Espoo reduces noise nuisance from outdoor events by limiting their number, duration and bass noise
The City of Espoo has created rules for outdoor events held in the city. Depending on the location, only a certain number of events can be organised, and they have to end by a certain time. Bass noise is also controlled, and local residents are informed of events.
As a rule, outdoor events in all venues in Espoo end by midnight. In addition, a venue can host events that end after 22:00 on four days each year. Espoo’s Environment and Building Control Committee established guidelines on the number of events and their ending times at the end of last year. The venues mentioned in the guidelines include the Tapiola sports park, Haukilahti marina and Vermo racecourse.
“The guidelines help us assess in advance how much noise events in different locations can cause in the densely built-up urban environment,” says Environmental Inspector Eero Lahtela from the City of Espoo’s Environmental Protection Unit.
Noise reduction through regulations
This summer, Espoo will host about ten major open-air concerts that will cause temporary noise nuisance in the areas. The organiser must submit a notification of noise concerning its event, and Espoo’s Environmental Protection Unit will make a decision based on the notification.
“Event noise is reduced through regulations set in the decision, so that the disturbance is not unreasonable for local residents. Our decisions are based on the committee’s guidelines, and we want to safeguard residents’ right to a healthy and safe environment,” Lahtela says.
Controlling low frequencies continues
Another effective way of reducing the noise nuisance caused by outdoor events is controlling the low frequencies of music. Last year, Espoo implemented the C frequency weighting when determining limits for bass frequencies. The pounding of the bass carries further than, for example, singing and other higher frequencies, which are measured using the A frequency weighting.
Using these two frequency weightings together reduces event-related noise nuisance better than the commonly used A frequency weighting alone. As far as we know, Espoo is the only city in Finland to use this method to mitigate problems caused by low-frequency music noise.
“Espoo is constantly looking for ways to reduce noise nuisance caused by outdoor events. The committee’s guidelines and controlling low frequencies are steps in the right direction in reconciling events and residential areas in the growing city,” Lahtela says.
The organisers of open-air concerts that cause a great deal of noise nuisance inform local residents of their upcoming events. You can also find all summer events in the Espoo event calendar.
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