Environment news

The environment sector

Environmental standards have been developed to address a range of environmental management issues and to outline a minimum level of environmental protection. The documents are wide ranging covering everything from use of land, water quality, and noise pollution. They have been developed in partnership with organisations such as ERMA, EECA, and the Ministry for the Environment.

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• Standards Published (8)

  • 05 May 2020

    • AS/NZS 3580.18:2017 Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air Method 18: Measurement of road tunnel air quality

      Objective of this Standard is to provide regulatory and testing bodies with standard methods for continuously monitoring air in road tunnels for air velocity, carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and visibility.

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  • 19 March 2019

    • AS/NZS ISO 6394:2019 Earth-moving machinery - Determination of emission sound pressure level at operator’s position - Stationary test conditions

      Specifies a method for determining the emission sound pressure level of earth-moving machinery at the operator's position, measured in terms of the time-averaged A-weighted emission sound pressure level while the machine is stationary with the engine operating at the rated speed under no-load condi­tions. It is applicable to earth-moving machinery as defined in ISO 6165 and specified in ISO 6393:2008, Annex A. Identical to and reproduced from ISO 6394:2008.

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  • 12 March 2019

    • AS/NZS ISO 8253.1:2019 Acoustics - Audiometric test methods - Part 1: Pure-tone air and bone conduction audiometry

      Specifies procedures and requirements for pure-tone air conduction and bone conduction threshold audiometry. For screening purposes, only pure-tone air conduction audiometric test methods are specified. It is possible that the procedures are not appropriate for special populations, e.g. very young children. This standard does not cover audiometric procedures to be carried out at levels above the hearing threshold levels of the subjects. Procedures and requirements for speech audiometry, electrophysiological audiometry, and where loudspeakers are used as a sound source are not specified. Identical to and reproduced from ISO 8253-1:2010.

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    • AS/NZS ISO 8253.2:2019 Acoustics - Audiometric test methods - Part 2: Sound field audiometry with pure-tone and narrow-band test signals

      Specifies relevant test signal characteristics, requirements for free, diffuse, and quasi-free sound fields, and procedures for sound field audiometry using pure tones, frequency-modulated tones or other narrow-band test signals presented by means of one or more loudspeakers. The primary purpose is the determination of hearing threshold levels in the frequency range 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz, but this range can be extended to 20 Hz to 16 000 Hz. This standard does not include specifications for the use of hand-held loudspeakers. Speech as a test signal is not covered. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that tests of hearing, using sound field audiometry, give as high a degree of accuracy and reproducibility as possible. Identical to and reproduced from ISO 8253-2:2009.

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    • AS/NZS ISO 8253.3:2019 Acoustics - Audiometric test methods - Part 3: Speech audiometry

      Specifies basic methods for speech recognition tests for audiological applications. In order to ensure minimum requirements of precision and comparability between different test procedures including speech recognition tests in different languages, this standard specifies requirements for the composition, validation and evaluation of speech test materials, and the realisation of speech recognition tests. This standard does not specify the contents of the speech material because of the variety of languages. Furthermore, this standard also specifies the determination of reference values and fulfilment requirements for the realisation and manner of presentation. Identical to and reproduced from ISO 8253-3:2012.

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  • 26 February 2019

    • AS/NZS IEC 61672.1:2019 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Part 1: Specifications

      Gives electroacoustical performance specifications for three kinds of sound measuring instruments: time-weighting sound level meters that measure exponential-time-weighted, frequency-weighted sound levels; integrating-averaging sound level meters that measure time-averaged, frequency-weighted sound levels; and integrating sound level meters that measure frequency-weighted sound exposure levels. Sound level meters specified in this standard are intended to measure sounds generally in the range of human hearing. Two performance categories, class 1 and class 2, are specified. Acceptance limits for class 2 are greater than, or equal to, those for class 1. This standard is applicable to a range of designs for sound level meters. Sound level meters may include extensive analogue or digital signal processing, separately or in combination, with multiple analogue and digital outputs. Sound level meters may include general-purpose computers, recorders, printers, and other devices that form a necessary part of the complete instrument. Identical to and reproduced from IEC 61672-1:2013 Ed 2.0.

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    • AS/NZS IEC 61672.2:2019 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Part 2: Pattern evaluation tests

      Provides details of the tests necessary to verify conformance to all mandatory specifications given in IEC 61672.1 for time-weighting sound level meters, integrating-averaging sound level meters, and integrating sound level meters. Pattern evaluation tests apply for each channel of a multi-channel sound level meter, as necessary. Tests and test methods are applicable to class 1 and class 2 sound level meters. The aim is to ensure that all laboratories use consistent methods to perform pattern evaluation tests. Identical with and reproduced from IEC 61672-2:2013 Ed 2.1.

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    • AS/NZS IEC 61672.3:2019 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Part 3: Periodic tests

      Describes procedures for periodic testing of time-weighting, integrating-averaging, and integrating sound level meters that were designed to conform to the class 1 or class 2 specifications of the second edition of IEC 61672.1. The aim of this standard is to ensure that periodic testing is performed in a consistent manner by all laboratories. The purpose of periodic testing is to ensure the user that the performance of a sound level meter conforms to the applicable specifications of IEC 61672.1 for a limited set of key tests and for the environmental conditions under which the tests were performed. Identical with and reproduced from IEC 61672-3:2013 (ED 2.0).

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• Withdrawals and Proposals to Withdraw (2)

  • 01 February 2020

    • HB 145-1999 Case studies - Environmental performance evaluation

      Withdrawn 29 January 2020

  • 02 September 2019

    • SAA/SNZ HB 145:1999 Case studies - Environmental performance evaluation

      This standard was last updated at least 10 years ago. Standards New Zealand would like your feedback on whether this standard should be maintained. We would also like to know if any other standard sufficiently covers its content. If you wish to comment on this proposal to withdraw, please email AgedCatalogueReview@mbie.govt.nz by 14 October 2019.