Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending regulations of: 23 December 2002 [shall come into force on 1 January 2003]; 20 April 2004 [shall come into force on 1 May 2004]; 22 April 2004 [shall come into force on 1 May 2004]; 31 January 2006 [shall come into force on 15 February 2006]; 1 August 2006 [shall come into force on 5 August 2006]; 19 November 2025 [shall come into force on 22 November 2025]. If a whole or part of a paragraph has been amended, the date of the amending regulation appears in square brackets at the end of the paragraph. If a whole paragraph or sub-paragraph has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted paragraph or sub-paragraph.

Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 163 Adopted 23 April 2002

Regulations Regarding the Emission of Noise from Equipment Used Outdoors

Issued pursuant to Section 7 of the law On Conformity Assessment
and Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 4 of the law On Pollution

I. General Provisions

1. The Regulation prescribes the essential requirements for the manufacture, marking, and conformity assessment of such equipment intended for use outdoors which emits noise (hereinafter - the equipment), and also prescribes the procedures for the market surveillance of the equipment.

2. The Regulation shall apply to the equipment referred to in Annex 1 to this Regulation if it meets the following conditions:

2.1. the equipment is self-propelled and movable;

2.2. the equipment is intended for use in approximate free field environment outdoors according to its type and irrespective of the driving elements (also without mechanical drive);

2.3. the equipment contributes to environmental noise;

2.4. the equipment is placed on the market or put into service as an entire unit suitable for use for a specific purpose;

2.5. the equipment is not intended for the transportation of goods or persons by motor roads, railway, aerial lines, or waterways;

2.6. the equipment is not designed and made for military purposes or for the needs of police and emergency services;

2.7. the equipment is not placed on the market or put into service as a harness or attachment without an autonomous mechanical drive (except for hand-held concrete-breakers, picks, and hydraulic hammers).

2.¹ The sound power level generated by the equipment shall be determined in accordance with Annex to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1208 of 16 November 2023 amending Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the methods to measure airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors (hereinafter - Regulation 2024/1208).

[19 November 2025]

3. The equipment complies with the requirements of this Regulation if it is:

3.1. manufactured in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation and the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union has certified this by drawing up a declaration of conformity;

3.2. marked with the CE marking and an indication of the guaranteed sound power level determined in accordance with Annex to Regulation 2024/1208.

[31 January 2006; 1 August 2006; 19 November 2025]

4. The inspections referred to in this Regulation shall be carried out in accordance with Annex to Regulation 2024/1208.

[19 November 2025]

5. If the noise emission limit values referred to in Annex 2 to this Regulation apply to the equipment, the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall ensure the conformity of the equipment with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, performing one of the following procedures:

5.1. internal control of manufacture, assessment of technical documentation, and periodical inspections;

5.2. unit verifications;

5.3. quality assurance system of the equipment.

[31 January 2006]

6. If the noise emission marking applies to the equipment, the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall ensure the conformity of the equipment with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, performing an internal production control procedure for each type of the equipment.

[31 January 2006]

7. The equipment which is manufactured in the European Union Member States and the conformity of which has been assessed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the European Union may be freely offered on the market of Latvia if the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union has drawn up a declaration of conformity for the equipment and the equipment is marked with the CE marking and an indication of the guaranteed sound power level.

[31 January 2006]

8. The conformity of the equipment with the requirements referred to in this Regulation shall be assessed by the following notified bodies:

8.1. the procedure referred to in Sub-paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 of this Regulation shall be performed by a certification body accredited with valsts aģentūra "Latvijas Nacionālais akreditācijas birojs" [State Agency Latvian National Accreditation Bureau] in accordance with the requirements of the standard LVS EN 45011:2004, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, or by a notified body of another European Union Member State on which the Ministry of Economics has published a notice in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis;

8.2. the procedure referred to in Sub-paragraph 5.3 of this Regulation shall be performed by an authority accredited with the State Agency Latvian National Accreditation Bureau in accordance with the requirements of the standard LVS EN 45012:2004, General requirements for bodies operating assessment and certification/registration of quality systems, and the standard LVS EN 45011:2004, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, or by a notified body of another European Union Member State on which the Ministry of Economics has published a notice in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

[31 January 2006]

8.¹ Measurements of the noise generated by the equipment shall be carried out by a laboratory accredited with the State Agency Latvian National Accreditation Bureau in accordance with the requirements of the standard LVS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General requirements for the testing and calibration laboratories, or by a laboratory notified by another European Union Member State on which the Ministry of Economics has published a notice in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

[31 January 2006]

9. In order for an authority to be accredited to assess the conformity of the equipment, it shall ensure that the following minimum requirements are met:

9.1. technical provision of personnel, necessary resources and equipment;

9.2. technical competence of personnel;

9.3. independence of personnel from the designers, manufacturers, and distributors of the equipment to be inspected or their authorised representatives;

9.4. non-disclosure of professional secrets;

9.5. independence of personnel remuneration from the number and results of inspections performed;

9.6. civil liability insurance of the authority.

[20 April 2004]

10. The Latvian National Accreditation Bureau shall assess the competence of the relevant authority, and also control the fulfilment of the requirements referred to in Paragraph 9 of this Regulation.

II. Internal Control of Manufacture

11. Internal control of manufacture is the procedure whereby the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union confirms that the equipment meets the requirements laid down in this Regulation.

