Managing Construction Noise Pollution in The Netherlands.
- Date2016-07-25 00:00
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Managing Construction Noise Pollution in The Netherlands
Understanding
Construction Noise Pollution
Construction
noise pollution refers to uncomfortably high decibel levels, emanating from
building sites. It is generated by activities that rely upon the usage of
vehicles and heavy mechanical equipment. Construction noise has a negative
impact upon the lifestyle and health outcome of exposed civilians. Apart from being infuriariating, it increases
the risk of: cardio-vascular disease, hypertension, poor sleeping habits and
higher levels of overall stress (Geetha and Ambika 2015).
Construction
noise pollution is a determinant of environmental pollution. In The
Netherlands, the State has well-defined environmental pollution laws that guard
against noise pollution from roads railways and businesses. However, there is
an absence of national legislation or regulations regarding the monitoring of
construction noise. There is also no lingering EU regional directive to dictate
the mitigation against construction noise. Instead, local authority-based
regulations are utilised.
Dutch Construction -Noise
Regulations
Whereas
land and water pollution have been regulated by the State since the 1980’s,
construction noise monitoring has been a recent initiative by the Dutch
government. Although construction noise is a type of environmental pollution, it
was only in 2010 that a new governmental guideline (Cicrulaire Bouwlaai) was
passed. This policy offered recommendations to local authorities about expected
compliance by construction sites. This was not a legally binding set of codes
but created a normative expectation for Dutch construction companies to comply.
By 2012, the “Bouwbesluit 2012” law was passed. Interestingly, this legal
regulation is not a direct anti-noise pollution law per se, but has the
implication of countering noise pollution. This is because it legally obligates
construction companies to officially declare and monitor their decibel levels
relating to construction, and the duration of noise making activities. This law empowers local authorities to grant
building permits to construction companies, only if they clearly state their
intended levels of noise pollution and the associated periods of noise
pollution.
The “Bouwbesluit 2012”
is enforced at the level of local authorities or municipalities within The
Netherlands jurisdiction. It seeks to prevent a high level of noise pollution
by the construction sector. As shown in Figure 1 below, if construction work is
well below 60 decibel levels there is no chartered limit for construction
activity during day-light working hours. Conversely, there is no opportunity
for companies to emit levels of noise pollution greater than 80 decibels.
Figure
1: Legal Noise limits for construction noise during day-times- Building
Regulations 2012 Source: Granneman Peutz, Jan. H. (2013) Construction Noise
|
Noise level
(decibels) |
Maximum
duration in days within a year |
|
Up to 60 |
No limit in
days |
|
Above 60 |
Not more than
50 days |
|
Above 65 |
Not more than
30 days |
|
Above 70 |
Not more than
15 days |
|
Above 75 |
Not more than
5 days |
|
Above 80 |
0 Days |
Civil
Complaint Procedure regarding Construction Noise
The
complaint procedure for noise pollution is not specifically focussed on
countering high levels of construction noise pollution. It generally protects
domestic households from excessive noise originating from various influences.
After all, the European Union notes that noise pollution is mainly influenced
by: road traffic, rail traffic, airport activity, industrial processes and
finally, construction. Domestic households are therefore empowered with the
right of complaint against a delinquent home, workplace, industrial or
construction site. The complaint must be submitted to the local municipality by
a household or individual against an alleged ‘noise polluter’. It must be
understood that the Dutch system does not accommodate the filing of complaints
about noise at the national level (Hoogstaad 2010).
The
legitimacy of the complaint is based on the ascertained decibel level measured
by the complaining household or individual. For example, in the day time if it
is found out that a nearby residence is involved in partying, loud music or
unauthorised construction work that is higher than 35 decibels, a complaint is
deemed to be noteworthy. Also, in the night time, if noise is higher than 25
decibels, there is an obvious concern that noise pollution is occurring. In
dealing with the deviance of noise pollution, the Dutch municipality initiates
either of two options. In one case, if the noise is not too burdensome
mediation can be sought through the municipality.
Mediation
occurs when the municipality informs a noise polluting culprit to reduce noise
levels. Alternatively, if the level of noise pollution is unacceptable and of a
prolonged nature, oftentimes ignoring the mediation that was initially rendered
by the municipality, a sanctioned eviction can occur (Hoogstaad 2010). Interestingly, municipalities have been
encouraging domestic households to aggressively control the noise pollution via
the provision of noise-o-meters. This allows civilians to truly monitor the
boisterous undertakings of the neighbours. According to Hoogstaad (2010) the
city of Rotterdam has successfully implemented this initiative to reduce noise
pollution in general.
