Training to help with changes to Recreational Craft Directive
The recently (introduced Jan 2006) amendment to the Recreational Craft Directive has placed specific requirements on Boat builders and Engine Manufacturers to limit Noise emissions. The requirement applies to recreational craft with inboard or stern drive engines without integral exhaust, personal watercraft and outboard engines and stern drive engines with integral exhaust.
Although the requirement became a mandatory part of the RCD in January this year there is still a great deal of confusion and ignorance of the implications and what action is required from Boat builders going forward.
Halyard (M & I) Ltd, one of the World and UK’s leading manufacturers of exhaust silencing and noise and vibration control systems for marine engines has committed to ensuring that all of its staff and customers have an understanding and awareness of current legal requirements for noise and vibration when designing and building future models.
The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at University of Southampton has produced a Noise and Vibration Awareness Training Course which is being delivered initially as a pilot to Halyard staff and will soon be available to a wider audience of Boat builders and Designers.
Outline Content
- Fundamentals of acoustics
- Units of sound measurement
- Measurement of sound
- Intro to measurement equipment
- Spectral analysis
- Calibrating and robust measurement
- Intro to duct acoustics
- Reactive elements within an exhaust system
- Demo of characteristics of reactive elements
- Reliable onboard noise measurements and analysis
- Fundamentals of vibration & its units
- Reliable on board vibration measurement and analysis
The first two three hour sessions of this twelve part course have now been run and issues covered include a basic introduction to sound, its propagation and the basics of units of measure and their calculation and some examples and practical measurement of propagation.
The sessions are already proving hugely beneficial and the 8 Halyard staff taking part are already applying the knowledge gained with work they have in progress with Sunseeker and VT Halmatic.
If you would like to find out more or would be interested in taking part in future courses contact sdhanda@britishmarine.co.uk
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