[31 January 2006]

12. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall indicate the following information in the technical documentation of the equipment:

12.1. the name and address of the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union;

12.2. a description of the equipment;

12.3. the model of the equipment;

12.4. the trade name of the equipment;

12.5. the type, series, and numbers of the equipment;

12.6. the relevant technical data for the identification of the equipment and the assessment of its noise emission, and also drawings, descriptions, and explanations if necessary for the relevant type of the equipment;

12.7. the reference on the conformity with the requirements of this Regulation (Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors);

12.8. the report on noise measurements carried out in accordance with the requirements referred to in Annex to Regulation 2024/1208. The instruments used, the measurement results and their relationship to the guaranteed sound power level shall be indicated in the report.

[31 January 2006; 1 August 2006; 19 November 2025]

13. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall ensure accessibility of the technical documentation for the market surveillance authorities for at least 10 years from the day when the last equipment has been manufactured. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union may entrust another person to keep the technical documentation. In the abovementioned case, the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall indicate it in the declaration of conformity.

[31 January 2006]

III. Inspections of the Technical Documentation of Internal Control of Production

14. After fulfilling the requirements laid down in Paragraphs 11, 12, and 13 of this Regulation, the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall submit a copy of the technical documentation to the notified body of its choice before placing the equipment on the market or putting it into service. If the technical documentation is incomplete, the notified body shall inform the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union thereof and request the submission of additional materials or carry out the necessary inspections.

[31 January 2006]

15. The notified body shall periodically inspect whether the manufactured equipment complies with the technical documentation and with the requirements laid down in this Regulation. In particular the notified body shall focus on:

15.1. the marking of the equipment;

15.2. the declaration of conformity of the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union;

15.3. the instruments used, the measurement results and their relationship to the guaranteed sound power level.

[31 January 2006]

16. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall provide the notified body with the documents necessary for the performance of the inspections referred to in Paragraph 15 of this Regulation, the actual results of internal audits, and the information on actions taken to improve the quality of the equipment (if any).

[31 January 2006]

17. If it is established in the inspection that the internal control is unsatisfactory, the notified body shall periodically verify the manufactured units (at its discretion) and carry out the noise measurements laid down in Annex to Regulation 2024/1208 for the relevant type of equipment. The inspection procedure may be simplified and only the marking and the declaration of conformity of the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union may be inspected.

[19 November 2025]

18. The notified body shall determine the frequency of inspections. The inspections shall be carried out at least once in three years.

19. If the equipment does not meet the requirements of this Regulation, the notified body shall inform the market surveillance authority thereof.

[31 January 2006]

IV. Unit Verifications

20. Unit verification is the procedure by which a notified body assesses whether the unit meets the requirements laid down in this Regulation.

[31 January 2006]

21. The manufacturer shall submit an application to the notified body for unit verification in order to assess its conformity with the requirements of this Regulation. The firm name (name) and address of the manufacturer, but, if the application is submitted by an authorised representative of the manufacturer, also its name and address shall be indicated in the application, and it shall also be certified in writing that such an application has not been submitted to any other notified body. The following information shall be appended to the application:

21.1. a description of the equipment (indicate also the measures for reduction of noise);

21.2. the trade name of the equipment;

21.3. the type, series, and numbers of the equipment;

21.4. the relevant technical data for the identification of the equipment and the assessment of its noise emission, and also schematic drawings, descriptions, and explanations, if necessary;

21.5. the reference on the conformity with the requirements of this Regulation (Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors).

[31 January 2006]

22. The notified body shall:

22.1. verify whether the unit has been made according to the technical documentation;

22.2. agree with the applicant on the location where noise measurements will be taken;

22.3. if the equipment meets the requirements laid down in this Regulation, issue a conformity assessment certificate of the unit (Annex 4);

22.4. if the equipment fails to conform to the requirements laid down in this Regulation, issue a written refusal to issue a conformity assessment certificate for the unit.

23. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall keep the technical documentation for at least 10 years from the day when the last equipment has been placed on the market.

[31 January 2006]

V. Quality Assurance System of the Equipment

24. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall submit an application for the assessment of its quality assurance system with a notified body in accordance with the requirements of the standard LVS EN ISO 9001:2001, Quality management systems - Requirements. For each equipment already in phase of design or manufacture, the following information shall be indicated in the application:

24.1. the name and address of the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union;

24.2. a description of the equipment;

24.3. the model of the equipment;

24.4. the trade name of the equipment;

24.5. the type, series, and numbers of the equipment;

24.6. the relevant technical data for the identification of the equipment and the assessment of its noise emission, and also schematic drawings, descriptions, and explanations if necessary;

24.7. the reference on the conformity with the requirements of this Regulation (Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors).

[31 January 2006]

25. The following documents shall be appended to the application:

25.1. the testing report on noise measurements carried out in accordance with this Regulation;

25.2. a copy of the declaration of conformity of the equipment drawn up by the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union;

25.3. information on the objective of the quality assurance system, and also the organisational structure, description of responsibility and obligations of officials (with regard to design and production quality);

25.4. a description of design control and inspection methods, processes, and systematic actions (with regard to the relevant type of the equipment);

25.5. a description of manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance methods, processes, and systematic actions;

25.6. a description of the inspections and measurements carried out before and after the manufacture of the equipment, and also during its manufacture and information on the frequency of inspections and measurements;

25.7. records of inspection reports, measurement and calibration data, and also personnel qualifications;

25.8. information on the means and organisational measures used to ensure monitoring and efficiency of the quality assurance system.

