National Technical Regulation QCVN 27:2025/BNNMT for Vibration

QCVN 27:2025/BNNMT

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON VIBRATION

Foreword

QCVN 27:2025/BNNMT is compiled by the Department of Environment, proposed by the Department of Science and Technology, appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, and promulgated by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam under Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BNNMT dated May 15, 2025.

QCVN 27:2025/BNNMT replaces QCVN 27:2010/BTNMT.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON VIBRATION

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope

This Regulation provides for the permissible maximum limit of vibration acceleration levels (vibration levels) in affected areas where humans live, operate, and work to prevent potential effects of the vibration on human health, comfort, and perception.

This Regulation provides for vibration generated from production, business, and service facilities, construction works in progress, traffic vehicles, and civic activities.

This Regulation shall not be applied to assess vibration encountered in the labor environment or workplace or in the premises of production, construction, trade, and service facilities affected by their own vibration.

1.2. Regulated entities

This Regulation applies to environmental authorities, organizations, and individuals relevant to vibration generation in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

1.3. Interpretation of terms

1.3.1. Vibration in this regulation refers to strong shaking generated by devices, machinery, instruments, tools, and other sources, which affects specific areas and causes discomfort to humans.

1.3.2. Affected areas refer to areas where vibration measurement, monitoring, and control are carried out.

1.3.3. Production, business, and service facilities and civic activities that can cause vibration include:

1.3.3.1. Production, business, and service facilities and civic activities that use devices, machinery, instruments, and tools that generate vibration by capacity, type, and quantity are prescribed in the Appendix enclosed with this Regulation.

1.3.3.2. Production, business, and service facilities and civic activities that do not use devices, machinery, instruments, and tools that generate vibration by capacity, type, and quantity are prescribed in the Appendix enclosed with this Regulation.

1.3.4. Background vibration level refers to the vibration level measured at the measurement location of an affected area when no vibration is generated from the vibration source to be measured.

1.3.5. Vibration classification

- Continuous vibration refers to vibration generated continuously from a determined source within a specific duration without interruption;

- Impulsive vibration refers to vibration that peaks and decays abruptly over a short duration (less than 2 seconds) from a determined vibration source that may recur during the measurement duration;

- Intermittent vibration refers to vibration generated continuously from a determined vibration source that is interrupted for a specific duration, with each vibration generation lasting at least 2 seconds.  Intermittent vibration may be the combination of multiple impulsive vibrations.

1.3.6. Measurement duration refers to the duration used as the vibration generation duration during which the measurement is carried out continuously.

1.3.7. Vibration acceleration A refers to the time derivative of vibration velocity

1.3.8. Root mean square (r.m.s) value of vibration acceleration refers to the root mean square value of acceleration, measured directly using a vibration meter or determined using the following formula:

a_r.m.s: r.m.s value of vibration acceleration (m/s²)

a(t): vibration acceleration (m/s2)

T: measurement duration (s)

1.3.9. Equivalent peak value (EQ peak) refers to the average of the peak values of vibration acceleration over a specific duration.

1.3.10. Vibration acceleration (VL_A) refers to the unit in dB, calculated using the following formula:

A refers to vibration acceleration measured directly on the meter according to r.m.s or determined using the following formula:

A_n(m/s₂) refers to r.m.s vibration acceleration at frequency n (Hz);

a_n refers to coefficient at frequency band n (Hz), as guided in the Appendix of TCVN 6963:2001;

A₀ = 10^-5 m/s².

1.3.11. Calibrated vibration acceleration level (VL_w) refers to the vibration acceleration level after calibrating influencing factors according to each frequency band. 

1.3.12. Integral equivalent vibration acceleration level (VL_eq) refers to the average value of the calibrated vibration acceleration level over a specific duration. The equivalent vibration acceleration level shall be measured directly on an integral meter or determined using the following formula:

Where:

VL_w (t) refers to the equivalent vibration acceleration level over determined measurement duration (dB);

T: measurement duration.

1.3.13. 90th percentile vibration acceleration level (L90) refers to the vibration acceleration level that is exceeded for 90% of the measurement duration.

1.3.14. Maximum integral equivalent vibration acceleration level (VLmax) refers to the maximum value of the equivalent vibration level over a determined duration.

