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Construction Noise Control

« Noise Control Ordinance » (Chapter 400)

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Content «Noise Control

Ordinance»

Product noise control

Construction noise control

Construction noise permit application

Enforcement practices

Form 4Noise Control Ordinance

(Chapter 400)Construction Noise Permit Application

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• Product noise control

• Construction noise

• Neighbourhood noise

• Industrial / commercial noise

• Neighbourhood noise

• Industrial / commercial noise

«Noise Control Ordinance»

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Product Noise Control

• To phase out noisy products

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• ‘Prescribed’ products for control:• Air compressors• Hand held

breakers

• is required for their use

Green Label

• To phase out noisy products

Product Noise Control

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Construction Noise Control

• Percussive Piling• General Works

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The Construction Noise Permit (CNP) System

Percussive Piling General Works

Hours GeneralHolidays

Weekdays GeneralHolidays

Weekdays

0000-0700 CNP CNP

0700-1900 CNP CNP

1900-2400 CNP CNP

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Percussive Piling Control

• 0700-1900 hours on non-holidays

• CNP Required

• Banned during other times

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«Technical Memorandum for CNP assessment»

• Refuse or issue CNP for 3, 5 or 12-hour

• Piling hours to suit schools & exams

Percussive Piling CNP

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• Tightened controls on noisy hammers

(e.g. : Diesel piling hammer)

• CNP for noisy hammers would be refused (Provision for special cases)

Percussive Piling CNP

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PME (Powered Mechanical

Equipment)

– General control for the whole territory

General Works

SPME (Specified Powered

Mechanical Equipment)

PCW (Prescribed

Construction Work)

– Stricter requirement within designated areas (e.g. major housing estates)

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• Hand-held percussive breaker

• Bulldozer

General WorksSpecified Powered Mechanical Equipment

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• Concrete lorry mixer• Dump truck• Vibratory poker

Specified Powered Mechanical Equipment

General Works

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Prescribed Construction Work (PCW)

• Erection / dismantling of

formwork / scaffolding

• Loading / unloading /

handling of rubble, wooden

boards, steel bars wood or

scaffolding material

• Hammering

General Works

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Quiet Method of Prescribed Construction Work • Disposal of rubble through

plastic chutes

General Works

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CNP Assessment• Technical memoranda

for assessment

• Assess noise impact on nearby Noise Sensitive Receivers

• Correction for multi- sites

• Complaints / legal actions are taken into consideration

General Works

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Construction Noise Control Philosophy

• Daytime - no CNP control on GW

• Nighttime - people have the right of peace

for rest

• No CNP granted unless really necessary

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CNP Applications

• Fully utilize the less noise sensitive hours

• Apply only if really necessary

• Self - assess before applying

• Apply well in advance

• Provide relevant information

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– Meeting noise requirements

– No prohibited activities

– Unavoidable constraints on working

hours

• Justification required

• Quietest means + Practical noise

mitigation measures

CNP Assessment

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Quiet Construction Work

Modern wire saw for concrete cutting 16 dB(A) lower than excavator mounted breaker

Use Quieter Equipment

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Hydraulic crusher for demolition 20 dB(A) lower than excavator

mounted breaker

Hydraulic piling hammerreduce 2-9 dB(A)

Quiet Construction Work Use Quieter Equipment

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6 m barrier for pre-bored machines reduce 3 dB(A)

Acoustic enclosure forbreaker reduce 3-5 dB(A)

Enclosure effectively reduced noise from generator

Enclosure / Barriers

Quiet Construction Work Use Quieter Equipment

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Specific design noise enclosure

Container used as noise enclosure

Quiet Construction Work

Enclosure / Barriers

Use Quieter Equipment

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Control of the flow of people during holiday

Communication with Neighbours

Good communication with affected neighbors reduce complaint

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Enforcement Practices

• EPD / Police will take action if :

– use of prescribed products without

the

– no valid CNP for work when necess

ary

– CNP conditions are not complied

with

Green Label

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• Police would:

– possess copies of issued CNP

– investigate complaints

– initiate prosecution

Enforcement Practices

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• EPD would :

– relay complaints to Police

– investigate complaints

– conduct surveillance inspection

– initiate prosecution

Enforcement Practices

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• Offences spotted would :

– result in cancellation of CNPs

– have an effect on CNP renewals

– lead to prosecution action

Enforcement Practices

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• Main contractors are strictly liable

• Any persons involved are also liable:

– sub-contractors

– person-in-charge

– workers

– managing directors

Enforcement Practices

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• Fine :

– $100,000 on first conviction

– $200,000 on 2nd or subsequent convictions

– daily fine $20,000 per day.

• Conviction records would be : – Relayed to Client Government Departments / bureaux – Released to the press

Enforcement Practices

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•Noise Control Ordinance

•CNP for

-Percussive Piling

-General Works

•Green Label for

-Air compressors

-Hand-held breaker

Green Label

Summary

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• Allow no work at night time & on holidays without a CNP

• Monitoring / control site activities - own work / subcontractors

• Rectify irregularities promptly

• Educate staff / provide training

• Minimize disturbances

• Prevention is better than cure

Summary

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Environmental Protection Department