Noise from amplified music played in discotheques, pubs and clubs - a review of some national regulations

Abstract

The development of new musical styles (with strong low frequency content) and high-power sound-reinforcement systems induced an appreciable increase in the noise levels inside and in the neighbourhood of public establishments diffusing music, for example discos, pubs, clubs or restaurants. The presence of dwellings contiguous or very near this type of establishments frequently involves significant noise nuisances. In the last years, one could see not only large campaigns of information and prevention relating to these problems but also the appearance, in many countries, of various local or national recommendations, standards, directives or laws to control or limit this type of noise nuisances. The analysis of many regulations in this field shows a great diversity of methodological approaches and limit values. The requirements of these regulations relate in particular either to the immission level of the music (for example in CH, NL, N, and S), or on its emergence compared to the background noise (A, B, I, P, and the UK) or on the values of the required sound insulation (A, CH, F, and D).