2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

2.1. Affected area classification

The classification of affected areas in this Regulation shall be carried out as follows:

2.1.1. Area A includes the following facilities and works:

- Educational institutions according to the Law on Education and vocational education institutions according to the Law on Vocational Education;

- Medical examination and treatment facilities according to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; senior care facilities according to the Law on the Elderly;

- Museums and libraries;

- Religious works;

- Offices of agencies of the CPV, National Assembly of Vietnam, Government of Vietnam, and President of Vietnam and offices of Ministries, central authorities, People’s Committees, and affiliates at various levels; headquarters of political organizations, socio-political organizations, and socio-vocational political organizations and headquarters and offices of organizations and individuals.

2.1.2. Area B includes the following facilities and works:

- Houses: apartment buildings and other types of collective houses; separate houses;

- Hotels, guesthouses, motels, and other accommodation service establishments.

2.1.3. Area C includes the following facilities and works:

- Outdoor and indoor works of sports;

- Parks;

- Conference centers, theaters, cultural houses, clubs, cinemas, circuses, dance halls, amusement/entertaining works, and other cultural works;

- Livestock, cultivation, and aquaculture facilities.

- Malls, supermarkets, markets, stores, restaurants, and other similar works.

2.1.4. Area D includes the following facilities and works:

- Airport, waterway, and railway terminals, bus stations, and parking lots;

- Concentrated production, business, and service areas and industrial works according to the law;

- National defense and security works that are not used for purposes similar to those of works in areas A, B, and C;

- Other works.

2.2. Permissible maximum value of vibration generated from production, business, and service facilities and civic activities according to Section 1.3.3.1 measured in affected areas

The permissible maximum value of vibration generated from production, business, and service facilities and civic activities according to Section 1 measured in affected areas is prescribed in Table 1.

Table 1. Permissible maximum value of vibration generated from production, business, and service facilities and civic activities according to Section 1.3.3.1

[Unit: dB]

Where:

It is permitted to adjust the permissible maximum value threshold for vibration generated from production, business, and service facilities and civic activities according to Section 1.3.3.1 as follows: 

Table 2. Adjustment values of thresholds according to vibration generation duration from production, business, and service facilities and civic activities according to Section 1.3.3.1

2.3. Permissible maximum value of vibration generated from other sources

The permissible maximum value of vibration generated from other sources is prescribed in Table 3.

Table 3. Permissible maximum value of vibration generated from other sources

[Unit: dB]

Note:

Where vibration is generated from construction sites in progress during the day, it is permitted to adjust the permissible maximum value threshold for generated vibration levels as follows: 

Table 4. Adjustment values of thresholds according to vibration generation duration during the day from construction sites in progress

2.4. Permissible maximum value for vibration generated from traffic vehicles

The permissible maximum value for vibration generated from traffic vehicles is prescribed in Table 5.

Table 5. Permissible maximum value for vibration generated from traffic vehicles

[Unit: dB]

2.5. Adjustment value based on background vibration level

Continuous background vibration level measurement shall be carried out in an affected area for at least 5 minutes, using results VL_eq as the background vibration level.

- Where the background vibration level is lower than the vibration level generated from the source to be measured from 10 dB or more, the vibration level measurement results shall be used for comparison and assessment according to the prescribed thresholds of this Regulation.

- Where the background vibration level is lower than the generated vibration level, and the difference between the background vibration level and the generation vibration level is lower than 10 dB, apply adjustment values to the vibration level measurement results as follows:

Table 6. Adjustment value of measurement results based on background vibration level

3. DETERMINATION METHODS

3.1. Vibration level measurement locations

- The measurement location is inside the boundary of an affected area;

- To determine the effect of vibration on public areas and areas where people live and operate, conduct measurement at specific points on the ground, floors, walls, road surfaces, or solid surfaces; it is also permitted to conduct the measurement at locations that may be most affected;

- The measurement location shall have the nature of general representativeness, provide accurate measurement results, and properly reflect the generated vibration.

3.2. Vibration level meters

- The meters must meet the technical characteristics for vibration level measurement; measurement frequency bands of meters must be able to measure vibration levels generated from the operations of production, business, and service facilities and activities causing vibration in domestic activities and vibration levels from traffic vehicles;

- Vibration meters must display the vibration acceleration A, integral equivalent vibration acceleration level (VL_eq), 90th percentile vibration acceleration level (VL₉₀), and maximum integral equivalent vibration acceleration level (VL_max).

