From January 2025 a noise level limit will be imposed on the sirens of all new emergency service (fire brigade, police, ambulance) that enter service in Brussels. Between 7am and 10am the sirens will not be allowed to be any louder than 100 decibels, while at night (10pm to 7am) a 90-decibel noise limit will be in force. The announcement that noise levels produced by new police, ambulance and fire service vehicles will be limited from the beginning of 2025 was made by the Brussels Environment Minister Alain Maron (Francophone green) on Friday morning.
Noise limit for sirens on new emergency service vehicles in Brussels from January 2025
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The results of a survey carried out by the Brussels regional environment agency in 2017 showed that along with traffic noise and noise produced by aircraft flying over the capital, emergency service vehicle sirens are in the top 3 when it comes to noise nuisance issues that bother the people of Brussels.
The Brussels regional government has decided to act to address the issue. On Thursday the regional government decided that a noise limit should be imposed on the sirens of the new emergency service vehicles that enter service in the Brussels-Capital Region from January 2025.
Mr Maron told journalists that "Brussels residents should be able to live and relax in a quiet environment, both on the outskirts of the city and in the centre”.
A series of acoustic tests to ensure that the sirens of emergency vehicles will still be audible to other road users were carried out before deciding on level of the noise limit for the sirens.