Why Noise Certification Is Getting Harder to Ignore

Noise has moved from a secondary concern to a design requirement. Consumers seek out quieter products, retailers favor certified low noise options, and regulators keep lowering acceptable limits across product categories. For outdoor equipment sold in the EU, this is not a matter of preference: the Outdoor Noise Directive (2000/14/EC) sets mandatory sound power limits that must be met before a product can enter the market. Where noise originates from airflow, fans, or moving air, as with consumer appliances, HVAC units, outdoor power equipment, or electronics with active cooling, the outcome, whether pursuing a voluntary label or meeting a legal requirement, is largely determined early in the design process, before a prototype exists. A noise problem discovered after prototyping is expensive to fix, and by that point, few options remain.

Webinar Scope

12Simulate will demonstrate how aeroacoustics simulation predicts flow generated noise early in the design process, ahead of physical testing. Participants will see how simulation results connect to certification requirements, both voluntary labels such as Quiet Mark® and mandatory regulations such as the Outdoor Noise Directive, and how early identification of noise sources reduces the number of costly physical test iterations needed for certification or compliance.

Topics Covered

• Why flow generated noise resists prediction without simulation

• How aeroacoustics simulation models airflow and the noise it produces

• Connecting simulation results to certification metrics and thresholds

• Meeting Outdoor Noise Directive (2000/14/EC) sound power limits

• Identifying and ranking noise sources early in the design process

• Testing design changes virtually before committing to a prototype

• Cutting the number of physical test cycles needed for certification or compliance

• Examples across consumer appliances, HVAC, outdoor equipment, and electronics cooling

What Simulation Delivers

• Visibility into noise performance before a prototype exists

• Fewer costly physical test and redesign cycles

• Clear insight into which design features drive noise, and by how much

• A faster, more predictable route to certification or regulatory compliance

Who Should Attend?

• Engineers and product developers working on noise sensitive products

• Teams pursuing Quiet Mark® or similar noise certifications

• Manufacturers of outdoor equipment needing to meet Outdoor Noise Directive limits

• Anyone facing late-stage noise surprises during physical testing

• Product managers balancing noise performance against cost and schedule

Bonus for Attendees

• Participants receive 2 free days of aeroacoustic consultancy