[31 January 2006]

26. The notified body shall assess whether the relevant quality system ensures conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements and shall notify the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union of its decision. The decision shall be based on an assessment of the inspection results and inspection opinions. If the quality system ensures conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements, the notified body shall issue a quality system certificate.

[31 January 2006]

27. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall ensure the notified body with the opportunity to control the inspection, testing, and storage of the equipment, and also access to the necessary information, including:

27.1. documentation of the quality assurance system;

27.2. quality reports on the design of the equipment, and also the results of analyses, calculations, and inspections;

27.3. quality reports on the manufacture of the equipment, and also inspection reports, measurements, and calibration data, information on the qualification of the personnel.

[31 January 2006]

28. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall inform the notified body of planned changes in the quality assurance system. The notified body shall assess the relevant changes, decide whether they will not affect the conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements, and notify the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union of its decision.

[31 January 2006]

29. The notified body shall periodically inspect the quality assurance system to control whether the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union uses the certified quality assurance system and shall submit a report on the results of the inspection to the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union.

[31 January 2006]

30. The notified body is entitled to inspect the quality assurance system without prior application. After the inspection, the notified body shall submit a report on the results of the inspection to the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union.

[31 January 2006]

31. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall present the quality system certificate and the reports on the results of the inspections to the notified body and the market surveillance authority upon their request.

[31 January 2006]

32. If it is established that the equipment is not homogeneous or does not meet the requirements of this Regulation, the market surveillance authority shall, within one month, inform the notified body that issued the certificate of conformity and the quality system certificate thereof.

[31 January 2006]

33. The notified bodies shall, upon request of other notified bodies, provide information on the issued and cancelled quality assurance system certificates.

[31 January 2006]

VI. Marking of the Equipment

34. The equipment that meets the essential requirements of this Regulation shall be marked by the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union by affixing to each unit of the equipment a clearly visible, legible, and indelible CE marking and the pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level (Annex 3).

[31 January 2006]

35. It is prohibited to mark the equipment with signs or inscriptions that could mislead as to the content or form of the CE marking or the pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level. The equipment may be marked with other marks if they do not reduce the visibility or legibility of the CE marking and the pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level.

[31 January 2006]

36. If the equipment is also subject to the requirements laid down in other laws and regulations regarding the affixing the CE marking on the equipment, the equipment may be marked with the CE marking only if it also meets these requirements.

VII. Placing on the Market or Putting into Service

37. The equipment shall only be placed on the market or put into service if:

37.1. the equipment meets the requirements of this Regulation regarding noise emissions into the environment;

37.2. the equipment has undergone conformity assessment procedures;

37.3. the equipment has been marked with the CE marking and the pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level;

37.4. the declaration of conformity has been drawn up for the equipment by the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union.

[31 January 2006]

VIII. Declaration of Conformity

38. In order to certify the conformity of the equipment with this Regulation, the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall draw up a declaration of conformity for each type of the equipment. The following information shall be included in the declaration:

38.1. the name and address of the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union;

38.2. the given name, surname, and address of the person who keeps the technical documentation;

38.3. a description of the equipment;

38.4. the conformity assessment procedure carried out and the name and address of the relevant notified body;

38.5. the sound power level measured for a unit of the equipment type;

38.6. the guaranteed sound power level for the relevant equipment;

38.7. the notification of the conformity of the relevant equipment with the requirements of this Regulation (Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors);

38.8. other declarations of conformity and references to other applicable laws and regulations, if necessary;

38.9. the place and date for drawing up the declaration;

38.10. the given name and surname of the person authorised to sign the declaration.

[31 January 2006]

39. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union shall send a copy of the declaration of conformity to the Consumer Rights Protection Centre.

[31 January 2006]

40. [19 November 2025 / See Paragraph 2 of Amendments]

IX. Market Surveillance

41. The functions of the market surveillance authority shall be performed by the State Labour Inspectorate and the Consumer Rights Protection Centre according to their competence. The abovementioned authorities shall take measures in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations to prevent the placing on the market or the putting into service of non-compliant equipment.

42. If the market surveillance authority establishes that the equipment placed on the market or put into service does not meet the requirements laid down in this Regulation, the market surveillance authority shall take the measures laid down in the laws and regulations so that the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union would ensure conformity of the equipment with the relevant requirements.

[31 January 2006]

42.¹ In order to ensure that the equipment meeting the essential requirements is placed on the market, the market surveillance authorities may restrict or prohibit placing on the market of the equipment marked with the CE marking for its intended purpose if it poses a threat to human health and life or other public values. The market surveillance authorities shall take the following measures:

42.¹1. if doubts arise regarding the conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements or the requirements of the applicable standards, regarding the correctness of the use of the standard or the adequacy of the standards, an equipment sample inspection shall be organised and an opinion shall be prepared on the conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements. The results of the inspection shall be appended to the opinion;

42.¹2. report to the Ministry of Economics on detecting non-compliant equipment and the administrative measures taken if such cases have been established which can be considered a systematically observed error in the construction, design, or manufacture of the equipment. The documents referred to in Sub-paragraph 42.¹1 of this Regulation and an assessment of the consequences caused by the non-compliance shall be appended to the report.

