Noise Standards for Industrial Enterprises
The 12348-90 Noise Standard for Industrial Enterprises is an important national noise standard formulated by the Chinese government to guide the development of a safe, healthy and rational production environment for the industrial sector. It aims to ensure the health and safety of workers, reduce the adverse effects of noise on the environment and lay a good foundation for the sustainable development of industry.
In order to protect the health of workers and the environment, the standard stipulates that the noise level of general industrial enterprises should not exceed 85 decibels (dB) during the day and 70 dB at night. The daytime noise standards affect the noise level in the working environment and limiting the exposure to noise can reduce worker fatigue and the incidence of hearing impairments. The nighttime noise standard is there to protect the nearly half of the population in China who are currently affected by night-time noise pollution.
The 12348-90 Noise Standard for Industrial Enterprises also outlines the methods of noise control, including the use of noise barriers, mufflers, and sound absorbing materials to reduce the sound pressure of noise sources. It also provides clean production technologies for the production site and encourages the substitution of quieter equipment. For example, the standard suggests that workers wear ear plugs or protective headphones during high-noise operations.
In addition, the standard outlines the monitoring requirements for industrial enterprises. According to the standard, the enterprises should have periodic noise tests in the working environment, and their noise levels should be reported on a regular basis. The establishment of a noise monitoring system is also in place to ensure that the enterprise is compliant with the standard and to identify areas of noise pollution. Furthermore, the standard requires the timely rectification of any noise pollution violations.
The 12348-90 Noise Standard for Industrial Enterprises is a groundbreaking environmental standard in China, providing a major step in protecting workers and the environment from the increasing levels of noise pollution. The standard has promoted environmental protection efforts in the industrial sector and has provided key strategies to improve the quality of the work environment and reduce the health risks of workers.
