The standards and functional requirements for anti-noise devices won’t do the job on their own. What is more important is the quality of materials used, acoustic efficiency and architectonic adaptation of noise barriers to their surroundings. The durability, aesthetic aspect and acoustic efficiency rather than a unit price should be decisive at the moment a project is carried out. If an investor forgets about it, they will not develop good relations in their local community. And „sustainable development” will remain an empty slogan – explains Giovanni Brero (GB), the President of the European Noise Barrier Foundation.

Maciej Zakrzewski (MZ), CEO of Alfa Bond Kohlhauer Sp. z o.o.: Europe goes for ecology and fights against climate changes and noise emissions. The President of Poland approved an amendment of the Environmental Protection Act which implements directives on common noise assessment methods. The main purpose of the Act on Amendment of the Environmental Protection Act and other acts of laws, of 9 June 2022, signed by the President, is to implement the following EU directives regarding noise emission level assessment: (EU) Directive 2021/1226 of 21 December 2020 and Commission Directive (EU) 2020/367 of 4 March 2020. What does it mean for the Polish market? What does it mean for us, companies specialized in reducing noise levels? 

Giovanni Brero (GB), President of the European Noise Barrier Foundation (ENBF): EU Directives are related to noise assessment criteria. Their implementation will result in an extra work for acousticians and more software and instruments required for assessment of noise levels in the environment will be sold. However, at the first stage, the implementation of the new directives will not make the market more attractive for noise barrier manufacturers.  

MZ: In Poland the amendment of the Environmental Protection Act has been regarded as a relief for local communities, a challenge for investors and an opportunity for the sector representatives. It is assumed in the amendment that the authorities in charge of the main roads, railways and airports as well as the presidents of cities with more than 100 thousand inhabitants will have to apply updated noise assessment methods defined in the EU regulations. 

GB: My organization represents the industrial sector. In ENBF we act on behalf of noise barrier manufacturers. The noise generated by transport and industry is becoming an increasingly serious problem in EU countries. The EU authorities are aware of the issue and have been making quite an effort for some time to prevent it or at least reduce it to acceptable levels. EU Directives are a sort of guidelines for EU member states. They impose on those countries i.a. the duty to develop and publish noise maps and noise management action plans, which results in extra work for acousticians and consultants dealing with tons of papers and gigabytes of data and send them to Brussels. It is obvious that EU officials care about what happens in EU countries. In the end they are always interested in whether the directives have been implemented. And that process takes its time.  

In terms of ecology, climate changes and noise Europe is not homogenous. There are countries where EU guidelines are ignored or where their implementation goes slowly. And then there are other countries which lead the European war against noise – like Germany or Austria. Therefore, ENBF is interested in implementation rather than in legislation. Or, rather I should say, in what happens after that implementation, that is their application in practice. 

MZ: What does the process look like in Poland? What kind of impressions do you have when you look at noise barriers in our country? 

GB: Poland is a peculiar market. Plenty of interesting things have happened in your country within the last few years when it comes to noise prevention. Noise barriers are everywhere, because there are plenty of new projects in your country. There are a lot of new roads and railways. There are also older roads and thoroughfares which are or will be renovated. But there is still much to do in this aspect. And not only in this one. Poland should favor first and foremost the quality and durability of noise prevention solutions, which results in a lower social cost in the long term. 

Not all noise barriers in Poland are durable and beautiful. But they have been built, so everything is fine in theory. The problem is when after a couple of years those barriers start decaying and become real eyesores. This is why we, the representatives of this sector, explain that red tape will not solve people’s problems. We must be effective, from designing engineers through investors to contractors. Personally, I believe that sometimes it’s better to do less, but in such a way that everybody is happy with the effect.  I suggest paying more attention to design and durability. If an investor fails to prepare the adequate requirements for noise barrier designs taking into account quality, durability, appropriate acoustic efficiency as well as aesthetic aspect, they will not develop good relations with their local community. 

MZ: Which goals do you set for yourself in the future ?

GB: The requirements for construction of noise barriers are defined in European EN standards. The EU regulations are very demanding. Hence, we introduce some modifications as to the methods of measurement of acoustic and statistical properties. In the future we will have tools for assessment of sustainability in terms of protection against noise.  

I think that noise barriers are one of the first products which will have to take into consideration the principle of sustainability on the markets of European leaders. We, as an environment, are already adapting ourselves to those trends. In September in Bologna we worked in ENBF on solutions with a team of experts and practicians. We will present our conclusions to designers, but first of all to investors. Because there are plenty of companies in the market which truly care for the protection of our planet and want to build better, in an eco-friendly way. Why should they not do it? It is our duty to help them.

I’ll give you an example. Some leaders are already starting to pay attention to the origins of a raw material, to the distance it travelled, to its carbon footprint. They know that in the long term it will be better for all of us if all resources come from local suppliers who meet specific environmental standards. The European mentality is changing. Today transport, energy savings, better quality of production processes, shorter supply chains become more and more important in business. It is not enough to play the sustainability card or design your company website in green colors. What matters is real action. 

MZ: What about the mentality of people whose houses are located next to roads, railways or factories? Is it changing?  

GB: The answer to this question is complex, cause the experiences of a lot of people with noise barriers are not that good. First, aesthetics.  I have already talked about it. Second, they do not always get what they have expected. People expect functional solutions and are rarely interested in details. They want to live in comfort and silence. It is not difficult to build a noise barrier. But such a barrier should meet the requirements, fit in its surroundings and not generate extra costs for repair or replacement works. Unfortunately, quality has not always gone hand in hand with the pressure to get the things done for as little money as possible. This is the most serious downside of the „design and build” market and this is exactly the kind of market you have in Poland. 

I believe it is necessary to differentiate between noise barriers installed for new infrastructures and for those already existing. In the first case general contractors always search for the lowest price. Generally speaking, the only preventive measure are at this point well prepared terms of reference. Terms of reference have to include a description of products and procedure of their installation which is quite often neglected. 

MZ: How will noise barriers evolve in the future? 

GB: Undoubtedly photovoltaics will be integrated more and more often with noise barriers. I second that, but I believe that photovoltaic systems should be installed in the places where they can become the most effective. Infrastructure should be designed in an integrated way and noise barriers will become an element of the smart infrastructure system. In the future we will build smart roads for electric and autonomous cars. The road traffic regulations will evolve just like the main sources of noise. On express ways and highways tyres will remain the main source of noise. In cities where, at lower speed, engines are a source of noise, the problem will not be that serious. We will simply face different kind of challenges. 

MZ: Mr President, thank you very much for the interview.

GB: Thank you as well.