Construction noise
Updated guideline on construction noise
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has prepared a new guideline covering construction noise. The revised guideline addresses the assessment of noise from construction activities as well as approaches for minimising it using best-practice approaches.
DECC is seeking community comment on the draft guideline until 19 September 2008, so visit the webpage and have your say.
Existing guideline
The following guidance is provided in the Noise Control Guideline: Construction Site Noise that was first published in 1985 by the State Pollution Control Commission.
'Where there is likelihood of annoyance due to noise from construction sites, conditions such as the following may be specified in a development consent or building application. This applies particularly to non-scheduled premises such as commercial buildings where a long construction time is not likely. The criteria may not be applicable to long-term construction such as coal mines, which may take several years. Variations should be made according to local conditions.
Level restrictions
- Construction period of 4 weeks or under.
The L10 level * measured over a period of not less than 15 minutes when the construction site is in operation must not exceed the background level by more than 20dB(A). - Construction period greater than 4 weeks and not exceeding 26 weeks.
The L10 level * measured over a period of not less than 15 minutes when the construction site is in operation must not exceed the background level by more than 10dB(A).
Time restrictions
Monday to Friday: 7am to 6pm.
Saturday: 8am to 1pm if audible on residential premises, otherwise 7am to 1pm.
No construction work to take place on Sundays or Public Holidays.
Silencing
All possible steps should be taken to silence construction equipment. It is particularly important that silenced equipment should be used on road and rail works where 24 hour operation is necessary.'
*L10 : Noise level exceeded for 10% of a specified time period