Overview
EN ISO 12001:2009 - titled Acoustics - Noise emitted by machinery and equipment - Rules for the drafting and presentation of a noise test code (ISO 12001:1996) - defines the technical requirements for creating a standardized noise test code for a specific family of machinery and equipment. Primarily applicable to stationary machinery (including hand‑held tools) and machines presenting hazards from mobility or load lifting, the standard ensures comparable, reproducible test results for machine noise emissions and supports consistent declaration and verification of noise data. EN ISO 12001:2009 adopts the ISO 12001:1996 text for European use.
Key Topics
- Purpose and scope: Specifies what information a noise test code must include so users can determine, declare and verify machine noise emissions under standardized conditions.
- Definitions of emission quantities: Clarifies terms such as emission, emission sound pressure, time‑averaged emission sound pressure (LpAeqT), sound power (W) and sound power level (Lw), including A‑weighted and C‑weighted peak metrics.
- Structure of a noise test code: Recommends a homogeneous layout for C‑type standards covering mounting/installation, operating conditions, measurement positions, and reporting requirements (annexes outline typical content).
- Measurement and verification basis: Requires consistency with relevant basic (B‑type) standards for measurement precision and acoustical methods.
- Referenced measurement methods: Points to established procedures for determining sound power and emission sound pressure (relevant ISO/IEC documents).
Applications and Users
Who uses EN ISO 12001:
- Standards committees drafting family‑specific noise test codes (C‑type standards).
- Manufacturers and suppliers declaring machine noise levels on product literature and labels.
- Test laboratories developing or applying standardized measurement procedures for comparability.
- Acoustic consultants and procurement teams evaluating noise data for specification, contract requirements, workplace compliance, and noise reduction planning.
Practical uses:
- Producing comparable noise emission declarations for product selection and compliance.
- Designing test codes that ensure repeatable machine noise testing across different labs and countries.
- Supporting contractual noise specifications and environmental / occupational noise assessments.
Related Standards
EN ISO 12001 refers to and is used with foundational measurement standards, including:
- ISO 3740–3747 series (sound power determination)
- ISO 9614 (sound intensity methods)
- ISO 11200–11204 series (noise emitted by machinery - emission sound pressure at work stations)
- ISO 4871 (declaration and verification of noise emission values)
- IEC standards for sound level meters and filters (IEC 651/804/1260)
These related standards provide the measurement methods and instrumentation requirements that underpin noise test codes drafted per EN ISO 12001.
