C-24.2, r. 9.001 - Regulation respecting the control of sound emissions produced by the exhaust system of motorcycles and mopeds

Updated to 1 October 2024

This document has official status.

chapter C-24.2, r. 9.001

Regulation respecting the control of sound emissions produced by the exhaust system of motorcycles and mopeds

Highway Safety Code

(chapter C-24.2, s. 621, 1st par., subpars. 27.1 and 27.2).

CHAPTER I DEFINITIONS

O.C. 588-2019, c. I.

1. In this Regulation,

“dBA” (A-weighted decibel) means the value, in decibels, of the sound pressure level measured using the A-weighted frequency and defined in ISO Standard 1996-1: 2016 published by the International Organization for Standardization or ANSI/ASA Standard S1.4-2014 published by the American National Standards Institute and IEC Standard 61672-1: 2013 published by the International Electrotechnical Commission; (dBA)

“engine speed” or “rotational speed of the engine” means the rotational speed of the engine expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM); (régime moteur) (vitesse de rotation du moteur);

“method where the engine is idling” means the method that consists in measuring the sound level where the engine is running but the throttle is not activated; (méthode où le moteur tourne au ralenti)

“method where the engine runs at a constant speed” means the method that consists in maintaining, during measurement, the rotational speed of the engine at a determined value; (méthode où le moteur tourne à vitesse constante)

“method where the engine runs at a variable speed” means the method that consists in progressively increasing, during measurement, the rotational speed of the engine, from idle speed to a determined value; idle speed is where the engine is running but the throttle is not activated; (méthode où le moteur tourne à vitesse variable).

“series of measurements” means a set of measurements taken with the same sound level meter, on the same premises, on the same day, by the same peace officers and in similar conditions; that set of measurements may concern a number of motorcycles and mopeds. (série de mesures)

O.C. 588-2019, s. 1.

CHAPTER II MAXIMUM SOUND EMISSION VALUES

O.C. 588-2019, c. II.

2. The sound emission values that may be produced by a motorcycle’s or moped’s exhaust system above which no owner of the vehicle may drive the vehicle or allow it to be driven are determined according to the classes of road vehicles and measurement methods used, as indicated in the table below:

Classes of road vehicles and measurement methods		Values measured in dBA (A-weighted decibels)
	methods where the engine runs at a constant or variable speed	100
motorcycle
	method where the engine is idling	92
	methods where the engine runs at a constant or variable speed	90
moped
	method where the engine is idling	82

O.C. 588-2019, s. 2.

CHAPTER III MEASUREMENT METHODS

O.C. 588-2019, c. III.

3. The measurement of sound emissions produced by a motorcycle’s or moped’s exhaust system is carried out while the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running, at its operating temperature, by first applying the method where the engine runs at a constant speed.

If it is impossible to maintain the rotational speed of the engine as indicated in paragraph 4 of section 4, the measurement is carried out by applying the method where the engine runs at a variable speed.

If it is impossible to increase the rotational speed of the engine as indicated in paragraph 5 of section 4, the measurement is carried out by applying the method where the engine is idling.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 3.

CHAPTER IV PROCEDURE FOR THE MEASUREMENT

O.C. 588-2019, c. IV.

4. When required to do so by a peace officer, the driver of a motorcycle or moped must help in measuring the sound emissions produced by the exhaust system of the driver’s vehicle by performing the following:

(1)  in the case of a motorcycle with a transmission having a neutral position,

(a)  sit on the vehicle’s seat;

(b)  put the transmission in the neutral position;

(c)  ensure the stability of the vehicle in the upright position;

(2)  in the case of a motorcycle with an automatic transmission having no neutral position and a moped,

(a)  let the vehicle rest on its centre stand;

(b)  ensure the stability of the vehicle in the upright position;

(c)  lift the back wheel from the ground so that it can turn freely;

(d)  straddle the vehicle without sitting on it or, if the driver is unable to do so, stand beside the vehicle on the opposite side from where the measurement is carried out;

(3)  in the case where the vehicle has a control system that may affect the sound emissions of the exhaust system, adjust the system in the position giving the maximum noise;

(4)  where the measurement method where the engine runs at a constant speed is applied, activate the throttle of the vehicle in order to reach and maintain for at least 2 seconds the rotational speed of the engine to the value determined in section 6;

(5)  where the measurement method where the engine runs at a variable speed is applied, activate the throttle of the vehicle in order to increase progressively for at least 2 seconds the rotational speed of the engine from the idle engine speed, up to the value determined in section 6;

(6)  where the measurement method where the engine is idling is applied, let the engine of the vehicle idle.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 4.

