Quiet Mark (certification)

Quiet Mark is a UK-based international certification programme for products assessed as having lower noise output or effective noise-reduction performance.

History

Poppy Szkiler and Gloria Elliott founded the programme in 2011. Quiet Mark is associated with the Noise Abatement Society. It is federally registered as a certification mark in the United States.

In 2017, the European Environment Agency identified Quiet Mark as a consumer labelling scheme for choosing quieter appliances. A 2021 BBC News report on household appliance noise described testing at Quiet Mark’s laboratory and examined the limitations of decibel-based comparisons for consumers. Writing in The Telegraph in 2025, journalist Susie Mesure reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated manufacturers’ investment in quieter products, as home working made people more aware of noise in their homes. The Financial Times has also covered Quiet Mark in the context of growing demand for quieter homes and products, and in a 2026 feature testing Quiet Mark-recommended consumer products.

Certification criteria

The programme certifies household appliances, technology and building products. Its assessment process covers both sound level and sound quality, not just decibel measurements, because sounds of similar loudness can differ in pitch and tonal character. Certified categories include kitchen appliances, laundry machines, fans, garden equipment, heating systems (including heat pumps), and acoustic building products such as flooring and wall panels.

References

  1. ↑ Lisbona, Natalie (28 March 2022). "Beating noise pollution with smart tech". BBC News. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Quiet Mark celebrates 10 years of campaigning for quieter homes". ERT. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Lossau, Norbert (29 November 2017). "Ich habe das Wunder der Heilung durch Stille erfahren" [I have experienced the miracle of healing through silence.]. WELT (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Benedetti, Ginevra (17 May 2025). "Find appliance noises irritating? This is what you need to look for to ensure a quieter home". Ideal Home. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Marsden, Rhodri (27 July 2026). "Does Yamaha's silent violin really work?". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Quiet Mark, Registration No. 7,376,845". United States Patent and Trademark Office. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Noise pollution in the spotlight". European Environment Agency. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 Kleinman, Zoe (31 May 2021). "Noisy appliances: How loud is your house?". BBC News. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Mesure, Susie (16 November 2025). "I went in search of the ultimate modern luxury – total silence". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Jones, Ioan Marc (2 January 2026). "The quest for quiet in a dangerously noisy world". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  11. ↑ Hilton, David (1 May 2024). "Our expert takes an honest look at the pros and cons of air source heat pumps". Homebuilding & Renovating. Retrieved 11 October 2026.