# Council Directive of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles (70/157/EEC), Division 2.1: Limiting values


The sound level measured in accordance with the provisions of Annex III shall not exceed the following limits:
Vehicle categories
Values expressed in dB(A) (decibels(A))
2.1.1.
Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers, and comprising not more than nine seats including the driver's seat
74
2.1.2. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers and equipped with more than nine seats, including the driver's seat; and having a maximum permissible mass of more than 3,5 tonnes and:
2.1.2.1.
with an engine power of less than 150 kW
78
2.1.2.2.
with an engine power of not less than 150 kW
80
2.1.3. Vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers and equipped with more than nine seats, including the driver's seat; vehicles intended for the carriage of goods:
2.1.3.1.
with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 2 tonnes
76
2.1.3.2.
with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 2 tonnes but not exceeding 3,5 tonnes
77
2.1.4. Vehicles intended for the carriage of goods and having a maximum permissible mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes:
2.1.4.1.
with an engine power of less than 75 kW
77
2.1.4.2.
with an engine power of not less than 75 kW but less than 150 kW
78
2.1.4.3.
with an engine power of not less than 150 kW
80
However
for vehicles of categories 2.1.1 and 2.1.3, the limit values are increased by 1 dB(A) if they are equipped with a direct injection diesel engine,
for vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of over two tonnes designed for off-road use, the limit values are increased by 1 dB(A) if their engine power is less than 150 kW and 2 dB(A) if their engine power is 150 kW or more,
for vehicles in category 2.1.1, equipped with a manually operated gear box having more than four forward gears and with an engine developing a maximum power exceeding 140 kW/t and whose maximum power/maximum mass ratio exceeds 75 kW/t, the limit values are increased by 1 dB(A) if the speed at which the rear of the vehicle passes the line BB' in third gear is greater than 61 km/h.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/1970/157/attachment/2/division/division/2./division/2.1. (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1970-157/attachment-2/division/division-2./division-2.1.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.