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Environmental Protection and Management Act

(Chapter 94A, Section 77)

Environmental Protection and Management (Control of Noise At Construction Sites) Regulations

Rg 2

G.N. No. S 157/1999

REVISED EDITION 2008

(31st January 2008)

[1st April 1999]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection and Management (Control of Noise at Construction Sites) Regulations.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“construction site” means any premises on or in which works of the following description are being carried out:

(a)	the erection, construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures or roads;
(b)	the breaking up, opening or boring under any road or adjacent land in connection with the construction, inspection, maintenance or removal of works;
(c)	piling, demolition or dredging works; or
(d)	any other work of engineering construction;

“construction work” means works of any description listed in the definition of “construction site” and any other related works, including the loading or unloading of materials from cranes or vehicles for the purposes of such works;

“public holiday” has the same meaning as in the Holidays Act (Cap. 126);

“residential building” includes any building which is used solely or partly as a hostel, hotel, serviced apartment, residence or private dwelling.

[S 484/2011 wef 01/09/2011]

Permissible noise level

3.—(1) The owner or occupier of any construction site shall ensure that the level of noise emitted from his construction site does not exceed —

(a)	in the case of any construction work which has commenced before 1st October 2007, the maximum permissible noise levels set out in the First Schedule; and
(b)	in the case of any construction work commencing on or after 1st October 2007, the maximum permissible noise levels set out in the Second Schedule.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Director-General may, if satisfied that there is justifiable technical reason to do so in any particular case, by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of the construction site —

(a)	to ensure that the level of noise emitted from his construction site does not exceed such other maximum permissible noise levels as the Director-General may specify; and
(b)	to comply with such other terms and conditions as the Director-General may think fit to impose.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), noise level readings shall be taken —

(a)	one metre away from the outside of any affected building regardless of the distance between the affected building and the boundary of the construction site; or
(b)	if a suitable location cannot be found one metre away from the outside of any affected building, at such other location as the Director-General may specify.

(4) If there are other sources of noise affecting the measurement of the level of noise emitted from a construction site, the maximum permissible noise levels set out in the First and Second Schedules shall be adjusted in accordance with the Third Schedule and the adjusted value shall be taken as the maximum permissible noise level.

(5) Paragraph (b) of Parts I and II of the Second Schedule shall not apply to any construction site in which the following works are carried out:

(a)	repair and maintenance work to public roads; and
(b)	repair work to any sewer, drain, water, gas or electricity line.

(6) For the purposes of these Regulations, construction work shall be deemed to have commenced on the date specified in a permit to carry out structural works in that construction site granted by the Commissioner of Building Control under the Building Control Act (Cap. 29).

[S 484/2011 wef 01/09/2011]

Equipment to measure and record noise level to be set up

4. The Director-General may, by notice in writing, require the owner or occupier of any construction site —

(a)	to set up equipment to measure and record the level of noise emitted from his construction site over such duration as may be directed by the Director-General; and
(b)	to submit the records of the noise level readings, including all relevant facts which may influence the values of the noise level readings.

Prohibition of construction work at certain sites during certain periods

4A.—(1) The owner or occupier of any construction site located less than 150 metres from any hospital, home for the aged sick or residential building shall ensure that no construction work is carried out at his construction site on the days and during the times specified in the Fourth Schedule.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Director-General may, if he is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest or for justifiable technical reason to do so in any particular case, permit in writing any construction work to be carried out during a prohibited period specified in the Fourth Schedule.

(3) A permit granted under paragraph (2) shall specify the period during which the construction work may be carried out and shall require the owner or occupier of the construction site to comply with such other terms and conditions as the Director-General may think fit to impose.

(4) For the avoidance of doubt, regulation 3 applies to any construction work permitted to be carried out pursuant to a permit granted under paragraph (2).

[S 484/2011 wef 01/09/2011]

Penalty

5. Any person who fails to comply with regulation 3(1) or 4A(1), or any notice issued by the Director-General under regulation 3(2) or 4, or any term or condition of a permit granted under regulation 4A(2), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $40,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.

[S 484/2011 wef 01/09/2011]