Noise: regulations in

India IntroductionLegislations

LimitsCode of practice –

MoEFCase studies

Conclusion

1

Sitara D.2011 215 008M.E. Environmental Engg.

“A girl’s cries for help while being raped were drowned in the loud music being played in her neighbourhood. She committed suicide later.” The Times of India, June1, 1998.

Machine noise can mask an alarm from reaching the ears, thereby increasing the chances of accidents

Ambient noise

dB(A) the audible response of

human ear800 to 3000 Hz 2

Microphone

Weighting network,

filters

Display unit (dB)

Adverse effectshearing losssleep disruptioncardiovascular diseasepschological stress

Sources vehicles, horns, firecrackers loud speakers sound producing

instruments

Sound level meter

DefinitionA reference background sound pressure level at a location

3

Fire cracker

DG sets

Traffic - Horns, engine noise

Construction machinery

Drums, commercials

Loud speakers

Sound level meter

4

Legislations - Noise RegulationLegislation Relevance

Constitution of India:Right to Life: - Article 21

Anyone in his house has a right to prevent noise as pollutant reaching him

Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) 1973: Section 133

Magisterial court can order to remove or abate nuisance by noise

Indian Penal code (I.P.C.): Chapter IV: Sections 268-295

Public nuisance - Offences relating to public health, safety

Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 1987: Chapter I, 2. Definition - (a)

‘noise’ included as air pollutant

5

Legislations - Noise levelsLegislation Relevance

Env. Protection Act 1986: Env. Protection Rules 1986

I. Rule 5 (1) – (ii)

II. Rule 3: Schedule 1

III. Rule 3 A: Sch V1: Part E

The noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000 - Ambient stds., Restricts major noise sourcesItems no. 46, 47, 89, 91, 94Noise limits & measurement for specific articlesNoise limits for specific articles

Factories Act 1948: I. 3rd Schedule, Sec

89, 90:II. Modal Rules:

Noise → hearing loss: notifiable diseaseNoise exposure limits at work

6

Legislations - Noise levels

Legislation Relevance

Motor Vehicles Act 1988 Ch VII Rule 110, (1) – (h): Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1999 Ch V - Construction, equipment & maintenance of motor vehicles

Rule 119: Horns(1) AIS – 014 standards(2) No multi-toned or harsh horn(3) Exceptions (on duty)

• Ambulance,• Fire fighting• Salvage purpose• Police• Motor vehicles Dept. & approved construction

equipment, agricultural tractor vehicles

Rule 120: Silencers(4) Must for all vehicles(5) Conform to noise stds. given in

EP rules – Schedule VI – Part E.IS: 3028 – 1998

(3) Agri. tractor: IS 12180 – 2000

THE NOISE POLLUTION (REGULATION AND CONTROL) RULES, 2000 Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Drafted: June - July1999Published & enforced: February 14th 2000Last amended: January 11th 2010

Objective: To maintain the ambient air quality standards in respect of noise

By: Regulating and controlling noise producing and generating sources

7

Ambient air quality standards w.r.t. noise

Area code

Category of area/zone

Limits in dB (A) Leq Level of sound w.r.t. human

hearing

Day time6.00 am –10.00 pm

Night time 10.00 pm –

6.00 am

A Industrial area 75 70

B Commercial area

65 55

C Residential area

55 45

D Silence zone (100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places, etc)

50 40

8

The noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000

Responsibilities

State govt.

◦ Identify areas/zones

◦ Abatement of noise

Public works dept.

◦ Value as a parameter of quality of life

Enforcement

◦ Any Govt. authority or Officer ≥ Deputy Superintendent of Police

Complaints◦ If noise > the stds

by 10d(B) A: report to the authority

Redressal by authority◦ Order control or

stop noise source◦ Conduct hearing◦ Baseless charges

rejected

9

The noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000

Restrictions on use of noise sources

Loud speakers / public address system (PAS) & sound producing instruments

written permission Not at nights, exceptingo closed premiseso emergencieso festivals – max. 15/year

PASo Not 10 dB (A) > stds. oro 75 dB (A) (--lower limit)

Instrumentso Not 5 dB (A) > stds.

Horns, construction equipments & bursting of fire crackers

Not at nights in o residential

areaso silence zones

• Horns excepted during emergencies

10

The noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000

11

Noise limitsSerial no. (in Schedule 1)

Product Noise limit Max. dB(A)

46. Noise limits for automobiles (free field) at 1m

&

EP rules – Schedule VI – Part E – A (free field) at 7.5 m

Motorcycle, Scooters and 3 - wheelers

80

Passenger cars 82

Passenger or Commercial vehicles upto 4 T

85

Passenger or Commercial vehicles > 4 T & upto 12 T

89

Passenger or Commercial Vehicles above 12 T

91

(Central Motor Vehicles Rules amendment)

Agricultural tractor bystander ear level

operator ear level8898

(as on 31st March, 2010)