[20 April 2004]

42^.2 The Ministry of Economics shall report to the European Commission on the identified cases of non-compliance and the measures taken.

[20 April 2004]

43. If the market surveillance authority establishes that the noise emission limit value for the equipment has been exceeded or the non-compliance of the equipment with the requirements of this Regulation has not been rectified, the market surveillance authority shall take appropriate measures to restrict or prohibit placing on the market or putting into service of the specific equipment and to ensure its withdrawal from the market. The market surveillance authority shall inform the parties involved of the measures taken.

44. The costs associated with withdrawing the equipment from the market shall be borne by the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union.

[31 January 2006]

45. At fairs, exhibitions, and similar events, it shall be permitted to demonstrate equipment which does not meet the requirements of this Regulation if the protection of persons is ensured and a clearly visible sign indicates that the relevant equipment does not meet the requirements of this Regulation and that it may not be placed on the market or put into service until the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union has ensured that the equipment conforms to this Regulation.

[31 January 2006]

X. Closing Provisions

46. The Regulation shall come into force on 1 July 2003.

[23 December 2002]

47. [19 November 2025]

Informative Reference to European Union Directives

[31 January 2006; 19 November 2025]

The Regulation contains legal norms arising from:

1) Directive 2005/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2005 amending Directive 2000/14/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors;

2) Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors;

3) Directive (EU) 2024/2839 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 amending Directives 1999/2/EC, 2000/14/EC, 2011/24/EU and 2014/53/EU as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of food and food ingredients, outdoor noise, patients' rights, and radio equipment.

Prime Minister A. Bērziņš

Minister for Environmental Protection
and Regional Development V. Makarovs

 

Annex 1
Cabinet Regulation No. 163
23 April 2002

Equipment to which this Regulation Applies

1. Refuse collection vehicles (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - vehicles typically used for the collection, loading, and transportation of municipal waste and bulky waste. They consist of a chassis with a cabin and a mounted body. The vehicle may be equipped with a compaction mechanism and a container lifting device.

2. High pressure flushers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - vehicles equipped with a device to clean sewers or similar installations by means of a high pressure water jet. The device may be either mounted on a proprietary vehicular truck chassis or incorporated into its own chassis embodiment. The equipment may be fixed or demountable as in the case of an exchangeable bodywork system.

3. High pressure water jet machines (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines with nozzles or other speed-increasing openings which allow water (also with admixtures) to emerge as a free jet. High pressure jet machines consist of a drive, a pressure generator, hose lines, spraying devices, safety mechanisms, controls and measurement devices. High pressure water jet machines may be:

3.1. mobile - readily transportable machines which are designed to be used at various sites and for this purpose are generally fitted with their own undergear or are vehicle-mounted. All necessary supply lines are flexible and readily disconnectable;

3.2. stationary - machines are designed to be used at one site for a short time but capable of being moved to another site with suitable equipment. They are usually mounted on a movable cargo platform or frame with supply line capable of being disconnected.

4. Graders (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, the noise emission limit value applies to the equipment) - a powered wheeled machine having an adjustable blade, positioned between front and rear axles. The machine cuts and moves, and also spreads material to grade requirements.

5. Lift trucks (the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value, except for the equipment referred to in Sub-paragraph 5.2 of this Annex which are subject only to the noise emission marking) - wheeled, internal combustion-engine driven lift trucks with counterweight and lifting equipment (mast, telescopic arm, or articulated arm). These are:

5.1. rough terrain trucks (lift trucks intended primarily for operation on unimproved natural terrain and on disturbed terrain of, for example, construction sites);

5.2. other lift trucks, except for the counterbalanced lift trucks that are specifically constructed for container handling.

6. Concrete-breakers and picks (the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value) - machines for breaking concrete (by any method) used to perform work on civil engineering and building sites.

7. Conveying and spraying machines for concrete and mortar (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines for pumping and spraying concrete or mortar which are mounted on trucks, trailers, or special vehicles (with or without agitator) whereby the material to be transported is conveyed to the placing position through pipelines, distribution devices, or distribution booms. For concrete conveyed mechanically - by piston or rotor pumps. For mortar conveyed mechanically - by piston, worm, hose, and rotor pumps or pneumatically by compressors (with or without air chamber).

8. Concrete or mortar mixers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines to prepare concrete or mortar, irrespective of the loading, mixing, and emptying process. They may be operated intermittently or constantly.

9. Concrete mixers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - vehicles which are equipped with a special drum to transport ready-mixed concrete from the concrete mixing plant to the job site (the drum may rotate when the vehicle is driving or stand still). The drum is emptied on the job site by rotating the drum. The drum is driven either by the driving engine of the vehicle or by a supplementary engine.

