Residents complain more often about the noise – MadeinVilnius.lt

Specialists of the National Public Health Center (NVSC), on the International Noise Awareness Day, celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of April, draw attention to the harm of noise to health and remind where to turn when nearby noise-emitting objects (for example, refrigeration, ventilation devices used in economic activities) do not give peace etc.), also called stationary sources of noise, the location of which does not change.

Noise has a negative effect on health, so when faced with situations where noise emanating from stationary noise sources interferes with rest, residents often turn to the NVSC, whose responsibility is to assess the noise level in the living environment and oblige the manager of the noise source to take measures to reduce noise.

Noise limits in residential and public buildings and their surroundings are set by the Lithuanian hygiene standard HN 33:2011 “Noise limits in residential and public buildings and their surroundings”. Please note that this hygiene standard does not apply to the evaluation of noise generated by and affecting the physical, legal person or branch itself, noise generated by people and animals, noise in workplaces and noise inside vehicles, and noise generated by household appliances (appliances).

in 2023 NVSC examined 158 noise complaints, of which 47 (30%) were justified. Compared to 2022, noise complaints in 2023 received more. The most complaints are received in Vilnius (46%), Kaunas (18%) and Klaipėda counties (11%). People mostly complained about the noise caused by economic activities – the ventilation, heating, refrigeration or cooling systems used.

After the measurements have been made and it has been established that the noise level actually exceeds the set limits, NVSC specialists contact the manager of the stationary noise source and instruct them to take steps to reduce it.

Unfortunately, NVSC specialists cannot help solve the problem of increased noise in all cases, because not all residents provide the necessary information, for example, they do not indicate the source of noise, the address of a specific place of residence or the time when they propose to carry out noise measurements. If the applicant does not provide the required information, the NVSC terminates the examination of the complaint.

Please note that due to the noise associated with disturbing public order, you need to contact the general emergency number 112. Such noise includes: shouting, whistling, loud singing or playing musical instruments, other sound devices, other noisy actions in streets, squares, parks, beaches, public transport and other public places, and in the evening (from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and at night (from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and in residential premises, companies, institutions or organizations, when it disturbs peace, rest or work.