3.3. Vibration level measurement conditions

- When conducting the measurement, it is necessary to avoid the impacts of other vibration sources aside from the vibrating subject to be measured, such as magnetic fields, strong winds, earthquakes, and other sources;

- The vibration measurement surface must be solid, such as concrete, ground, asphalt, or other similar surfaces;

3.4. Vibration level measurement duration

- The measurement duration must be adequate to ensure statistical accuracy and confirm that the measured vibration represents the affected subject being assessed.  The measurement duration must be written in the report.

- Vibration levels shall be measured continuously during the measurement for at least 15 minutes.  When conducting a continuous measurement, use the measurement duration as the vibration generation duration.

- Regarding impulsive vibration, the vibration level measurement shall be carried out for at least 15 minutes.  Where a 15-minute measurement does not obtain 10 measurement values, continue the measurement until there are 10 values.

3.5. Vibration level measurement methods

Vibration shall be measured simultaneously in all 3 perpendicular directions, ensuring that the direction exhibiting the highest vibration level is determined and the respective value is used for assessment. The methods for measuring vibration and shock levels shall comply with the following standards:

- TCVN 6963:2001 – Vibration and shock. Vibration emitted by construction works and factories. Method of measurement;

- TCVN 6964-1:2001 – Mechanical vibration and shock – Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 1: General requirements;

- TCVN 6964-2:2008 – Mechanical vibration and shock – Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 2: Vibration in buildings (1 Hz to 80 Hz).

3.6. Measurement results and conformity assessment

3.6.1. Regarding continuous vibration

The measurement results shall be used as the equivalent vibration acceleration level VLeq during the measurement duration to calculate and assess conformity with this regulation.

3.6.2. Regarding intermittent and impulsive vibration

The measurement results shall be calculated using the arithmetic mean of the peak vibration values from each occurrence regarding intermittent vibration or from each pulse as follows: 

- Measure the vibration levels during the duration where measurement is required and record the values of each occurrence of vibration;

- Determine the peak measurement value of each occurrence of vibration;

- Calculate the arithmetic mean of the peak vibration values from each occurrence of vibration.

The calculation results shall be used to assess conformity with this Regulation.

4. MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

4.1. The monitoring of vibration levels and use of monitoring results for state management objectives concerning environmental protection shall be carried out by organizations meeting the requirements and conditions for environmental monitoring capacity according to the law.

4.2. When conducting the measurement and assessment of the background vibration level, where the background vibration level measured in the affected area has VLeq higher than the respective level prescribed in this Regulation, refrain from conducting the assessment of vibration generated from the vibration source to be measured and adopt measures to reduce vibration generated to the affected area.  Vibration generation shall be assessed as complying and conforming with this Regulation when the vibration level measurement and monitoring results in the affected area do not exceed the respective permissible value prescribed in Section 2 on technical provisions.

4.3. When the vibration level in affected areas exceeds the respective permissible value prescribed in this Regulation, state management authorities, organizations, and individuals shall adopt measures to reduce the impacts of generated vibration on affected areas.

4.4. The results of the assessment of compliance and conformity with this Regulation shall be the ground for state management authorities to conduct assessment and handling according to the law.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

5.1. Organizations and individuals that may cause vibration shall ensure that the vibration levels generated to affected areas do not exceed the permissible limit prescribed in this Regulation.

5.2. State management authorities shall conduct vibration level measurement and monitoring in affected areas and develop comprehensive plans for vibration control, ensuring compliance with the permissible limit prescribed in this Regulation.

6. IMPLEMENTATION

6.1. Environmental authorities shall instruct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of this Regulation.

6.2. Where any document cited in this Regulation is amended or replaced, comply with its new edition./.

APPENDIX

List of types and quantities of devices generating vibration regarding production, business, and service facilities and civic activities

1. Non-hydraulic presses with a capacity of 15kW or more;

2. Grinders (including coarse and fine grinders) with a capacity of 22,5kW or more;

3. Forging machines with a capacity of 22,5kW or more;

4. Rice mills with a capacity of 22,5kW or more;

5. Wood processing machines (planers, cutters, grinders, CNC machines, and drills) with a capacity of 22,5kW or more;

6. Extrusion and injection molding machines with a capacity of 37,5kW or more;

7. Coal briquette machines with a capacity of 7,5kW or more;

8. At least 4 block and cement brick manufacturing machines.

Note: The capacity of devices, machinery, and tools generating vibration shall be calculated for 1 device.