EPA publishes guidance to enable businesses to meet their obligations under the environment protection framework. These publications range from explaining key concepts and provisions of environment protection to industry-specific environmental control guidance.
6.General noise resources
- Environment Protection Regulations 2021
- Unreasonable noise guidelines
- Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826)
- Technical guide: Measuring and analysing industry noise and music noise (publication 1997)
- Noise guidelines: Assessing low frequency noise (publication 1996)
- Summary of noise framework (publication 1757)
- Assessing and controlling risk: a guide for business (publication 1695)
- Reasonably practicable (publication 1856)
Source and control specific resources
EPA’s website provides information on controlling noise from business. It includes factsheets on:
- Acoustic louvres (publication 1885)
- Barriers and enclosures (publication 1886)
- Duct attenuators/silencers (publication 1887)
- Manage noise from reverse beepers (publication 1890)
- Manage truck noise (publication 1891)
- Mufflers/exhaust silencers (publication 1888)
- Pipe lagging (publication 1889)
- Site planning and management (publication 1884)
- Vibration isolation (publication 1892).
Industry-specific resources
EPA also publishes guidelines for industries including:
- Agriculture – Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1819)
- Civil construction, building and demolition guide (publication 1834)
- Construction - Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1820)
- Manufacturing – Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1822)
- Mining and quarrying – Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1823)
- Retail – Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1824)
- Waste and recycling – Guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1825)
- Wind Energy Facility Turbine Noise Regulation Guidelines.
Accessibility
Contact us if you need this information in an accessible format such as large print or audio.Please telephone 1300 372 842 or email contact@epa.vic.gov.au.
Interpreter assistance
If you need interpreter assistance or want this document translated, please call 131 450 and advise your preferred language. If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service.
Glossary of terms
Terms defined in the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
| Terms | References |
| aggravated noise | Act section 168, regulations 121, 127 and 131 |
| alternative assessment criterion | regulation 4 |
| alternative assessment criterion | regulation 4 |
| commercial, industrial and trade premises | regulation 4 |
| day period | regulation 116 |
| effective noise level | regulation 4 |
| evening period | regulation 116 |
| frequency | regulation 4 |
| frequency spectrum | regulation 4 |
| general environmental duty (GED) | Act section 25 |
| harm | Act section 4 |
| major urban area | regulation 4 |
| night period | regulation 116 |
| noise | Act section 3(1) |
| noise limit | regulation 4 |
| Noise Protocol | regulation 4 |
| noise sensitive area | regulation 4 |
| operating time periods | regulation 116 |
| pollution | Act section 3(1) |
| residential premises | Act section 165 |
| rural area | regulation 4 |
| unreasonable noise | Act section 3(1) |
Updated