Firms will be reimbursed partially if they buy noise-limiting equipment
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 21 Feb 2014
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 21 Feb 2014
RESIDENTS living near worksites may have less to complain about with the launch of a $10 million initiative to help construction firms cut back on noise pollution.
Through the Quieter Construction Fund (QCF), companies will be reimbursed for up to half the cost of purchasing or leasing noise-limiting equipment.
This latest move by the National Environment Agency (NEA) comes amid an increasing number of complaints about worksite noise.
In 2009, NEA received about 13,000 complaints. This spiked to roughly 20,000 in 2012, before coming down to about 17,000 last year.
Over the same five-year period, enforcement action taken by the agency against builders also grew from about 300 cases to 1,100, an increase of more than 260 per cent.
Companies that violate noise limits face a fine of up to $40,000.
Contractors, who applauded the new fund which will be available from April 1, said that the use of equipment producing less noise does not compromise productivity, which is vital for them.
Said Dr Ho Nyok Yong, president of the Singapore Contractors Association: "Quieter equipment doesn't mean it's slower; some could in fact be faster."Such equipment includes the jack-in piling machine. The 85 decibels it generates make it much quieter than the commonly used bore piling machine, which produces 107 decibels - the equivalent of a jet taking off around 300m away. A 10 dB increase in decibel levels is perceived to be twice as loud.
The fund can also be used to help pay for noise barriers, which can cut noise pollution by about half.
But noise-limiting technology comes at a price - and this is a challenge faced by construction firms, acknowledged NEA chief executive Ronnie Tay at yesterday's Quieter Construction Seminar.
For instance, erecting high noise barriers around a construction site could cost more than $100,000, he said.
Under QCF, the maximum sum that can be claimed for each worksite is $100,000 or 5 per cent of the project's contract value - whichever amount is lower.
The fund will give builders an incentive to invest in noise-limiting "equipment, methods and innovative solutions", Mr Tay said. And this could in turn bring down the cost of noise-control equipment, he suggested.
Hexacon Construction director of projects Dominic Choy said: "The funding encourages contractors to take a look, although they may not end up buying."
The NEA already has rules in place to regulate noise at construction sites, such as those located next to or within 150m of sensitive areas such as hospitals and residential buildings.
Since Sept 1, 2011, new construction sites at such locations must stop work from 10pm on Saturday until 7am the following Monday.
Residents who live near worksites, such as Madam Chin Chu Eng, 80, hope the fund will encourage builders to use equipment producing less noise.
But the retired administrative assistant who resides in Tiong Bahru said noise is not the only problem.
"Mosquitos coming from the worksite disturb my sleep."
Noise-reducing equipment
JACK-IN PILING MACHINE
PUSHES piles into the ground instead of hammering them in. Might not be suitable on soil that is too soft or too hard.
Noise level: 85 decibels (dB).
Cost: From $500,000 to more than $1 million, depending on machine capacity.
PERIMETER NOISE BARRIERS
THESE panels, typically about 3m to 4m tall, are made of materials such as rock wool and zinc which absorb noise.
Noise level: Can help cut noise pollution by between five and 15 decibels.
Cost: Material costs of these barriers are typically about $125 per sq m.
Costs can range between $100,000 and $200,000, depending on how big the construction area is, and whether panels are installed around the site or just certain areas.
CRACK INDUCERS
ALLOW portions of a pile to be detached without the need for hydraulic breakers, which generate noise ranging from 75dB to 90dB.