| EXHAUST NOISE CONTROLS IN OTHER
COUNTRIES
New Zealand is not alone in having problems with
noisy exhausts. However, it is Noise Off’s view that New Zealand has severely
lagged behind other countries in introducing stricter controls to deal with
noisy exhausts. To see a comparison of European, New Zealand and
Australian noise limits for motor vehicles which demonstrates how far behind New
Zealand has fallen on this serious public health and environmental issue
click here.
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
All of the European Union countries have adopted
the United Nations ECE Regulation 51. UN-ECE51 sets a maximum noise level for
light vehicles of 74 dB(A) (decibels) measured by a drive-by test (New Zealand
is 81 dB(A), although even that is not enforced as there is no equipment to do
it properly). Once the new motor vehicle has passed the drive-by
test it is then given a stationary “signature” noise level measurement. That
measurement then follows the motor vehicle throughout its life and can be easily
measured by the testing stations. It appears however that in
practical terms very little modification of motor vehicles is undertaken or
tolerated in European countries. This may well be due to the fact that having
prescribed testing methods for new and in-service motor vehicles there is no
scope for modification to increase the noise of the motor vehicle.
AUSTRALIA
Australia has followed closely the European model
setting standards that are consistent with the United Nations ECE Regulation 51.
The reason for this is because Australia is a signatory to the ”1958 Agreement”
(as is New Zealand) requiring international harmonisation of rules. This
requires Australia, as a motor vehicle manufacturing country to comply with
those international regulations. This is contrasted with New Zealand where we
have not kept up with the noise reductions in passenger cars adopted by Europe
and Australia and we are now suffering the consequences. The
Australian Standards are to be found in their Australian Design Rules (ADRs)
which specify the maximum permitted noise levels for new vehicles. These are to
be found in ADR 83/00 and are currently set at 76 dB(A) (decibels) measured with
a drive-by test. This is currently under review and is expected to be reduced to
74 decibels in line with Europe. Like Europe the New Vehicles on
first registration in Australia are given a “signature” noise level measurement
which can then be used for in-service vehicle testing allowing for a maximum
deterioration in the exhaust system of up to 5 dB(A) during the lifetime of the
exhaust. While Australia rolls out its “signature” noise levels for
new vehicles all vehicles pre-dating March 2005 are covered by an in-service
stationary test of 90 dB(A). This is found in the Australian Vehicles Standard
Rules 1999.
JAPAN
Japan is one of the world’s largest manufacturers
of motor vehicles and therefore its new vehicles must comply with the United
Nations ECE Regulation 51. Otherwise those vehicles cannot be exported into the
European countries.
USA
It is difficult to assess the rules that apply in
each state. There are Federal Rules which apply for trucks and medium weight
vehicles that travel inter-state. However, like Japan, the United States is a
major producer of motor vehicles and it too must comply with the United Nations
ECE Regulation 51 for vehicles which are sold into Europe. Therefore we can
assume that the USA motor vehicle industry as a whole produces vehicles that
comply with this regulation.
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