10. Compaction machines (vibrating and non-vibrating rollers, vibratory plates, and vibratory rammers - the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value; explosion rammers - the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines which compact materials (for example, rock fills, soil, or asphalt surfacing) through a rolling, tamping, or vibrating action of the working tool. It may be powered, towed, walk-behind, or an attachment to a vehicle or they are driven by an operator. Compaction machines are subdivided as follows:

10.1. rollers for ride-on operators - powered compaction machines with one or more metallic cylindrical bodies (drums) or rubber tyres; the operator's station is an integral part of the machine;

10.2. walk-behind rollers - powered compaction machines with one or more metallic cylindrical bodies (drums) or rubber tyres; travelling, steering, braking, and vibrating equipment are operated by an operator (also by remote control);

10.3. towed rollers - compaction machines with one or more metallic cylindrical bodies (drums) or rubber tyres which do not possess an independent drive system; the operator's station is to be found on a tractor unit;

10.4. vibratory plates and vibratory rammers - compaction machines with mainly flat base plates which are made to vibrate. They are operated by an operator or as an attachment to a vehicle;

10.5. explosion rammers - compaction machines with mainly a flat pad as the compacting tool; they are made to move in a predominantly vertical direction by explosion pressure. The machine is operated by an operator.

11. Dozers (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - powered wheeled or crawler machines used to exert a push or pull force through mounted equipment.

12. Building site band saw machines (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - hand-fed powered machines weighing less than 200 kg fitted with a single saw blade in the form of a continuous band mounted on and running between two or more pulleys.

13. Building site circular saw benches (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - hand-fed machines weighing less than 200 kg fitted with a single circular sawblade with a diameter of 350-500 mm and which is fixed during the normal cutting operation, and also a horizontal table, all or part of which is fixed during operation. The sawblade is mounted on a horizontal non-tilting spindle the position of which remains stationary during machining. The machine may have any of the following features:

13.1. the facility for the sawblade to be raised and lowered through the table;

13.2. machine frame below the table may be open or enclosed;

13.3. the saw may be fitted with an additional travelling table (not adjacent to the sawblade).

14. Pipelayers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - powered crawler or wheeled machines specifically designed to handle and lay pipes, and also to carry pipeline equipment. The machine the design of which is based on a tractor has especially designed components - undercarriage, main frame, counterweight, boom and load-hoist mechanism, and also vertically pivoting side boom.

15. Builders' hoists for the transport of goods (the equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is subject to the noise emission limit value and noise emission marking) - builders' hoists with mechanical drive which are temporarily installed for use by the persons who are permitted to enter engineering and construction sites. Hoists may serve:

15.1. several landing levels, having a platform:

15.1.1. which is designed for the transportation of goods only;

15.1.2. which permits the access of persons during loading and unloading;

15.1.3. which permits the access and travel by authorised persons during erection, dismantling, and maintenance;

15.1.4. which has a guide;

15.1.5. which is travelling vertical or along a path within 15°max. of the vertical;

15.1.6. which is supported or sustained by: wire, rope, chain, screwed spindle and nut, rack and pinion, hydraulic jack (direct or indirect), or an expanding linkage mechanism;

15.1.7. which has a single-column support or the support can be strengthened with separate structures;

15.2. one upper landing or a work area extending to the end of the guide (for example, a roof), having a load-carrying device:

15.2.1. which is designed for the transportation of goods only;

15.2.2. which is designed that there is no need to step on it for loading or unloading purposes or for maintenance, erection and dismantling;

15.2.3. from which persons are prohibited at any time;

15.2.4. which has a guide;

15.2.5. which is designed to travel at an angle of at least 30° to the vertical but may be used at any angle;

15.2.6. which is supported or strengthened by a wire rope and a mechanical drive system;

15.2.7. which is controlled by constant pressure type controls;

15.2.8. which does not benefit from the use of any counterweight;

15.2.9. having a maximum rated load of 300 kg;

15.2.10. having a maximum speed of 1 m/s;

15.2.11. where the guides require support from separate structures.

16. Construction winches (powered by an internal combustion engine - the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value; powered by an electric motor - the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machinery which is equipped with means for raising and lowering a suspended load.

17. Road-milling machines (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - a powered machine used for removing material from paved surfaces using a power-driven cylindrical body on which surface the milling tools are fitted; the cutter drums rotate during the cutting operation.

18. Hedge trimmers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - hand-held, integrally driven powered equipment which is designed for use by one operator for trimming hedges and bushes utilising one or more linear reciprocating cutter blades.

19. Excavators (hydraulic or rope-operated) (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - powered wheeled or crawler machines having an upper structure capable of a minimum of 360° rotation which excavates, swings and dumps material by the action of a bucket fitted to the boom and arm or telescopic boom; the chassis or undercarriage is not moving during any one cycle of the machine.

20. Power generators (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 400 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value and noise emission marking) - any device comprising an internal combustion engine driving a rotary electrical generator producing a continuous supply of electrical power.

21. Aerial access platforms with combustion engines (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - equipment consisting of a work platform, an extending structure and a chassis. The work platform is a fenced platform or a cage which can be moved under load to the required working position. The extending structure is connected to the chassis and supports the work platform, and it allows movement of the work platform to its required position.

22. Hydraulic power packs (the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - any machine for use with interchangeable equipment which compresses liquids to a pressure higher than the inlet pressure. Hydraulic power pack consists of a prime mover, pump, with or without reservoir and accessories (for example, controls, pressure relief valve).

23. Hydraulic hammers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - equipment which uses the hydraulic power source of the carrier machine to accelerate a piston (sometimes gas-assisted), which then hits a tool. The stress wave generated by kinetic action flows through the tool into the material which causes the material to break. Hydraulic hammers need a supply of pressurised oil to function. The complete carrier and hammer unit is controlled by an operator, usually seated in the cabin of the carrier.

