Noise action planning
Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of environmental noise establishes a standardised concept throughout Europe to preferably prevent, avoid or reduce the harmful effects of environmental noise. The EC Directive was transposed into national law by the Act on the Implementation of the EC Directive on the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise and the associated amendment to Sections 47 a-f of the Federal Immission Control Act and the Ordinance on Noise Mapping (34th BImSchV).
Firstly, the exposure of the population to environmental noise must be determined using strategic noise maps with standardised EU noise indices and the public must be informed about the exposure. Suitable noise reduction measures must then be compiled in action plans.
The regulations on protection against traffic noise on public roads differentiate between noise prevention (avoiding unreasonable noise pollution when constructing new roads and making significant changes to existing roads) and noise remediation (reducing existing noise pollution on existing roads).
The legal basis for noise prevention is the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG), whereby in addition to the general provision of § 50, only the provisions of §§ 41 - 43 apply. The Traffic Noise Protection Ordinance (16th BImSchV) issued in 1990 defines the scope of application, the procedure for calculating the rating levels and the immission limit values to be complied with - depending on the area category in the day and night period.
The Traffic Route Noise Protection Measures Ordinance (24th BImSchV), which came into force in 1997, regulates the type and scope of noise protection measures for buildings.
In the case of noise precautions, there is a legal entitlement to noise protection if the statutory limit values are exceeded, and the construction authority is obliged to ensure compliance with the following limit values during the day and night by means of noise protection measures.
Immission limit values for noise prevention
- at hospitals, schools, retirement homes: 57 dB (A) during the day/ 47 dB (A) at night
- in residential areas and small housing estates: 59 dB (A) during the day/ 49 dB (A) at night
- in core, village and mixed areas: 64 dB (A) during the day/ 54 dB (A) at night
- in commercial areas69 dB (A) during the day/ 59 dB (A) at night
This is primarily achieved through active measures on the traffic route (e.g. wall, embankment). If this is not possible or if the costs of the protective measures are disproportionate to the intended protective purpose, suitable passive measures (usually soundproof windows and ventilation systems) must be implemented on the affected buildings.
There are no legal regulations for noise protection on existing roads or roads that have not been significantly altered (noise remediation). This means that there is neither a legal entitlement to noise protection for those affected nor an obligation for the authorities responsible for construction to implement noise protection measures.
Noise abatement is therefore a voluntary service. It is handled very differently at federal, state, district and local level because the grantor makes all the regulations themselves (e.g. limit values, type and scope of measures, time of implementation). In the Free State of Saxony, such measures have been carried out since 1992 - depending on the urgency and the financial resources available - on federal motorways and on heavily noise-polluted local thoroughfares as part of the reconstruction and expansion of federal and state roads that are under the responsibility of the federal government or the Free State.
Noise pollution continues to be one of the biggest environmental problems in the European Community. Road traffic in particular is the main cause of widespread noise pollution. Many of those affected by road and rail traffic routes and major airports are not only affected in terms of their quality of life but are also exposed to health risks due to their constant exposure.
With Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (Environmental Noise Directive), the EU is breaking new ground in noise protection. The Environmental Noise Directive contains specifications for the systematic recording of the noise pollution situation (strategic noise mapping) and for the creation of noise action plans. The aim is to define a common concept to prevent, avoid or minimise harmful effects, including annoyance, caused by environmental noise. The directive provides for a two-stage procedure. After determining the environmental noise levels and the resulting impact, suitable noise reduction measures must then be compiled in noise action plans.
With the law on the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive of 24 June 2005, its national implementation in the Federal Republic of Germany was carried out in §§ 47a - f of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG). With the 34th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) on strategic noise mapping, the BImSchG specifies the requirements for mapping noise pollution in urban centres.
For the first time, concrete deadlines for the preparation of strategic noise maps and noise action plans are specified, in contrast to the previous noise reduction planning. The strategic noise maps and the noise action plan are to be drawn up according to the size of the main noise sources or the agglomeration and updated every five years.
For the city of Chemnitz, the noise pollution for main roads with a traffic load of more than 6 million vehicles per year had to be mapped for the first time by 30 June 2007 in a first implementation stage.
Since 2012, noise maps for the city of Chemnitz have been required by 30 June of the relevant year for conurbations with a population of 100,000 or more, main roads with a traffic load of 3 million vehicles/year or more and main railway lines with a traffic load of 30.The mapping must be repeated and updated every five years.
