No L 300/142 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.11. 84 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound power level of welding generators (84/535/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas the 1973 and 1977 action programmes of the European Communities on the environment (4) reflect the importance of the problem of noise nuisance and in particular the need for action to regulate the worst noise sources; Whereas disparity between the measures already applicable or in preparation in the various Member States concerning the limitation of the sound emission level of welding generators creates unequal conditions of competition and thereby directly affect the functioning of the common market; whereas it is therefore appropriate to proceed in that field with the approximation of laws for which Article 100 of the Treaty provides; Whereas Council Directive 84/532/EEC of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for construction plant and equipment (°) laid down, in particular, the procedure for EEC type-examination; whereas it is necessary, pursuant to that Directive, to 1 ) O] No C 54, 8. 3. 1976, p. 63. 2) O] No C 125, 8. 6. 1976, p. 43. 3) O] No C 197, 23.'8. 1976, p. 11. %) O] No C 112, 20.12.1973, p. 1 and OJ No C 139, 13.6.1977, p. 1. (*) See page 111 of this Official Journal. ( ( ( ( prescribe the harmonized requirements which each category of equipment must satisfy; Whereas Council Directive 79/113/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measurement of the sound level of construction plant and equipment (¢), as amended by Council Directive 81/1051/EEC of 7 December 1981 (), laid down, in particular, the method which should be used for establishing the acoustic criteria for welding generators; Whereas owing to the effect of the noise emitted by welding generators on the environment and, more particularly, on human well-being and health, it is necessary to bring about a progressive and appreciable reduction in the permissible sound power level of welding generators; Whereas it is important to be able to regulate the use of welding generators in certain areas considered to be particularly sensitive so as to limit the nuisance caused by the airborne noise emitted by such welding generators; Whereas technical provisions must be adapted rapidly to technical advances; whereas it is necessary to this end to provide for the application of the procedure set out in ‘Article 5 of Directive 79/113/EEC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 1. This Directive applies to the permissible sound power level of welding generators used to perform work on civil engineering and building sites. 2. It is a separate Directive within the meaning of Article 3 (2) of Directive 84/532/EEC, hereinafter - referred to as the ‘framework Directive’. (¢) O] No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 15. (7) O] No L 376, 30.12. 1981, p. 49.