24. Loaders (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-propelled wheeled or crawler machines having an integral front-mounted bucket-supporting structure and linkage which loads or excavates through forward motion of the machine, and lifts, transports and discharges material.

25. Paver-finishers (paver-finishers equipped for high-density pavements are subject to the noise emission marking, other paver-finishers are subject to the noise emission marking) - powered road construction machines used for the purpose of applying layers of construction material (such as bituminous mix, concrete, gravel) on surface.

26. Power sweepers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - sweeping collection machines having equipment to sweep debris into the path of a suction inlet that would then pneumatically by way of a high velocity airstream or with a mechanical pick-up system convey the debris to a collection hopper. The devices may either be mounted to a proprietary vehicular truck chassis or incorporated into its own chassis embodiment. The equipment may be fixed or demountable (for example, as in the case of an exchangeable bodywork system).

27. Equipment for loading and unloading of silos or tanks on trucks (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - powered devices attached to silo or tanker trucks for loading or unloading of liquids or bulk material by means of pumps or similar equipment.

28. Suction vehicles (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - vehicles equipped with a device to collect water, mud, sludge, and similar materials from sewers or similar installations by means of a vacuum. The device may be either mounted on a proprietary vehicular truck chassis or incorporated into its own chassis embodiment. The equipment may be fixed or demountable (for example, as in the case of an exchangeable bodywork system).

29. Scarifiers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - a walk-behind or ride-on powered machines which use the ground to determine the depth of cut and which are equipped with an assembly appropriate to slit or scratch the surface of the lawn in gardens, parks, and other similar areas.

30. Combined high pressure flushers and suction vehicles (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - vehicles which may work either as a high pressure flusher or as a suction vehicle.

31. Compressors (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 350 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - any machine for use with interchangeable equipment which compresses air, gases or vapours to a pressure higher than the inlet pressure. A compressor comprises the bare compressor itself, the prime mover and any component or device supplied which is necessary for safe operation of the compressor. The following shall not be regarded as a compressor:

31.1. fans - devices producing air circulation at a positive pressure of not more than 110 000 pascals;

31.2. vacuum pumps - devices or appliances for extracting air from an enclosed space at a pressure not exceeding atmospheric pressure;

31.3. gas turbine engines.

32. Landfill compactor, loader-type with bucket (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-propelled wheeled compaction machines having a front-mounted loader linkage with a bucket. The machine has steel wheels (drums). It is primarily designed to compact, move, grade, and load soil, landfill, or refuse materials.

33. Excavator-loaders (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-propelled wheeled or crawler machines having a main structural support designed to carry both a front-mounted loading mechanism (bucket) and a rear-mounted backhoe. When used in the backhoe mode, it normally digs below ground level with (the bucket moves towards the machine). The backhoe lifts, swings, and discharges material while the machine is stationary. When used in the loader mode, the machine loads or excavates through forward motion of the machine and lifts, transports, and discharges material.

34. Brush cutter (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - combustion-engine driven portable hand-held units fitted with a rotating blade made of metal or plastic. The equipment is intended to cut weeds, brush, small trees, and similar vegetation. They operate in a plane approximately parallel to the ground.

35. Chain saws (portable) (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - power-driven tools designed to cut wood with a saw chain and consisting of an integrated compact unit of handles, power source, and cutting attachment; when using the tool, it is designed to be supported with two hands.

36. Leaf blowers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - powered machines appropriate to clear lawns, paths, ways, streets, and similar areas of leaves and other material by means of a high velocity air flow. The machines may be portable (hand-held) or not portable but mobile.

37. Leaf collectors (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - powered machines suitable for collecting leaves and other debris using a suction device consisting of a power source which produces a vacuum inside the machine and a suction nozzle and a container for the collected material. The machines may be portable (hand-held) or not portable but mobile.

38. Conveyor belts (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - a temporarily installed machine suitable for transporting material by means of a power-driven belt.

39. Lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers (the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - electrically powered walk-behind or hand-held grass cutting machines with cutting elements of non-metallic filament line or freely pivoting non-metallic cutters with a kinetic energy of not more than 10 J each. The machines are intended to cut grass or similar soft vegetation. The cutting elements operate in a plane approximately parallel (lawn trimmer) or perpendicular (lawn edge trimmer) to the ground.

40. Motor hoes (if the equipment has a capacity of less than 3 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-propelled machines designed to be pedestrian-controlled. The machine may be:

40.1. with or without support wheel (wheels); working elements act as hoeing tools to ensure propulsion (motor hoe);

40.2. propelled by one or various wheels directly actuated from the engine and equipped with hoeing tools (motor hoe with drive wheel).

41. Welding generators (the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - rotary devices which produce a welding current.

42. Mobile cranes (the equipment is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-powered jib cranes capable of travelling (loaded or unloaded) without the need for access roads and relying on gravity for stability which takes effect on tyres, crawlers or with other mobile arrangements. In fixed positions cranes may be supported by outriggers or other structures increasing their stability. The superstructure of mobile cranes may be of the type of full-circle slewing, of limited slewing, or non-slewing. It is normally equipped with one or more hoists and hydraulic cylinders for lifting and lowering the jib and the load. Mobile cranes may be equipped with telescopic jibs, with articulated jibs, with lattice jibs, or a combination of these. The loads suspended from the jib may be handled by hook block assemblies or other load-lifting attachments for special services.