Noise limits

Serial no. (in Schedule 1)

Product Noise limit Max. dB(A)

47. Noise limits for domestic appliances and construction equipment

&

EP rules – Schedule VI – Part E – B

Window air conditioners:1to 1.5 tonne

68

Air Coolers 60

Refrigerator 46

Compactors(rollers), Front loaders, Concrete mixers, Cranes(movable), Vibrators and Saws

75

Serial no. (in Schedule 1)

Product Noise limit Max. dB(A)

89. Noise stds. for fire – crackers

& The explosives rules, 2008

fire - crackers 125 at 4 m

91. Noise limit for generator sets run with petrol or kerosene

Petrol or kerosene generator sets

86

94. Noise limit for generator sets run with diesel

DG upto1000 KVA, made after 1 Jan, 2005:

75 at 1m (Integral enclosure)

Other sets: Given acoustic treatment & exhaust muffler

Min. Insertion loss: 25 dB(A) each

Noise limits

Diesel – run generators

14

Without noise-proofing With acoustic enclosure

15

Acoustic enclosure

(Fibreglass)

16

Noise limits for vehicles -1Apr, 2005

Sl.No.

Type of vehicles Noise limits dB(A)

1.0 Two wheelers

1.1 Displacement upto 80 cc 75

1.2 Displacement more than 80 cc but upto 175 cc

77

1.3 Displacement more than 175 cc 80

2.0 Three wheelers

2.1 Displacement upto 175 cc 77

2.2 Displacement more than 175 cc 80

3.0 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and capable of having not more than nine seats, including the driver’s seat

74

EP rules – Schedule VI – Part E – AA IS:3028-1998 – measurement of pass-by noise level

17

Sl.No.

Type of vehicles Noise limits dB(A

)4.0 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers

having more than nine seats, including the driver’s seat, and a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of more than 3.5 tonnes

4.1 With an engine power less than 150 KW 78

4.2 With an engine power of 150 KW or above. 80

5.0 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers having more than nine seats, including the driver’s seat : vehicles used for the carriage of goods.

5.1 With a maximum GVW not exceeding 2 tonnes

76

5.2 With a maximum GVW greater than 3 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes

77

6.0 Vehicles used for the transport of goods with a maximum GVW exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

6.1 With an engine power less than 75 KW 77

6.2 With an engine power of 75 KW or above but less than 150 KW.

78

6.3 With an engine power of 150 KW or above. 80

EP rules – Schedule VI – Part E – AA

Permitted noise exposure for factory workers

The Modal Rules of the Factories Act,1948Impulse noise

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Peak sound pressurelevel in dB (A)

Permitted number of impulses or impact/day

140 100

135 315

130 1000

125 3160

120 10000No exposure in excess of 140 dB (A) peak SPLOther SPL - extrapolation

Total exposure time (continuous or a no. of short term exposures) per day, in hr

Sound pressure level in dB(A)

8 90

6 92

4 95

3 97

2 100

1 ½ 102

1 105

1/2 107

1/4 110

1/8 115

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No exposure in excess of 115 dB (A)Other SPL - extrapolation

The Modal Rules of the Factories Act,1948

Code of practice - MoEF

Public Address System

Not towards the neighbourhood

Not for commercials. Sound-limiters in

mikes (Kolkata)

Railway Operations Near housing area

o Erect acoustic barrier

o Reduce speed and o Avoid whistling

Burning of Crackers

No crackers with impulsive noise > 90 dB at 5 metres distance from the site of bursting

No joined crackers Use only during

public festivals.

20

Construction Activities

Acoustic barriers near sites

Max. noise75 dB(A) Leq(5 min.)

- industrial areas 65 dB(A) Leq(5 min.)

- other areas Fencing around the

site No material stockpiles Put unused

equipment as barriers Temporary earth bund

around the site using unwanted soil

21

Aircraft Operations Aerodrome - away from

city Take off direction - away

from city Boarding /un-boarding -

plane to be sufficiently away from airport buildings

Min. night-time operations

Ear muffs for workers Portable silencers in the

plane intake & exhaust during idling period at the airport.

Code of practice - MoEF

22

Citizen’s part - CPCB

Do's Don'ts

Motor vehicle & exhaust silencer – ok

Horn except at emergency.Multi toned/air horns.

DG set enclosure - min. 25 dB(A) insertion loss. Dealer’s validity certificate for P/K gen sets.

DG sets without prior approval of the competent authority, if required by local laws

Low volume of loudspeaker or sound amplifiers - undisturbed neighbours

 Loudspeaker in the open or at night (except in closed premises)

Low volume of music systems

Neighbour - a captive listener to your music system

Use approved fire-crackers only outdoors in large open areas and at community level.

