Noise and Urban Acoustics

The issue of noise is addressed at the City Hall of Bratislava, the Capital City of Slovakia, in cooperation with several departments – the Chief Architect’s Department – the Department of Environmental Studies and Technical Infrastructure, the Transport Section, the Department of Traffic Engineering, the Construction Section, the Road Administration and Maintenance Section – the Department of Administration and Maintenance of Technical Facilities.

The Department of Environmental Studies and Technical Infrastructure provides materials for the territorial plan, opinions on various documentation from the perspective of noise and urban acoustics, and cooperation in resolving complaints and suggestions about excessive noise.

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council obliges EU Member States to draw up Strategic Noise Maps and Noise Protection Action Plans for larger agglomerations, roads, railways and airports every 5 years.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5(1)(d) of Act No. 2/2005 Coll., the City of Bratislava, as the municipality with the largest population in the agglomeration, whose borders were set by the Office of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region and currently includes, in addition to Bratislava, the municipalities of Chorvátsky Grob, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Bernolákovo and Most pri Bratislave, is responsible for the preparation of Strategic Noise Maps and Noise Protection Action Plans for the territory of the Bratislava agglomeration.

Strategic noise maps are the basis for the development of noise protection action plans; they are used as a source of information for the public and a source of data provided to the European Commission.

Noise Protection Action Plans of the Bratislava Agglomeration are based on Strategic Noise Maps. They show the noise conditions in the territory of Bratislava caused by noise from roads, railways, the airport and industrial noise sources and are aimed at solving problems related to excessive outdoor noise. They describe the results of noise mapping, show problem areas and propose short-term measures and a long-term noise reduction strategy.

In the context of noise protection, according to Act No. 355/2007 Coll., a citizen may contact the relevant Regional Public Health Authority.

Noise controls may only be carried out by the state health supervision. Local governments are not granted the authority to prohibit, permit, or control noise within the framework of the transferred state administration. Local governments are authorised to determine the level of exposure of residents and their environment to noise and vibrations, but this activity may only be performed by a professionally qualified person.

Natural persons – entrepreneurs and legal entities who use or operate sources of noise, infrasound or vibrations are obliged to ensure that the exposure of residents and their environment is as low as possible and does not exceed the permissible values for daytime, evening and night, established by the implementing regulation.