This expert opinion is to form a basis for experts and planners for the assessment of noise from sports facilities. It was developed by TÜV Norddeutschland (an association for technical inspection, section Northern Germany) by order of the Environment Ministry of Lower Saxony. Its aim is to determine the sound emissions depending on the type and size of a sports facility and to give assessment and noise protection indications.

What is measured is the noise from tennis courts, soccer grounds, school sports facilities and public soccer grounds as well as outdoor pools, model flying fields, motor sports facilities and ice stadiums. The expert opinion is based on numerous sound level measurements in the vicinity of sports and leisure facilities. It contains information on the measurement and assessment procedure as well as detailed results of sound level measurements at sports and leisure facilities. Some of the results are given below:

An impulse-weighted average sound level from 54 to 56 dB(A) is determined in a distance of 30 m from the ball fence of tennis courts with 3 to 8 courts. The measurements at smaller tennis courts reach up to 53 dB(A). The sound power level for each court can be assumed at 83 dB(A). An impulse addition of 10 dB(A) is necessary. For noise prognoses the expert opinion recommends to calculate the propagation according to VDI guideline 2714 (Outdoor sound propagation) taking the sound power level as emission value.

The average sound levels for soccer games range from 49 to 56 dB(A) in a distance of 50 m from the boundary of the playing field (less than 300 spectators). The maximum level for cries of goal reaches 80 dB(A) (200 spectators), the referee's whistle 75 dB(A) and the shouts and cheers of players and spectators between 60 and 70 dB(A). The expert opinion recommends a sound power level of 100 dB(A) for the noise prognosis of soccer games with one soccer field. The conspicuousness of the sounds requires an addition of 6 dB(A). Sound immissions shall be calculated according to VDI 2714. The noises from spectators must be considered separately.

Sound power levels between 88 and 95 dB(A) can be expected for each public soccer field. The conspicuousness of the sounds require an addition of 6 dB(A).

The sound power level for outdoor pools is determined at about 108 dB(A) for 600 to 1,000 bathers.