August 10, 2017
A recent decree now requires nightclubs and festival and concert organizers to reduce their noise level, in order to protect the hearing of the public and the health of residents. What to expect
New standards reduce authorized decibels
A new Decree, dated August 7, 2017, “relating to the prevention of risks related to noise and amplified sounds”, was published in the Official Journal on August 9. The new regulations reduce the volume allowed in nightclubs, music festivals or concerts to 102 decibels, measured over 15 minutes, whereas it had been fixed since 1998 at 105 decibels. In establishments or at events for children aged 6 or under, the noise limit is set at 94 decibels.
Furthermore, the Decree includes several preventive measures : the places concerned must ” inform the public about hearing risks “,” make hearing protection available to the public free of charge “Of the earplug type and” create auditory rest areas or, failing that, provide auditory rest periods »During which the sound level will not exceed 80 decibels.
1,500 euros fine in case of violation
In case of violation, the penalties do not change: offenders will be liable to a fine of 1,500 euros, 3,000 euros in the event of a repeat offense, as well as the confiscation of sound equipment. The Decree also requires establishments to display “ continuously near the sound control system the sound levels in decibels (…) to which the public is exposed “.
France now has nearly 15% of people with hearing problems, according to the JNA association, which organizes every year on the occasion of National Hearing Day a prevention campaign on the risks related to noise. The fight against bad sound habits therefore required changes in French legislation, but a lot of work remains to be done to educate young people, in particular to the risks of listening to music for too long with headphones in their ears.
Aurélie Giraud
Read also: Nearly three in 10 children fall asleep with headphones
