Standard to be set for noise

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 5

Standard to be set for noise

The noise generated by construction and demolition work will soon be subject to a national standard. The Standards Association has prepared a measurement and assessment guide for the Health Department to regulate site noise levels.

The publication, which has been released to the Government for consideration, will protect the contractor and the rights of the public.

A member of the committee which produced the guide. Mr N. I. Hegley, said that the number of complaints from the public about site noise had increased over reccent years, and that the decisions taken to regulate it were based more often on the amount of public pressure received, than on engineering evidence.

"It should be realised that the noise levels set will not give the level of 'peace and quite' expected by much of the community, and people must expect high levels of

noise during the relatively short period of construction time." he said.

The standard, which took three years to prepare, would be subject to review for 12 months, he said.

The trial period had been agreed to satisfy the doubts of residents’ groups, who felt that the levels set were too high, and contractors’ representatives, who. felt that they were too low, he said.

Among, the groups responsible for preparing the standard were; the Department g of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Aggregates Association, the council of the Timber Industry, the Health Department, the Manukau City Council, the Ministry of Works and Development, the Contractors' Federation, the Institute of Architects, the Labourers' Union, the Master Builders' Federation, and the ReadyMixed Concrete Association.