The Status of International Guidance and Standards for Environmental Noise Assessment

Since its first publication in 1971 of ISO/R 1996:1971 on Acoustics Assessment of Noise with Respect to Community Response, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed and published a range of standards for environmental noise assessment. The main ISO 1996 series of standards on Description, Measurement and Assessment of Environmental Noise has been developed in phases. And almost 30 years ago, ISO 9613 Attenuation of Sound During Propagation Outdoors was added. More recently, supporting standards such as the ISO PAS 20065 Objective Method for Assessing the Audibility of Tones in Noise and the ISO 17534 series concerning Software for the Calculation of Sound Outdoors have been added, and cooperation initiated with the International Electrotechnical Commission on the IEC 61400-11-2 Assessment of Wind Turbines Noise at receptor positions. This paper provides an overview of ISO standards related to environmental noise assessment. It also describes the historical development of the ISO 1996 series and related standards. Current developments, including their status, are described. Finally, it provides some suggestions and considerations for further research.