Subsequently, noise hotspots must be identified on the basis of the noise maps and noise action plans drawn up to reduce noise pollution. In these noise action plans, the municipalities must define suitable measures to reduce noise pollution in the short, medium and long term. Like the noise maps, the noise action plans must also be reviewed and updated at least every five years.
Both the noise maps and the development of action plans are carried out with public information and participation.
For the city of Chemnitz, the next regular noise mapping for conurbations and main roads subject to mapping must be drawn up/updated by 30 June 2017 in accordance with the provisions of Section 47 c BImSchG.
The aim of noise action planning is to prevent or reduce environmental noise, particularly in areas where noise pollution can have an impact on health. To this end, possible measures to reduce noise pollution are compiled in noise action plans. Exposure to environmental noise is determined on the basis of noise maps using standardised assessment methods.
Noise mapping stages no. 1 in 2007, no. 2 in 2012 and no. 3 in 2017 were carried out in accordance with the EU Environmental Noise Directive.
For this 4th stage of noise mapping, the procedure for roads and railways was the same as for the 3rd stage. However, the calculation for Stage 4 was carried out according to the CNOSSOS-EU (Common Noise Assessment Methods for Europe) calculation method, which is now standardised for all EU countries.
Responsibilities
The noise maps represent the exposure of the population to noise caused by various types of noise sources (road and rail traffic). Stage 4 noise mapping must be completed by 30 June 2022 and noise action planning must be drawn up by 18 July 2024. The City of Chemnitz is responsible for the noise mapping of road and rail traffic noise (Straba). The Federal Railway Authority is responsible for noise mapping on railway lines.
The actual noise action plan and the revision/update of the 3rd stage noise action plan confirmed by the City Council with specific measures to reduce noise pollution is in turn the responsibility of the City of Chemnitz.
Noise indices
The legal basis for determining theLDay (daytime),LEvening (evening) and LNight (nighttime) noise indices and theLDEN (day-evening-night noise index) is the 34th Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (Ordinance on Noise Mapping - 34th BImSchV). The 34th BImSchV applies to the mapping of environmental noise in accordance with the EC Environmental Noise Directive and specifies the requirements for noise maps in accordance with § 47 c of the Federal Immission Control Act.
TheLDEN noise index is the continuous sound level acting over 24 hours with correspondingly weighted additions of 5 dB for the evening timeLEvening (6 pm to 10 pm) and 10 dB for the night time LNight (10 pm to 6 am) in times of higher annoyance. It is calculated from the following noise indices:
| LDay | Noise index for the assessment period day | (06:00 to 18:00) |
| LEvening | Noise index for the evening assessment period | (18:00 to 22:00) |
| LNight | Noise index for the assessment period night | (22:00 to 06:00) |
In principle, environmental noise is not measured, but calculated on the basis of binding calculation regulations using verified calculation programmes. Separate maps must be created for the different types of noise sources.
Noise maps
The following mapping results are available for the urban area of Chemnitz as a conurbation. They were updated in March 2023.
Road traffic noise
- Noise indexLDEN for the period from 00:00 to 24:00
- Noise index LNight for the period from 22:00 to 06:00
- Differential noise index LNight for the period from 22:00 to 06:00
Exposure figures for residents according to level classes (LDEN and LNight) of the road network:
Calculation for roads in the entire urban area DTV > 3,000 vehicles/day, estimated number of residents in areas within the level classes
| Level classes for theLDEN in dB(A) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
> 55 to 60 | > 60 to 65 | > 65 to 70 | > 70 to 75 | > 75 | |
37.620 | 28.267 | 23.650 | 8.812 | 72 | |
| Level classes for the LNight in dB(A) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
> 45 to 50 | > 50 to 55 | > 55 to 60 | > 60 to 65 | > 65 to 70 | > 70 | |
42.769 | 31.687 | 24.920 | 10.141 | 212 | - | |
Noise-exposed areas, number of dwellings, inhabitants, schools and hospitals according to noise level classes (LDEN) for the road network in the entire urban area:
Calculations for roads in the entire urban area DTV > 3000 motor vehicles/day
| Total area and total number of dwellings, residents, schools and hospitals where the level exceeds the specifiedLDEN | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Area in km2 | Number of | Number of Inhabitants | Number of schools | Number of Hospitals | ||
LDEN | 71,40 | 62.762 | 93.877 | 43 | 3 | |
| LDEN > 65 db(A) | 19,37 | 21.928 | 30.338 | 12 | - | |
| LDEN > 75 db(A) | 2,97 | 35 | 28 | - | - | |
According to the amended Annex III of Directive 2002/49/EC and Section 4 (7) of the 34th BImSchV, the dose-response reactions between adverse health effects and environmental noise must be specified based on the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The evaluations relate to ischaemic heart disease (IHD), severe annoyance (HA) and severe sleep disturbance (HSD). In the present case, HA and HSD apply to road and rail traffic noise and IHD only to road traffic noise. The assessment of adverse health effects is carried out in accordance with Chapter 3 of Annex III to Directive 2002/49/EC.