43. Piling equipment (the equipment is subject to the noise emission marking) - pile installation and extraction equipment, including impact hammers, extractors, vibrators, static pile pushing and pulling devices of an assembly of machines and components used for installation or extraction of piles, and also:

43.1. piling rig consisting of carrier machine (equipped with wheels, crawlers or rail mounted, floating leader attachment and leader or guiding system);

43.2. reinforcement, pile caps, helmets, plates, followers, clamping devices, pile handling devices, pile guides, acoustic shrouds, shock and vibration absorbing devices, power packs and generators, personal lifting devices or platforms.

44. Mobile waste containers (the equipment is subject to the noise emission marking) - appropriate designed containers fitted with wheels and equipped with a cover intended to store waste temporarily.

45. Dumpers (if the capacity of the equipment is less than 500 kW, it is subject to the noise emission limit value) - self-propelled wheeled or crawler machines having an open body intended to transport and dump or spread materials. Dumpers may be equipped with integral self-loading equipment.

46. Cooling equipment on vehicles (the equipment is subject to the noise emission marking) - cargo space refrigeration units on trucks the gross vehicle weight of which exceed 3.5 tonnes, and on trailers (semi-trailers) the gross vehicle weight of which exceed 3.5 tonnes. The refrigeration unit may be powered by means of an integral part of the refrigeration unit, a separate part attached to the vehicle body, a driving engine of the vehicle, or by an independent or standby power source.

47. Joint cutters (the equipment is subject to the noise emission marking) - mobile machines intended for the production of joints in concrete, asphalt, and similar road surfaces. The cutting tool is a rotating high speed disc. The forward motion of the joint cutter can be:

47.1. manual;

47.2. manual with mechanical assistance;

47.3. power-driven.

48. Shredders and chippers (the equipment is subject to the noise emission marking) - powered machines designed for use in a stationary position having one or more cutting devices for the purpose of reducing bulk organic materials to smaller pieces. Generally they consist of a feed intake opening through which material (which may be held by an appliance or not) is inserted, a device which cuts up the material (for example, cutting, chopping, crushing), and a discharge chute through which the cut material is discharged. A collecting device may be attached to the machine.

49. Snow-removing machine with rotating tools (self-propelled machines with harnesses or attachments - the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines with which snow can be removed from traffic areas by rotating tools which are supplemented by means causing air flow.

50. Piste caterpillars (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - self-propelled crawler machines used to exert a push or pull force on snow and ice through mounted equipment.

51. Glass recycling containers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - containers that are used for the collection of bottles. They are equipped with at least one opening for filling in bottles and another one for emptying the container.

52. Tower cranes (the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value) - slewing jib cranes with the jib located at the top of a tower which stays vertical in the working position. This power-driven appliance is equipped with means for raising and lowering suspended loads, and also for the movement of loads, changing the load-lifting radius by slewing or movement. Each appliance can perform all or only few of the abovementioned movements. The appliance can be installed in a fixed position or equipped with means for displacing or climbing.

53. Trenchers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - self-propelled, ride-on, or pedestrian-controlled crawler or wheeled machines, having a front- or rear-mounted excavator linkage and attachment, primarily designed to produce trenches in a continuous operation, while the machine is in continuous motion.

54. Water pump units (if the equipment is not intended for underwater use, it is subject to the noise emission marking) - machines consisting of a water pump itself and the driving system. A water pump is a machine for increasing the energy level of water.

55. Drill rigs (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - machines which are used for drilling holes on construction sites by percussive drilling, rotary drilling, and rotary percussive drilling. Drill rigs are stationary during drilling. They may move from one place of work to another under their own power or they are mounted on lorries, wheeled chassis, tractor, crawler, or skid base (pulled by a winch). When drill rigs are mounted on a lorry, tractor and trailer or are wheel-based, transportation may be carried out at higher speeds and on public roads.

56. Grass trimmers and grass edge trimmers (the equipment subject to the noise emission marking) - combustion-engine driven portable hand-held units fitted with flexible line or several flexible lines, strings, or similar non-metallic flexible cutting elements (such as pivoting cutters) intended to cut weeds, grass or similar soft vegetation. The cutting device operates in a plane approximately parallel (grass trimmer) or perpendicular (grass edge trimmer) to the ground.

57. Lawnmower (except for the agricultural or forestry equipment, universal devices with a built-in power of the main motor element exceeding 20 kW - the equipment subject to the noise emission limit value) - walk-behind or ride-on grass cutting machines or machines with grass-cutting attachment (attachments). The cutting device may rotate around a horizontal axis to provide cutting operation with a stationary cutter bar or knife (cylinder mower). The cutting device may operate in a plane approximately parallel to the ground and which uses the ground to determine the height of cut by means of wheels, air cushion or skids. The cutting devices utilise an engine or an electric motor for a power source. The cutting devices are:

57.1. rigid cutting elements;

57.2. non-metallic filament lines or freely pivoting non-metallic cutters with a kinetic energy of more than 10 J each.

