Building work kept within noise limits

Source : Sunday Times – 26 Jul 2009

In her letter, ‘Stop construction work on Sundays’ (July12), Ms Lam Ze Ying expressed concerns about the noise level from the construction works at St Hilda’s Secondary School, and the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) works at Block 908, Tampines Avenue 4.

We apologise to Ms Lam for any inconvenience caused by the construction works.

We would like to inform Ms Lam that noise limits set by the National Environment Agency (NEA) are more stringent for construction sites near hospitals, schools and residential areas. Construction companies are required to take noise abatement measures and manage their work effectively so as to comply with the noise limits.

These limits vary by time period and by the type of premises affected by the construction noise. For example, night-time noise limits are more stringent than day-time limits.

Both the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) work closely with our contractors to ensure that they abide by all the rules set by the various regulatory agencies.

For example, noise meters are installed at the school site to measure the noise level.

Based on our site checks and inspections, we are satisfied that the noise levels at the school and at Block 908, Tampines Avenue 4, are within the permissible limits.

The LUP at Block 908, Tampines Avenue 4, was completed in February. As works were carried out within the residential block, the requirements were stricter and the contractors were allowed to carry out LUP works only from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays.

Ms Lam has also raised concerns over the working hours.

Site inspections by the Ministry of Manpower’s employment inspectors showed that the workers do not work beyond the statutory limit of 12hours on any given day, including overtime.

With shift deployment, it is possible for a worksite to operate longer hours than any individual worker deployed there.

We thank Ms Lam for her feedback.

Chua Kwan Ping
Director, Finance & Development
Ministry of Education

Farah Abdul Rahim (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications,
for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Manpower

Tan Quee Hong
Director, Pollution Control Department
National Environment Agency

Ng Say Cheong
Deputy Director (Upgrading Construction Management),
for Director (Building and Quality)
Housing & Development Board