Noisy fire-crackers at night

BIS codes on noise pollution

BIS Code Description

IS-4954-1968

Noise abatement in town planning recommendations

IS-3098-1980

Noise emitted by moving road vehicles, measurement

IS-10399-1982

Noise emitted by stationary road vehicles, methods of measurement of

IS-6098-1971

Air borne noise emitted by rotating electrical machinery, method of measurement of

IS-4758-1968

Noise emitted by machines, methods of measurements of

IS-3483-1965

Noise reduction in industrial buildings, code of practice for

IS-1950-1962

Sound insulation of non-industrial buildings, code of practice for

IS-9167-1979

Ear protectors

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Case study 1 – Bottling plant

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Case Noise due to bottling plant affects local people

Date PRLog (Press Release) - Jan 12, 2012. (www.prlog.org)

Cause Noise from idling delivery trucks at the Coca Cola bottling plant in Bay City, Michigan, USA.

Effect i. 89 dB(A) emitted by plant. ii. Local people were highly disturbed.

Remedial action

i. A sound barrier along the perimeter roadway.

ii. Barrier: Grass covered, 300-foot wide berm that incorporated a nine foot high Acoustifence® barrier and landscaping for an attractive roadside aesthetic.

iii. Result: Only 68 dB(A) at the plant and 42.9 dB(A) in the adjacent home.

CONSTRUCTION OF SOUND BARRIER IN COCO – COLA PLANT

Case study 1

25

NOISE LEVELS AFTER BARRIER CONSTRUCTION

68 dB(A) at the plant42.9 dB(A) at the nearest

house

26

Case study 1

Case Noise due to power plant affects local children

Date i. 13th April 1997; The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.ii. July 15, 1997; Down To Earth, CSE webnet

Cause i. Koolair diesel power plant in Etul Kotte, Sri Lanka caused excessive noise due to reverberating noise of generators.

ii. Political emergency: environmental laws void to meet electricity demand.

Effect i. 70 -100 dB(A) emitted by plant 24x7. ii. Local people were regularly sleepless – 150 –

200 families.iii. Hearing problems in children aged 2.5 months

to 2 years - sue through parents, claim ‘Right to Life’

iv. Ambient stds. In Sri Lanka - Max noise limits: 60 dB(A) - day, 50 dB(A) - night.

Verdict i.  Supreme Court ordered the plant to close down its generators from 10 pm to 6 am. 

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Case study 2 – Power plant

Case study 3 – IGI airportSubject Noise pollution due to Indira Gandhi

International (IGI) airport, Delhi affects hospital located 8.3 km away

Reported date

March 3, 2010 (www.lawisgreek.com/noisepollution-delhi-airport)

Cause Noise levels created by landing aircraft, when they fly at a low height of 200-300 feet: 75 to 94 dB(A)

Effects i. Patients at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre suffered regular sleeplessness.

ii. Doctors disturbed while surgery.

Remedial action

i. Delhi High Court barred use of 2 runways.

ii. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is ordered to control noise pollution immediately.

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Case study 3 (contd..)

Subject Many other nearby residents also affected.

Reported date

Sep 21, 2011 (ndtv.com)

Cause Noise arising from planes, especially at night

Effects i. Regular sleeplessness.ii. Auditory and psychological stress

Remedial action

i. Delhi HC: Central govt. at faultii. Airport: Informs flight operators – max

of 105 dB(A) at day, 95 at night – lower than most airports.

iii. DGCA: All operations to be within limits.

iv. Govt.: IIT experts to help; Noisy aircraft banned to take-off/land at night from Nov. 1

29

Case study 3 (contd..)

30

Airport Max. dB (A)

JFK, New York 99

Rio de Janeiro 118.4

Paris 104.5

Osaka 107

London (3 airports) 94

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Case study 4 – Questions in Parliament

Print release

Subject Outcome

“Level of Air and Noise Pollutions in the Country”23-Aug-2011

National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow & Bengaluru – 5/city – Mar 2010-11 http://www.cpcbnoise.com/

Stds. are exceeded. Insufficient data. Trend unidentified.

“Amendment in Noise Polln. Norms”25-Aug-2010

Maharashtra govt. seeks relaxation of loudspeaker - ‘Silence Zone’ norms for 15 days in Mumbai.

Proposal rejected.

“Noise level of crackers”18-Dec-2008

PESO officers at Sivakasi - constant monitoring of fire cracker noise levels - inspecting licensed manufacturing premises & testing samples.

Few samples -12manufacturers exceeded limits. The products discontinued.

Minister (MoEF) addresses queries in Rajya SabhaPress Information Bureau - MoEF

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Conclusion

Identify ‘noise’

Control Plan

Action

Assessment,

correction

Regular monitorin

g

Kaizen

Better data analysisEffective monitoringCommitment of

publicGreen bench in

Supreme CourtNoise-free

vibrations: o Pain, disability of

hands & arms – white finger

o Drivers of certain mobile machines -tractors, fork-lift trucks, earth movers, etc

o Not yet statutory