Mitigation
measures against noise pollution
Because
there are no direct laws to outrightly ban construction work that is of a noisy
nature, governments can seek to encourage companies to act in an eco-friendly
manner. To achieve this, construction companies are encouraged to use the
following devices:
(i)low noise apparatus
(ii)additional
sound reducing devices at the source or in the transmission way
(iii)specific
organisation of the building activities in a way that minimises proximity to
public residences.
In
general construction companies are expected to anticipate the levels of noise
pollution that they create and seek to minimise the period of these
construction works. Another simple strategy to avoid creating a high level of inconvenience
for the general public, is to communicate with the public about the period of
construction work. This is now part of standard protocol in the construction
industry. Usually, residents living near to construction sites are supposed to
be given enough notice about impending noisy construction so that they can make
all of the necessary adjustments in lifestyle habits. Moreover, the rule of
thumb in the construction industry seems to be that if heavy construction work
is to be performed, then it must be done in the day time rather than in the
night time. This consideration is provided, to allow civilians to still benefit
from a good night’s sleep.
Undoubtedly, construction companies have
an obligation to reduce noise. Yet, this obligation is not as clear as it is in
other industrial sectors that are notorious for emitting high decibel levels.
Examples
of current non-construction noise anti-pollution measures
Even
though the European Union is not very active in its attempt to restrict
construction noise, it has made significant strides in obligating member states
to restrict transport-related noise. Notably, countries like the Netherlands
are encouraged to engage in a common noise mapping exercise to measure the
noise level at transport hubs. In order to achieve this, 55 decibels is
considered as the maximum threshold of noise-making in the day time, with a
lower threshold of 50 decibels set at the night time. This is considered the
main legal EU directive (EEA 2015).
There
is an element of State involvement in curbing noise pollution as it relates to
road-based noise pollution. Statutory laws exist within The Netherlands to
ensure that the Road Pollution Act is adhered to by drivers (Government of the
Netherlands 2016). If civilians suspect that there is excessive noise made on
the roadways, a complain can be made to the relevant road transport authorities
that then direct this information to the Ministry of Infrastructure and the
Environment. This example of environmental policy highlights that the Dutch
Government is interested in countering road traffic, but less enthusiastic
about dealing with construction noise problems.
In
another example of Dutch innovation to counter noise pollution, the Dutch have
proactively sought to create quiet areas in urban districts to minimise the
noise associated with road and rail traffic, which are the main contributors to
noise pollution in Holland and the rest of the EU. Schoonebeek et al. (2016)
mention that the city of Amsterdam has built up quite areas and parks to ensure
that civilians are not damaged by loud transport noises. In accordance with the
European Noise Directive of 2008-2013 Amsterdam developed a Project Science
Park which acted as a model haven for quiet retreat away from the loud concrete
urban jungle. Double facades and noise screens have emerged as a viable
response to the excessive noise of the rail and major roadways. This popular trend in Dutch cities is set to
continue. Interestingly, these parks and quite areas are managed by the various
Dutch municipalities. This highlights a great extent of decentralisation
occurring noise pollution policies of The Netherlands.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, construction noise
pollution has been dealt with by the State, through the strict monitoring of
construction companies before they are granted a construction permit to operate
in a specific site. Besides this policy that emanates on a decentralised,
municipality level, construction noise has not been prioritised for reduction by
the Dutch government or the European Union. This strengthens the suggestion for
a more integrated anti-noise pollution policy, which also deals with managing
road and rail traffic-related nose alongside attempts at reducing construction
noise.
References
European
Union EU (2016) Noise in Europe.
Accessed on 22 July 2016 .
European
Environmental Agency EEA (2015) Noise.
Document published 20 July 2015. Accessed 22 July 2016.
Geetha,
M. & Ambika, D. (2015) ‘Study on noise pollution at a Construction Site’, International Journal of Research in
Engineering and Technology, 2(2).
Accessed 22July 2016<
http://esatjournals.net/ijret/2015v04/i02/IJRET20150402056.pdf>.
Government
of Netherlands (2016) Noise Nuisance.
Accessed 22 July 2016 <
https://www.government.nl/topics/noise-nuisance/contents/noise-pollution-from-roads>
.
Granneman
Peutz, Jan. H. (2013) Construction Noise:
Overview of regulations of different countries. Inter-Noise Conference
15-18 September 2013, Innsbruck,Austria.
Hoogstaad, Mark (2010) Tape the neighbours: a new weapon versus
noise pollution. Accessed 22 July 2016 http://vorige.nrc.nl/international/Features/article2496068.ece>.
Schoonebeek, C., Hillebregt, M. & van den Berg, F. (2016) Amsterdam Noise policy and examples.Accessed 22 July 2016 http://www.qside.eu/ex4_am_policy.html>.
* Introduced here is an article written by one of KEI's environment correspondents. KEI invites students studying abroad and researchers working for foreign research institutes to send articles on various global environmental issues.