NGO demolishes draft building site rules
Noise levels permitted by the recently launched draft building regulations are too high, the environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) believes. In a report launched yesterday, the FAA voiced its concern that at 110 decibels, the permitted...
Noise levels permitted by the recently launched draft building regulations are too high, the environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) believes.
In a report launched yesterday, the FAA voiced its concern that at 110 decibels, the permitted noise levels are more than 20 decibels over recommendations of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, which sets the maximum at 87 decibels.
Even workers in factories where noise levels are more than 85 decibels usually wear headphones, FAA member Karen Zammit Manduca pointed out.
Yet, she told The Times, the regulations were proposing 110 decibels for up to 13 hours a day. The FAA believes the use of modern equipment and engineering techniques removes the need for the amount of noise generated when excavating a building site.
The lobby group believes that the allowed working hours - between 8.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. in summer and between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. for the rest of the year - are far too long and would be a disturbance to neighbours. It believes that work which generates noise should not be allowed on weekends because people have a right to undisturbed rest.
"It is frustrating and stressful to go home from a busy office only to have noise all through the weekend from construction sites," the report says.
The FAA also pointed out that building or excavation works cannot be carried out within certain distances of each other. Mrs Zammit Manduca said it was important that contractors kept regular hours so that neighbours could plan when to leave the house to get away from the noise and other inconveniences.
The new regulations, unveiled last month, aim to minimise public nuisance, reduce dust emissions and improve the visual impact of construction sites.
The FAA is also concerned that no insurance to cover damages to neighbouring properties has been included in the recommendations. It believes that neighbours have to be protected rather than having to seek redress in court should something happen. The report points out that any damage requiring evacuation of residents or collapse of a building should automatically lead to the building permission being withdrawn until the damage has been paid for fully.
The lobby group has already presented its report to the Environment Ministry.