it has various adverse effects. They consider it a rising public health problem because it leads to conditions such as: noise-induced hearing loss, sleep disturbance effects, cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects, performance reduction effects, annoyance responses, and effects on social behavior (Source: World Health Organization).

In the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Community Noise it is stated that:

“In the European Union countries about 40 % of the population are exposed to road traffic noise with an equivalent sound pressure level exceeding 55 dB(A) daytime and 20 % are exposed to levels exceeding 65 dB(A). Taking all exposure to transportation noise together about half of the European Union citizens are estimated to live in zones which do not ensure acoustical comfort to residents. More than 30 % are exposed at night to equivalent sound pressure levels exceeding 55 dB(A) which are disturbing to sleep. The noise pollution problem is also severe in cities of developing countries and caused mainly by traffic. Data collected alongside densely travelled roads were found to have equivalent sound pressure levels for 24 hours of 75 to 80 dB(A).” And the situation in other parts of the world, such as the US, is not different.

In response to this public health issue, several international health organizations and local environmental health authorities have created and implemented noise standards, laws, regulations, and norms to combat the negative effects of community noise on human health.

Recommended Maximum Levels of Noise – International Standards

The WHO’s Guidelines for Community Noise contains the following noise level recommendations:

Recommended Maximum Levels of Noise for the European Union

The WHO’s Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region contains the following noise level recommendations:

Maximum Levels of Noise in European Countries

For European countries, the average maximum levels of noise allowed are:

Maximum Levels of Noise in the United States of America (US)

For the US, the maximum levels of noise standards are calculated depending on the type of property or time of day. Different cities have different standards. Here are a few examples:

Mission Viejo, California (source)

Irvine, California (source)

Maximum Levels of Noise in Other Countries

Canada (source)

The government of Canada regulates occupational noise exposure, but the 13 provinces have their own limits. Here are the various levels allowed:

For peak sound pressure levels, most provinces have a limit of 140 Db for impulsive noise.

UK

The UK regulates the maximum levels of sounds workers should be exposed to (source) and recommends maximum levels for events (source).

For workers, employers must provide them with hearing protection for noises over 85 dB (for daily or weekly average exposure). They also must assess the risk to workers' health for noises over 80 decibels. The exposure limit is 87 decibels, above which workers must not be exposed.