Noise from industrial and commercial facilities is caused by production processes, machinery and vehicles. This noise can significantly disturb the neighbourhood.
Thanks to noise protection legislation, improvement measures were taken to reduce noise emissions from many businesses and installations between the 1990s and 2002. This greatly reduced harmful and disruptive noise near areas where people live and work.
Today, problems mainly arise with new or converted systems. Noise can usually be reduced by using quieter technologies, optimised system designs or operational restrictions. In addition, depending on the time of day and the location of the recipients, certain limits apply which the noise must not exceed.
Heat pumps and systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Stabled trains
Car parking areas
Cableway installations
High-voltage power lines
Wind turbines
Cercle Bruit enforcement aids
Suva regulations
Heat pumps and systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning are often installed close to noise-sensitive spaces (e.g. flats). Depending on the product, installation location and mode of operation, they generate noise at different times of the day.
The following measures protect against noise from these systems:
- Choosing a quiet model (emissions from models with similar performance may vary by several decibels)
- Finding the best position and alignment for the system, especially the air vents
- Finding the best time to use the system (e.g. switching it off at night, activating silent mode)
- Installing sound insulation in ventilation ducts and outlets
- Enclosing or shielding of noisy components
Cercle Bruit: Vollzugshilfe 6.21 Lärm von Wärmepumpen, Emissionen - Immissionen
Fachvereinigung Wärmepumpen Schweiz: Lärmschutznachweis
Cercle Bruit Schweiz: Vollzugshilfe 6.20 Lärm von Heizungs-, Lüftungs- und Klimaanlagen
When trains are stabled, they may produce noise from auxiliary units such as air-conditioning systems, dining car cooling systems, air- or liquid-based cooling systems for power supply and traction systems, and air compressors. As it is rarely possible to take measures at the source, noise barriers can provide effective protection for surrounding areas.
Beurteilung und Begrenzung des Lärms von abgestellten Zügen (PDF, 963 kB, 03.02.2015)Untersuchungsbericht der Empa, im Auftrag des BAFU
Noise in car parking areas is caused by vehicles manoeuvring, doors slamming and people talking. Possible protective measures include operational restrictions (opening hours), shielding (noise barriers, underground facilities, roofs over access ramps) or insulation of reflective walls.
Parkierlärm | Lärm.ch - Bruit.ch - Rumore.ch
VSS SN Norm 640 578 - Lärmimmissionen von Parkierungsanlagen, Berechnung der Immissionen
Older cableway installations are replaced by more modern and efficient systems on a regular basis. Stations and pylons are often located close to residential buildings. The noise emissions dependent heavily on the design, individual components and the operating speed. They can be limited by enclosing the stations, optimising the cableway components such as the carrying cable or the roller batteries, as well as lowering the operating speed or operating hours.
High-voltage overhead power lines can produce noise under certain weather conditions, such as fog, rain or snow (corona discharge noise). The noise usually consists of a crackling sound and a 100Hz pure tone component. Corona discharge noise is mainly generated by power lines at the highest voltage levels, particularly those at 380kV as well as newer lines with smaller-diameter conductors. Methods for reducing these emissions include using lines of larger diameters or ageing line surfaces artificially.
Lärm von Hochspannungsleitungen (PDF, 892 kB, 13.06.2016)Aufarbeitung der CONOR-Forschungsergebnisse für den Vollzug. Bericht im Auftrag des BAFU. 2010; Update 2016.
Wind turbines generate noise through the rotation of the rotor blades in the air. The extent to which this noise affects nearby residents depends on wind strength, wind direction and rotor size. These immissions can be minimised through a suitable choice of the turbine location, acoustic optimisation of the rotor blades and targeted throttling of the rotation speed.
Lärmermittlung und Massnahmen zur Emissionsbegrenzung bei Windkraftanlagen (PDF, 3 MB, 10.02.2010)Untersuchungsbericht der EMPA im Auftrag des BAFU. 2010.
Cercle Bruit, the Association of Cantonal Noise Protection Experts, has drawn up specific enforcement aids for many industrial and commercial installations. These include a noise assessment and measures for each noise source.
Suva’s regulations on the prevention of occupational illnesses are also relevant to noise protection. The regulations restrict noise levels to protect employees, which also reduces noise nuisance in surrounding areas.
Further information
Last modification 16.06.2023
