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    Reference: SG/E/2010/07
    Received Date: 14 July 2010
    Subject: Noise pollution caused by the new EIB/EIF Building, Luxembourg
    Complainant: Individual
    Allegations: Noise pollution from machinery on EIB/EIF building.
    Type: E - Environmental and social impacts of financed projects
    Outcome*: Friendly solution
    Suggestions for improvement: yes
    Admissibility*
    Assessment*
    Investigation*
    Dispute Resolution*
    Consultation*
    Closed*
    22/07/2010
    15/10/2010
    26/10/2010
    27/10/2010

    * Admissibility date reflects the date the case was officially registered. All other dates pertain to the date in which a stage was completed.

    Case Description

    The Complaint

    The technical equipment of the new EIB/EIF building produces noise, preventing residents in the area to rest or sleep at night. This noise might cause serious cardio-vascular, hearing, mental and neurological disorders. The EIB is requested to take effective and efficient action to stop the disturbing noise.

    The EIB-CM assessment & investigation

    According to the technical service of the Bank, the noise was produced by the ventilation system for the electrical transformers of the new EIB/EIF building. These ventilators are automatically activated when outside temperatures exceed 32o C. This happened twice during the summer holidays, on 2 and 3 July and from 11 to 13 July 2010. On these occasions, the ventilators’ sound might have been audible from the residences close to the EIB building.

    All cooling installations of the EIB meet the terms of the building permit of the new EIB/EIF building and local regulations and are certified by an external compliance office. The new EIB/EIF building had obtained all required certificates and had passed without reserves all necessary validations prior to its operation. The inconvenience to the complainant had been primarily due to the exceptional temperature of the days referred to above.

    The EIB technical unit, however, agreed to adjust the outside temperature that triggers the ventilation system to 40° C instead of 32° C, which will still guarantee a correct functioning and protection of EIB equipment. This is agreed to with a view to minimising inconvenience to the neighbours of the EIB premises.

    Conclusion

    In the light of the initiative & agreement of the EIB’s services EIB-CM considers that the proposed solution adequately addresses the complainant’s concern and proceeds to close the complaint with no recommendation