The City of Bnei Brak is launching an enforcement campaign to
install noise meters at event halls throughout the city in
accordance with a directive by Mayor Rabbi Yissochor
Frankenthal to put a stop to high noise levels, which have
caused a nuisance and suffering for neighbors and people
attending the events themselves. The noise level will now be
limited to 85 decibels.
Municipal Secretary and Spokesman Rabbi Avrohom Tannenbaum
says the enforcement effort was made possible with the
enactment of business licensing regulations recently signed
and approved by Environmental Minister Gidon Ezra. The
campaign is being run by the Municipal Licensing Department,
headed by Councilman Rabbi Avrohom Partosh and Department
Director Rabbi Avrohom Blustein, and joins a series of
initiatives started by Mayor Frankenthal in coordination with
Rabbi Avrohom Rubinstein, deputy mayor and head of the
environmental department, to improve environment of the
city.
The foundation of the regulations is a directive requiring
all owners of events halls and outdoor venues to install a
noise meter, a microphone near the dance floor and an
electrical-current meter connected to the sound system and a
warning light.
The regulations call for a system that, following a 30-second
warning, automatically cuts off the electricity to the
amplification system when the noise level exceeds 85 decibels
in the seating areas.
In order to enforce the regulations, when filing for their
business license every year or on a date determined by the
municipality, event hall owners must submit a technical
report including a diagram of the hall, noting the locations
of the sound system, noise meter and microphone. They must
also list the calibration date of the noise meter, including
the times and places measurements were taken.
Hall owners who do not comply with the regulations will be
considered in violation of the licensing law and will receive
a court summons for operating a business without a license or
in violation of the licensing conditions.
Until recently there was no restriction on noise levels at
event halls and visitors, especially children and the
elderly, suffered health damage. Experts say this type of
noise can cause fatigue, anxiety, poor concentration, fear,
irregular heartbeats and increased blood pressure.
