Construction sites should alert the public to upcoming noisy works

Photo: Bloomberg

IT cannot be denied that construction works will create noise.

They are one of the main contributors to noise pollution today, aside from road traffic and noise from commercial activities.

To better manage the situation, the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) is hoping that construction sites will do more to give the public a heads-up about coming noisy works.

The MBAM suggests that construction sites inform the public and engage with resident associations in the vicinity of any upcoming noisy operations.

“Let the people know when, and the steps and mitigation measures that will be taken to minimise disruption.

“We might not be able to eliminate all noise, but by letting people know what is happening and when, they can prepare ahead to make alternative arrangements, ” it adds.

The MBAM also urges all construction industry players to follow the guidelines set by the Depart-ment of Environment and local councils on how to control and mitigate noise levels.

However, it also hopes the public will understand that noise from construction is temporary.

“We advise the public and residences nearby to recognise that development and construction work will generate short term noise, and that noise levels should be tolerable and in compliance with the guidelines of the authorities, ” it says.

It is undeniable that construction works would create a certain level of noise, points out the MBAM.

“Nevertheless, such works can be planned, controlled and monitored, ” says the association, which is made up of construction industry players in Malaysia.

“Under normal circumstances, construction noise levels vary, depending on the type and stage of the works. “For example, piling and demolition works tend to generate higher noise due to the nature of the activity and type of equipment used, ” MBAM explains.

If the construction site is near a residential area or within a public area, there is a time limit for operations.

“Construction sites can seek approval from local councils to work after hours with controlled noise levels.

“For sites close to residential or public areas, hoardings, temporary barriers and other suitable measures are applied to mitigate the noise, ” it says.

Fortunately, the industry now has the capability of using low noise and vibration generation equipment thanks to the latest technology.

“Some of the available machines and tools in the market like jaw crushers, injection piling, hand-held, rig-based coring and electrically-operated machines, provide a range of options to reduce noise during construction works.

“With many new innovative ways, the industry is definitely transitioning to better solutions such as using the Industrialised Building System which can significantly reduce noise levels, ” MBAM adds.

IBS refers to a construction technique using components manufactured in a controlled environment, either on or off site, then assembled into construction works.

However, the MBAM admits that there are challenges as it is hard to carry out most construction works without a certain amount of noise being generated.

“For many projects, noise pollution mitigation will often be addressed during the planning stage by selecting suitable construction methods and machines considering the location and surroundings of the project.

“Most construction activities that generate high noise levels should be planned and carried out during the day.

“Low level noise activities can be carried out during extended working hours or at night, with the approval of the local council. Too many restrictions would affect a project’s progress, ” says MBAM.