Number of cases with adverse health effects in the city of Chemnitz
| Main road network and additional network outside the conurbation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road network outside the urban agglomeration | Number of cases with health hazards | ||||
DTV [motor vehicles/d] | HA | HSD | IHD | ||
| Main road network | > 8.200 | 1.877 | 454 | 3 | |
| Main road network and additional network | > 3.000 | 3.604 | 888 | 7 | |
Rail traffic noise (tram)
- Noise indexLDEN for the period 00:00 to 24:00
- Noise index LNight for the period 06:00 to 18:00
- Differential noise index LNight for the period 22:00 to 06:00
Exposure figures for residents according to level classes (LDENandLNight) of the rail network (tram) in the entire city area:
Calculation for trams (incl. City-Bahn) in the entire urban area, estimated number of residents in areas within the level classes
| Level classes for theLDEN in dB(A) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
> 55 to 60 | > 60 to 65 | > 65 to 70 | > 70 to 75 | > 75 | |
2.868 | 1.638 | 292 | 2 | - | |
| Level classes for the LNight in dB(A) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
> 45 to 50 | > 50 to 55 | > 55 to 60 | > 60 to 65 | > 65 to 70 | > 70 | |
3.919 | 2.167 | 497 | 95 | - | - | |
Noise-exposed areas, number of dwellings, inhabitants, schools and hospitals according to noise level classes (LDEN) for the rail network (tram) in the entire urban area:
Calculation for trams (incl. City-Bahn) in the entire urban area
| Total area and total number of dwellings, inhabitants, schools and hospitals in which the level exceeds the specifiedLDEN | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Area in km2 | Number of | Number of Inhabitants | Number of schools | Number of Hospitals | ||
LDEN | 3,50 | 2.793 | 4.509 | 4 | - | |
| LDEN > 65 db(A) | 0,18 | 211 | 267 | 1 | - | |
| LDEN > 75 db(A) | 0,00 | - | - | - | - | |
Rail traffic noise
The results of the rail traffic noise mapping for 2022 will be published on the website of the Federal Railway Authority.
Further important regulations and information on the Environmental Noise Directive and its implementation can also be found on the website of the Saxon State Ministry for the Environment and Agriculture and on the website of the Federal Environment Agency.
The EU Environmental Noise Directive and Section 47 d (3) of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) provide for the information and participation of the public regarding the existing noise situation and noise action planning. The noise mapping forms the basis for the actual noise action planning. The mapping results are used to determine the noise pollution caused by the analysed noise sources and how many people are affected. This is intended to visualise noise hotspots with the aim of reducing noise pollution and protecting "quiet areas" from a further increase in noise.
When drawing up the noise action plan, the information and participation of the public is of particular importance. In 2018, the City of Chemnitz gave all interested citizens, organisations and institutions the opportunity to comment on the mapping results of the 3rd stage.
Suggestions and comments could be sent to the Environment Agency by 29 March 2018, stating the sender's name. The noise maps were also put on public display in the Technical Town Hall.
The two proposals and comments received were examined and evaluated; they formed the basis for the review of the Stage 2 Noise Action Plan adopted by the City Council on 25 January 2017.
The administration was commissioned to
- to implement the noise reduction measures M 1 to M 13 within the scope of the available budget and human resources,
- to take the results of the noise action plan into account in urban planning and
- to record further localised pollution caused by traffic noise in further noise action planning or to consider it as part of concepts and measures for traffic calming.
As a result of the public participation in the strategic noise mapping stage 3, it became apparent that the noise action plan stage 2, which was adopted on 25 January 2017 and is currently in force, should remain in place and be supplemented by the inclusion of Bornaer Straße. The latter corresponds to a request from a citizens' initiative from the north of Chemnitz. A corresponding draft resolution is to be submitted to the newly elected city council in September 2019.