The law and the noise of a swimming pool heat pump
Are heat pumps noisy? Yes, it's a fact! You should know that the regulations on neighborhood noise pollution also apply to the more or less significant operating noise that swimming pool heat pumps could emit. If the machine is too old, poorly maintained, of “low” quality or even poorly oriented… it could well cause some annoying and annoying sounds for the neighborhood.
What the law says?
According to article R.1334-31 of the public health code, it is stipulated that:
“No particular noise must, by its duration, repetition or intensity, harm the tranquility of the neighborhood or to the health of man, in a public or private place, whether a person is himself at the origin or whether it is through a person, a thing which he has custody or of an animal placed under his responsibility. »
… “of something in its care…” So, if the swimming pool heat pump is “noisy”, it is assimilated to behavioral noise, and the owner is responsible for it.
Properly adjusted, the sound level of a heat pump is between 45 and 65 dB. On the noise scale, this puts it at the same “height” as the noise of a normal conversation, a city apartment with an open window (50 dB(A)) or a bustling market (60 db( A)).
For a “classic” heat pump, the operating noise will be constant, from start-up until reaching the heating set point. The sound level can go up a notch when defrosting is triggered.
For an Inverter heat pump, the sound level decreases, the closer the water gets to the temperature of the set point, the more it is silent.
Noise pollution is measured in decibels. It is calculated relatively, according to a defined method. The regulations take into account ambient noise, including the noise in question in the residential area and the distance from the sound source. The difference between ambient noise and residual noise, which are the usual “normal” sounds, constitutes the harm and must not exceed 5 dB(A) between 7 and 10 p.m. and 3 dB(A) between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Ensuring that the swimming pool heat pump remains a “pleasure” and comfortable piece of equipment is easy and in fact this is the case most of the time. You just need to choose quality equipment, choose your location carefully, and follow the installation and maintenance instructions. Do not hesitate to seek advice from professionals, they will be delighted to provide you with their knowledge.
To avoid breaking the law and having clashes with your neighborhood, know what noise level for a swimming pool heat pump is acceptable and find out how to reduce the noise of swimming pool heat pumps.
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