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COMMISSION DIRECTIVE

of 7 April 1987

adapting to technical progress Council Directive 84/538/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound power level of lawnmowers

(87/252/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 84/538/EEC of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound power level of lawnmowers (1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,

Whereas, in view of experience gained and of the state of the art, it is now necessary to match the requirements of Annex I, Annex II and Annex III to Directive 84/538/EEC to take account the latest progress;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directive on the Determination of the Noise Emission of Construction Plant and Equipment, which is competent for Council Directive 84/538/EEC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Annex I, Annex II and Annex III, to Directive 84/538/EEC are hereby amended in accordance with the Annex I, Annex II and Annex III to this Directive.

Article 2

The Member States shall, by 1 January 1988, adopt and publish the provisions required to comply with this Directive and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 7 April 1987.

For the Commission

Stanley CLINTON DAVIS

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 300, 19. 11. 1984, p. 171.

ANNEX I

AMENDMENTS TO ANNEX I TO DIRECTIVE 84/538/EEC

6.1. Purpose of the measurement

6.1.2. At point 6.1.2., the first sentence of the first paragraph shall be reworded as follows:

'The cutting device shall be adjusted to a height of 3 cm. If for technical reasons this is not possible, the cutting device shall be adjusted as close as possible to a height of 3 cm.'

6.2. Operation of the sound source during the measurement

At point 6.2, the third paragraph shall be reworded as follows:

'If the cutting device cannot be separated from the driving wheels of the lawnmower, the mower shall be tested either with the mower on supports or while moving and driven by an operator under the following conditions:'

At point 6.2 (b), the second sentence shall be reworded as follows:

'If the lawnmower is powered by a generator or from the mains, the frequency of the supply current, specified for the motor by the manufacturer, shall be stable during the test at ± 1 Hz if the lawnmower is equipped with an induction motor, and the supply voltage at ± 1,0 % of the rated voltage if the lawnmower is equipped with a commutator motor. The supply voltage is measured at the plug of a non-detachable cable or cord, or at the inlet of the lawnmower if a detachable cable is provided. The waveform of the current supplied from the generator shall be similar to that obtained from the mains.'

Paragraph (b) shall be followed by a new paragraph, worded as follows:

'(c) Lawnmowers which hover or are hand held

These mowers shall be restrained or supported to achieve their normal working position. The supports shall be made in such a way that they do not influence the measurement results.'

6.3. Measuring site

The text of point 6.3 shall be deleted and replaced by points 6.3.1, 6.3.2, 6.3.3 and 6.3.4 as follows:

'6.3.1. General

The measuring site must comply with the specifications of points 6.3.2, 6.3.3 or 6.3.4.

In case of dispute, measurements shall be carried out on a measuring site according to point 6.3.2.

6.3.2. Measurements in the open air on artificial flooring

The test area must be flat and horizontal. The test area, including the vertical projection of the microphone positions, shall be of concrete or non-porous asphalt covered by an artificial flooring in accordance with Annex A of this Directive, the centre of which coincides with the geometric centre of the hemisphere mentioned in point 6.4 and the corners of which are aimed at the vertical axis of the microphone positions 2, 4, 6 and 8.

If the wheels of the lawnmower could cause a compression of the artificial flooring of more than 1 cm, the wheels shall be placed on supports so that they are level with the artificial flooring before compression. The supports shall be made in such a way that they do not influence the measurement results.

6.3.3. Measurements in the open air on grass

The test area must be flat and horizontal. The test area including the vertical projection of the microphone positions shall be covered in grass turf which is not wet. 6.3.4. Measurements indoors

The soundfield inside the measurement room shall be similar to that of an acoustical free field, and the value of the constant C shall be determined in accordance with point 8.6.2.

The floor must be flat and horizontal. The test area, including the vertical projection of the microphone positions shall have the acoustical properties of concrete or non-porous asphalt and be covered by an artificial flooring in accordance with Annex A of this Directive, the centre of which coincides with the geometric centre of the hemisphere mentioned in point 6.4 and the corners of which are aimed at the vertical axis of the microphone positions 2, 4, 6 and 8.

If the wheels of the lawnmower could cause a compression of the artificial flooring of more than 1 cm, the wheels shall be placed on supports so that they are level with the artificial flooring before compression. The supports shall be made in such a way that they do not influence the measurement results.'

ANNEX A

ARTIFICIAL FLOORING

1. DIMENSIONS AND MATERIALS

1.1. Dimensions

The artificial flooring shall have a size of 360 × 360 cm.

1.2. Materials

The artificial flooring is composed of a cover of absorptive material of which the absorption coefficients a, measured in accordance with ISO 354 first edition, 1985-02-01, are within the limits given in the following table:

1.2.3.4.5.6.7 // // // // // // // // Frequency/Hz // 125 // 250 // 500 // 1 000 // 2 000 // 4 000 // // // // // // // // a minimum // 0,00 // 0,20 // 0,40 // 0,60 // 0,70 // 0,80 // // // // // // // // a maximum // 0,20 // 0,40 // 0,60 // 0,80 // 0,90 // 1,00 // // // // // // //

Note: An example of a material and construction which can be expected to fulfil these requirements is given in Annex B.

ANNEX B

EXAMPLE OF MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Mineral fibre of thickness 20 mm, airflow resistance 11 kNs/m4 and density 25 kg/m3.

For reasons of convenience the artificial flooring can be built of joint planes.

The cut edges of the chipboard are to be made non-absorptive and to be protected against moisture. This can be done by applying a coat of plastic paint.

The outsides are bordered by aluminium U-sections of size 3 × 20 mm. In general, these joint planes come in two types:

(A) planes not to be loaded;

(B) planes to carry the lawnmower and the staff.

On the joint planes mentioned under (B) aluminium T-sections size 3 × 20 mm are mounted as spacers (see Figure 1).

The prepared boards are then covered with the absorptive material cut to size.

The planes mentioned under (A) are covered with a wire mesh with a wire thickness of 0,8 mm and a mesh width of 10 mm (aviary wire).

The planes under (B) are covered with wire grating of corrugated steel wire with a diameter of 3,1 mm and a mesh width of 30 mm.

These wire covers are fastened to the aluminium U-sections.

DISTRIBUTION OF TEST PANELS

STRUCTURE

Type A

Aviary (chicken) wire

width of mesh 10 mm

wire thickness 0,8 mm

U-section 3 × 20, aluminium

Mineral fibermat

Chipboard, plastic laminated

Type B

Wire grating

width of mesh 30 mm

wire thickness 3,1 mm

corrugated steel wire

T-section 3 × 20, aluminium

Mineral fibermat

Chipboard, plastic laminated

Figure 1

ANNEX II

AMENDMENTS TO ANNEX II TO DIRECTIVE 84/538/EEC

Point 4 of the model certificate shall be reworded as follows:

'4. Identification of the series . . . .'

A new point 5 shall be added, worded as follows:

'5. Motor:

- manufacturer . . . . . .

- type . . . . . .

- speed of rotation during the test in rpm. . . . . . .'

ANNEX III

AMENDMENT TO ANNEX III TO THE DIRECTIVE 84/538/EEC

The model for Mark for Sound Power Level shall be replaced by the following model.

All the dimensions given may be multiplied, for example by 1/2, 1/3, 2, 3, 4, etc, on condition that the specifications laid down in Article 4 are adhered to.

A tolerance of 20 % shall be allowed on all the above dimensions.