CERN Acoustic Service
The CERN Acoustic Service, within the Environmental Protection section, provides advice and assistance to Departments and Experiments in their consideration of noise risks. Below is an overview of their services.
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Assist and advise the Departments and Experiments in their consideration of noise risks (Environmental and Occupational Health). |
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Mandate:
Expertise:Contact: acoustic.service@cern.ch
At a glance (click to view)
+ CERN’s Rules and Regulations
Environmental Noise
Noise Footprint Reduction Policy and Implementation Strategy (2102605) with the following commitments:
- No increase greater than +3 dB(A) at the CERN property boundary (Reference year: 2018)
- Annual measurement campaigns at the site limits
- Implementation of corrective action plans in case of exceedance
Noise Emission Memorandum (2339533). This memorandum:
- Ensures application of the noise footprint policy
- Reminds stakeholders of regulatory emergence limits at residential receptors
2030 Environmental objectives (3161491)
- Reduce residential “hotspots” where ambient noise caused by CERN installations exceeds 40 dB(A)
Noise at work
Safety Instruction – GSI-SH-4 “Protection of Workers Against Noise”
This General Safety Instruction defines CERN’s obligations for protecting workers from risks arising from noise exposure.
Safety Guide – SG-SH-4-0-1 “Noise in the Workplace”. This guide provides practical guidance for:
- Risk assessment of worker noise exposure
- Noise control and mitigation measures
- Implementation of GSI-SH-4
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Building Acoustics
The Acoustic Service ensures compliance with host state requirements:
- SIA 181 – Protection against noise in buildings (Switzerland)
- NF S 31-080 – Acoustic performance standards (France)
Where regulations do not apply, the objective is to:
Avoid any degradation of the existing acoustic situation.
+ COMPETENCIES
Measurement capabilities:
Sound pressure levels:
- Environmental noise at site boundaries and sensitive receptors
- Indoor ambient noise levels
- Construction noise levels
- Noise at work to identify hazardous noise zones (>80 dB(A))
Sound Power Level Measurements
- Characterisation of technical equipment (fans, chillers, pumps, electronics racks, etc.)
- Input data for environmental noise modelling
- Verification of supplier specifications
Automatic noise monitoring:
- Continuous unattended monitoring (remote systems)
- Correlation with operational activities
Building Acoustics – Sound Insulation Testing
- Façade insulation measurements
- Airborne sound insulation between rooms
- Verification of compliance with host state regulations
Reverberation Time Measurements
- Measurement of reverberation time (RT60) in enclosed spaces.
- Applications: Acoustic qualification of offices, meeting rooms, auditoria and technical spaces
Monitoring Equipment
- Brüel & Kjær omnidirectional sound source + amplifier
- 1 × B&K 2270 sound level meter:
- Reverberation time measurements
- Sound power level measurements
- 1 × 01dB Fusion sound level meter (handheld)
- 6 × 01dB Duo sound level meters (remote monitoring)
Software Tools
- CadnaA – Environmental noise modelling, calculation and prediction
- AirgiDB – HVAC acoustic calculations
- In-house acoustic calculation tools
SERVICES
Noise source characterisation |
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Noise monitoring |
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Ventilation noise |
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Noise power measurement |
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Noise screen solution |
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Noise modelling |
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Building acoustic measurement |
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Contact: acoustic.service@cern.ch
GIS: Noise Portal
The CERN Noise Portal is an integrated GIS-based platform that centralises acoustic data for environmental and occupational noise management.
Available data layers:
- Reference noise level at site boundaries (LdP) and annual noise footrprint results.
- Sound power levels of installations and technical equipment (source characterisation data).
- CERN noise footprint maps.
- Workplace noise map, highlighting hazardous noise areas exceeding 80 dB(A).
The platform supports decision-making, compliance monitoring, and long-term strategic planning.
References:
NuisoCERN – CERN Noise Footprint Management Tool
Purpose: Develop and maintain a comprehensive 3D acoustic model of all LHC and SPS sites at CERN.
CERN Acoustic service provided:
- A centralised acoustic database including:
- Source characteristics from datasheets
- On-site sound power measurements
- 3D environmental noise modelling
- Mitigation measures
- Noise footprint map
- Formal communication support with Swiss and French authorities
This tool supports long-term noise management and regulatory compliance.
The 3D model enables assessment of current and future noise impact, including integration of new projects.
Noise impact assessment for projects SXSN5, DAQ et HL-LHC at LHC PA5
Purpose: Several new CMS projects had the potential to exceed environmental noise limits and required a global noise impact assessment as part of the building permit (“Permis de Construire”) application.
CERN Acoustic service provided:
- Initial environmental noise modelling performed by HSE
- Appointment of an independent external noise consultant
- Preparation of an official noise impact report for submission to the authorities
- External consultant operating under HSE supervision
This ensured regulatory compliance and independent validation of results.
Noise characterisation for new CMS ATCA racks at LHC PA5
Purpose: Characterise the sound power levels of future CMS Phase-2 electronics racks housing ATCA crates.
CERN Acoustic service provided:
- Determination of sound power levels
- Prediction of resulting noise levels in room U2-404
- Identification of required mitigation measures
Construction Noise Impact Assessment for B60
Purpose: Assess and manage the acoustic impact of B60 major renovation works following concerns raised by the CERN community.
CERN Acoustic service provided:
- Analysis of the construction schedule
- Acoustic prediction for each construction phase
- Recommendations for noise mitigation measures
- Communication support and awareness for CERN community
Acoustic Design Phase Support for B60
Context: an external acoustic consultant was hired to perform the acoustic noise building assessment. CERN acoustic service supervised and reviewed the work to ensure technical accuracy and cost optimisation.
CERN Acoustic service provided:
- Supervision of the acoustic consultancy
- Review of technical specifications and acoustic reports
- Clarification of proposed implementation details
- Optimisation and challenge of acoustic performance requirements
Noise reduction for chillers for LHC7
Context: Due to the construction of a new residential buildings close to the site, preventive mitigation measures were implemented to reduce the noise impact of 2 chillers.
CERN acoustic service provided:
- Long-term noise monitoring to assess site noise levels under various operational conditions
- Analysis of chiller operation and correlation with measured noise levels
- Proposal of mitigation measures in collaboration with the equipment owner
- Technical review of mitigation concepts, specifications, and acoustic reports
- Noise surveys conducted within the future residential buildings
- Post-implementation long-term monitoring to confirm the effectiveness of the mitigation measures