Minister for Environmental Protection
and Regional Development V. Makarovs

 

Annex 1.¹
Cabinet Regulation No. 163
23 April 2002

Method for Measuring Airborne Noise Emitted by Equipment for Use Outdoors

[19 November 2025]

 

Annex 2
Cabinet Regulation No. 163
23 April 2002

Noise Emission Limit Values for Equipment

[31 January 2006, 1 August 2006]

Guaranteed sound power levels may not exceed the following maximum noise emission limit values:

No.	Type of a machine or equipment	Installed power P (kW), electric power Pel1 (kW), equipment mass m (kg), cutting width L (cm)	Permissible sound power level 4 ( in dB/1 pW)
			Stage I	Stage II (from 3 January 2006)
1.	Compaction machines (vibrating rollers, vibratory plates, rammers)	P < 8	108	1052
		8 < P < 70	109	1062
		P > 70	89 + 11 lg P	86 + 11 lg P2
2.	Crawler dozers, crawler loaders, and crawler excavator-loaders	P < 55	106	1032
		P > 55	87 + 11 lg P	84 + 11 lg P2
3.	Wheeled dozers, wheeled loaders, wheeled excavator-loaders, dumpers, graders, loader-type landfill compactors, combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks, mobile cranes, compaction machines (non-vibrating rollers), paver-finishers, hydraulic power packs	P < 55	104	1012, 3
		P > 55	85 + 11 lg P	82 + 11 lg P2, 3
4.	Excavators, builders' hoists for the transport of goods, construction winches, motor hoes	P < 15	96	93
		P > 15	83 + 11 lg P	80 + 11 lg P
5.	Hand-held concrete-breakers and picks	m < 15	107	105
		15 < m < 30	94 + 11 lg m	92 + 11 lg m2
		m ≥ 30	96 + 11 lg m	94 + 11 lg m
6.	Tower cranes		98 + lg P	96 + lg P
7.	Welding and power generators	Pel < 2	97 + lg Pel	95 + lg Pel
		2 < Pel < 10	98 + lg Pel	96 + lg Pel
		Pel >10	97 + lg Pel	95 + lg Pel
8.	Compressors	P < 15	99	97
		P > 15	97 + 2 lg P	95 + 2 lg P
9.	Lawnmowers, lawn trimmers, lawn-edge trimmers	L < 50	96	94 2
		50 < L < 70	100	98
		70 < L < 120	100	98 2
		L > 120	105	103 2

Notes.

¹ P_el for welding generators: conventional welding current multiplied by the conventional load voltage for the lowest value of the duty factor given by the manufacturer.

² Approximate values for the following equipment:

1) walk-behind vibrating rollers;

2) vibratory plates (> 3 kW);

3) vibratory rammers;

4) steel tracked dozers;

5) steel tracked loaders (> 55 kW);

6) combustion-engine driven counterbalanced lift trucks;

7) compacting screed paver-finishers;

8) hand-held internal combustion-engine concrete-breakers and picks (15 < m < 30);

9) lawnmowers, lawn trimmers, lawn-edge trimmers.

³ For single-engine mobile cranes, the permissible sound power levels for stage I shall be applied until 3 January 2008. After that date, the permissible sound power levels for stage II shall be applied.

⁴ The permissible sound power level shall be rounded up or down to the nearest integer number (if the relevant number is less than 0.5 - use lower number; if equal to or greater than 0.5 - use higher number).

 

Annex 3
Cabinet Regulation No. 163
23 April 2002

Models of the CE Marking and of the Pictogram of the Guaranteed Sound Power Level

[31 January 2006]

1. The CE conformity marking shall consist of the initials "CE" (Figure 1).

Figure 1

2. If the size of the CE marking is enlarged or reduced according to the size of the equipment, the proportions given in the model must be respected. The vertical dimension of the marking may not be less than five millimetres.

3. The pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level shall consist of the designation of the guaranteed sound power level in dB and the letters "L_WA" (Figure 2).

Figure 2

4. If the size of the pictogram of the guaranteed sound power level is enlarged or reduced according to the size of the equipment the proportions given in the model must be respected. The vertical dimension of the marking may not be less than 40 millimetres.

Minister for Environmental Protection
and Regional Development V. Makarovs

 

Annex 4
Cabinet Regulation No. 163
23 April 2002

[31 January 2006]

Conformity Assessment Certificate of the Unit

1. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union	2. Unit verification/conformity certificate number
3. Owner of the certificate	4. Notified body which issued certificates
5. Laboratory report No._____ Date ______ Measured sound power level _______ dB	6. Applicable laws and regulations: Cabinet Regulation No. 163 of 23 April 2002, Regulations Regarding the Emission of Noise from Equipment Used Outdoors (Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors).
7. Description of the equipment:	7.6. the equipment category ____________
7.1. the type of the equipment _________________	7.7. the identification number _________
7.2. the trade name ____________	7.8. The manufacturer or its authorised representative in the European Union _________________
7.3. the type number __________________	7.9. power/speed _____________________
7.4. type of engine(s) _________________	7.10. other technical characteristics ___________________________________
7.5. energy type _______________	____________________________________
8. The following documents have been appended to the certificate: 9. Certificate is valid until _________________________________________________ 10. Place of issue of the certificate __________________________________________ Signature of the responsible official and its transcription __________________________ Place for a seal Union Date ____________________

Minister for Environmental Protection
and Regional Development V. Makarovs

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