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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