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Since 2018 there are strict regulations according to EU noise regulation. These are to be observed by tuners in the hobby sector, but also by professional companies. While for flap exhaust systems or there is no general ban Sound generators have been banned for some time. Every exhaust has a muffler, but with flap exhaust systems there is also a flap that adapts to the speed and load and opens and closes accordingly, thus determining the volume variably. For fans, this is an acoustically positive emotion, but the noise is less enjoyable for citizens who live near the street. Due to the circumstances, Reinhold Jost, the Saarland Minister for the Environment, among others, called for a stop for systems with higher noise emissions as early as October 2018. In his opinion, the valve exhaust includes "no other function than to produce a characteristic sound of the vehicles or unnecessary, deafening noise“. Jost therefore presented a four-point plan from November 7th to 9th, 2018 at the then conference of environment ministers. The plan should be set in motion by stricter controls of possible manipulations and ensure "protection against engine noise". There was also a recommendation from the federal government that a legal ban should be passed for Flap exhaust systems. It remains to be seen whether there will actually be a complete ban on flap exhaust systems.
EX WORKS: THE LAWS
Will be a flap exhaust factory installed, there is currently a strict regulation through various laws. On July 1, 2016, there was a noise reform for passenger cars in order to further reduce the noise level from vehicles in small steps to contain. The aim is to reduce health damage. If you trust the WHO, noise is a health risk. More specifically, it is the second largest and increases the risk of a heart attack. There are said to be around 4.000 noise-related heart attacks in Germany. However, the higher the power-to-weight ratio, the more noise a vehicle is allowed to make. There are basically four different categories:
- Passenger cars with up to 163 hp per ton of vehicle weight (maximum 72 decibels)
- Vehicle registered from 2022 (maximum limit 70 decibels)
- Vehicle registered from 2026 (maximum limit 68 decibels)
Four decibels are for athletes, i.e. cars with more than 272 hp per ton More permitted. However, the EU regulations on measurement do not take into account high speeds or accelerations at high speeds. There is a precise and careful check of compliance not. The state has to believe the manufacturers, because they carry out the test and only confirm the correctness of the volume. Incidentally, these tests measure noise pollution between 20 and 80 km/h is produced.
A SPORTS EXHAUST CAN BE SO LOUD!
A traffic sheet was published in 2018, which stated that systems equipped with flaps violate § 30 of the Road Traffic Act (StVO), as soon as they have a higher noise level than the standard system. However, there is a uniform limit value, as for nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel-powered cars, from the legislature not. It always depends on the vehicle class and the ratio between mass and power of the car. Currently applies: Cars with up to 163 hp per ton are allowed not louder than 72 decibels. For vehicles with a ratio of up to 272 hp per ton, a maximum index of 75 decibels applies. And athletes, i.e. cars with more than 272 hp per ton, have the guideline to be no louder than 79 decibels.
- Cars with 163 hp per ton maximum 72 decibels
- Cars with 272 hp per ton maximum 75 decibels
- Cars with more than 272 hp per ton maximum 79 decibels
WHEN IS ACCEPTANCE NECESSARY – WHEN NOT?
In principle, any flap exhaust can be installed, which one ECE test owns. This can even without the test can be carried out in a test center or in a separate entry. With the test mark are flap exhaust systems in the entire territory of the EU member states legal, And EEC mark of approval receive retrofit systems, which are supplied directly by the car manufacturer. That ABG certification mark stands for the General type approval and such plants are also without registration legal if used on any of the models listed in the documentation. However, if this exhaust system is used on another vehicle, it must be examined by an official test center. This is also the case with so-called TGAs, ie Partial report. Here, the official test center must Cultivation certificate exhibit. This certificate is then always to be carried in the vehicle. An EGB, so one one-time permission, becomes relevant if several parts of different exhaust systems should be used. Attention: The rules just mentioned are only for flap exhaust systems valid. A retrofitted sports exhaust is one of these not affected.
RETROFITTING THE SOUND GENERATOR – FORBIDDEN?
Sound generators create the effect of creating a fake engine sound with artificial noises. If this happens without any changes in consumption or emissions, then the systems are verboten. The Federal Ministry of Transport determined in the Verkehrsblatt in May 2018 that the devices no longer receive component approval, in case you be installed later. You contradict the requirements of Section 30 Paragraph 1 No. 1 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations. Furthermore, a parts report according to §19 and obtaining the general operating permit according to § 22 are to be rejected. Even a decrease after § 21 StVZO is no longer feasible.
The deletion of the sound generators ("Sound Actuator" / is used in the tailpipe or rear silencer) results from many tuning vehicles that exceed the maximum permissible volume of 75 decibels for a vehicle with 272 hp (200 kW) per ton of vehicle mass during police checks exceeded. However, the ban does not apply already registered facilities or sound generators in electric vehicles. Because new electric vehicles or hybrids have even since July 1, 2019 from starting up to 20 km/h warning sound hand over, so that the pedestrian and cyclist protection is given.
FACTORY BUILT-IN SOUND GENERATOR
Vehicle manufacturers are still able to install directly from the factory allowed. Nevertheless, they must adhere to values and regulations. The sound may ex works not louder become, but only changed. In the EU, a maximum value of 75 decibels applies as long as the vehicle has up to 272 hp per ton. As with the flap exhausts, the control also works here: The more power, the more volume and vice versa. Before the regulation came into force on July 1, 2018, sound generators were even allowed to have different factory modes that could be used with a special controller. The volume was increased even further by pressing a button. Although the vehicles passed the test in the course of standardized measurement methods, they were much too loud on the road.
The current rule is that vehicles are allowed to have different sound modes in all driving modes, gears and speed ranges, but this one not louder than the mode used for type approval. different sound JA, volume up NO! And another note: Retrofitting an exhaust system with a factory-installed sound generator on engines that are not intended for this is not permitted illegal.
Of course, that wasn't the end of it.
tuningblog.eu has a lot of other articles on the subject of auto & tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. But also planned changes in the law, violations in road traffic, current regulations in the field of STVO or on the subject inspection we would like to inform you regularly. Everything you can find in the category "Test sites, laws, offenses, information". Click on one of the following posts!
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