5. Where the measurement method with the engine at a constant speed or the measurement method with the engine at a variable speed is applied, the rotational speed of the engine must be verified with an external tachometer that complies with the requirements described in paragraph 3 of section 9. If it is impossible to use an external tachometer, in particular because the environment or configuration of the vehicle does not allow it, the tachometer of the vehicle may be used.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 5.

6. For the purposes of paragraphs 4 and 5 of section 4, the value of the rotational speed of the engine to be reached is determined as follows:

(1)  the rotational speed of the engine of a motorcycle with a transmission having a neutral position is, according to the number of cylinders:

Values expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM) according to the number of cylinders of the engine
1, 2 or 6 cylinders	2,500 (± 250)
3 or 4 cylinders	5,000 (± 250)

(2)  the rotational speed of the engine of a motorcycle with an automatic transmission having no neutral position and a moped is, according to the class of road vehicle:

Values expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM) according to the class of road vehicle
motorcycle	4,000 (± 250)
moped	5,000 (± 250)

O.C. 588-2019, s. 6.

7. The measurement of sound emissions produced by a motorcycle’s or moped’s exhaust system is carried out using a sound level meter that complies with the requirements described in paragraph 1 of section 9.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 7.

8. The calibration of the sound level meter used to measure sound emissions produced by a motorcycle’s or moped’s exhaust system must be verified using a sound calibrator that complies with the requirements described in paragraph 2 of section 9 immediately before and after a series of measurements and, in the case where a series of measurements lasts more than 1 hour, it must also be verified so that not more than 1 hour has elapsed since the last verification.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 8.

CHAPTER V SOUND LEVEL METERS AND OTHER MEASURING INSTRUMENTS TO BE USED

O.C. 588-2019, c. V.

DIVISION I TECHNICAL STANDARDS

O.C. 588-2019, Div. I.

9. Sound emissions produced by a motorcycle’s or moped’s exhaust system are measured using the following instruments:

(1)  a class 1 sound level meter that complies with IEC Standard 61672-1: 2002 published by the International Electrotechnical Commission or a type 1 or type 2 sound level meter that complies with the requirements of ANSI Standard S1.4-1983 (R2006) (including amendment S1.4a-1985) published by the American National Standards Institute, having the A-frequency weighting and F-time weighting and having the capacity to memorize the maximum value of sound emissions happening during measurement;

(2)  a class 1 sound calibrator that complies with IEC Standard 60942: 2003 published by the International Electrotechnical Commission or a class 1 sound calibrator that complies with the requirements of ANSI Standard S1.40-2006 published by the American National Standards Institute, allowing to calibrate the sound level meter. A pistonphone or the internal device of a sound level meter may not be used to calibrate a sound level meter;

(3)  an external tachometer allowing measurement of the rotational speed of the engine having a precision of more or less 3% and equipped with a mechanical, electromagnetic or acoustic sensor.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 9.

DIVISION II VERIFICATION OF THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF SOUND LEVEL METERS AND SOUND CALIBRATORS

O.C. 588-2019, Div. II.

10. The proper functioning of the sound level meters and sound calibrators described in Division I of this Chapter must be verified by a laboratory performing traceable calibrations at the intervals determined by the manufacturer. Failing the indication by the manufacturer of such verification, the proper functioning of those instruments must be verified as follows:

(1)  for a sound level meter, in the 24 months preceding its last use;

(2)  for a sound calibrator, in the 12 months preceding its last use.

O.C. 588-2019, s. 10.

CHAPTER VI FINAL

O.C. 588-2019, c. VI.

11. (Omitted).

O.C. 588-2019, s. 11.

REFERENCES

O.C. 588-2019, 2019 G.O. 2, 1083