Faculty of Civil Engineering & Built Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING
BFC 32403

CHAPTER 9
NOISE POLLUTION
 Chapter 9:
NOISE POLLUTION

Topics: (3 hours lecture)

9.1 Classification of Noise Pollutant
9.2 Allowable Noise Exposure
9.3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at
Construction Activity
9.4 Noise control at Construction Site
 Objectives

• To regulate and control noise producing

and generating sources.
• Maintaining the ambient air quality
standards in respect of noise.
What is Noise Pollution?

• Noise pollution is an unwanted or excessive sound that can have

harmful effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental
quality.

• Noise pollution is commonly generated inside many industrial

facilities and some other workplaces, but it also comes from highway,
railway, and airplane traffic and from outdoor construction activities.
 9. 1 CLASSIFICATION OF NOISE POLLUTANT

NOISE POLLUTION

• Propagation of noise with harmful impact on the activity

of human and animal life.
• In general, source of noise pollution are from machines,
transport and transport system.
• Noise affects human both physically, psychologically
and socially.
• It will directly damage hearing if the intensity is too high
and at a less obvious level it can cause tiredness and
reduce efficiency
 9. 1 CLASSIFICATION OF NOISE POLLUTANT

1. Transport noise
▪ Mainly consists of traffic noise due to the increase in the number of vehicles.

2. Neighbourhood noise (Residential area)

▪ Some sources of neighbourhood noise pollution are musical instruments,
nearby construction such as pilling activity, and lawn care maintenance .
▪ Public gatherings such as weddings using loudspeakers to play music
resulting in the production of unwanted noise.

3. Industrial noise.
▪ The noise from industrial activity is the high intensity sound which is caused
by heavy industrial machines such as generators , mills, huge exhaust fans,
mining and building construction
9. 1 CLASSIFICATION OF NOISE POLLUTANT

DIFFERENCE OF SOUND VS NOISE

 9. 2 ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE

The permissible limitation and legal guidance of the noise exposure is to

prevent occurrence of noise induce deafness. It is also to preserve worker’s
hearing.

Generally, no workers are allowed to be exposed to the noise exposure

exceeding:

(a) Daily noise exposure level – 85dB (A) for 8 hours exposure,
(b) The maximum sound pressure level- 115dB(A)
(c) Peak sound pressure level - 140dB(C)
9. 2 ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE

Source
DOE,
GUIDELINES FOR
ENVIRONMENTA
L NOISE LIMITS
AND CONTROL
Third Edition 2019
9. 2 ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE

Source
DOE,
GUIDELINES FOR
ENVIRONMENTA
L NOISE LIMITS
AND CONTROL
Third Edition 2019
 9. 2 ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE

Source
DOE, GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE LIMITS AND CONTROL, Third
Edition 2019
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

▪ Boundary noise monitoring is monitored typically for

construction and industrial activity that may cause
nuisance to neighboring receptors .
▪ Boundary noise monitory is an Ambient Noise monitoring
that includes all sounds presents in the environment .
▪ Example of construction that need noise monitoring:
- New development area
- Road construction
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

OBJECTIVES OF NOISE MONITORING

• To protect residence and sensitive land

• To Identify and minimize noise from construction area
• To apply feasible and reasonable work practice in order
to minimize construction noise
• To encourage construction to be undertaken during least
sensitive noise period
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity
NOISE MONITORING

• Noise monitoring station should be established at the area with

human activity- residential area/noise sensitive area (Hospital
and school).
•Most measurements of noise from construction activities are
conducted in exterior locations. Depending upon how a
particular controlling ordinance, regulation, or procedure is
written, such measurements may be taken at different locations,
including:
➢At the property line closest to the construction activity.
➢At a residence or other sensitive receptor (Eg: places of
worship. School, commercial building).
➢At the point of closest frequent human activity.
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

NOISE MONITORING
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

NOISE MONITORING
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

NOISE MONITORING
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

NOISE MONITORING
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

NOISE MONITORING

• A baseline data for

noise quality should be
conducted before any
physical work started at
the project site
• This value is very
important to assess the
existing noise level at
the proposed site and
potential noise sources
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity
MEASUREMENT OF NOISE AT CONSTRUCTION SITE

• Measurement of existing noise levels to determine baseline (background)

conditions.
• Measurement of noise levels associated with individual pieces of construction
equipment or construction operations for the purpose of establishing noise
emission levels for inclusion in a reference database.
• Measurement of noise levels associated with individual pieces of construction
equipment to relate such levels to prescribed levels or limiting values.
• Measurement of the noise levels associated with a particular construction
operation for comparison with background levels and/or established limiting
values or criteria.
• Measurement of noise levels associated with multiple construction operations
for comparison with background levels and/or established limiting values or
criteria; and
• Measurement of noise levels of indirect activities (such as diverted traffic)
associated with the construction of the project for comparison with pre-
construction levels.
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

MEASUREMENT OF NOISE IN CONSTRUCTION IS DETAILED OUT IN THE BILL OF QUANTITY

 9. 3 NOISE POLLUTION MONITORING AT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
MEASURING OF ENTIRE OPERATION

• Measuring an entire operation suggests that all activities associated with a

particular construction operation are occurring in a relatively short
timeframe.
• An example may be a paving operation that occurs in the vicinity of a
particular home or neighborhood over a one-day period. In such a case, the
collective noise generated from all components of the operation could be
measured and compared to background levels and/or absolute noise level
criteria.
• Evaluation and screening of the project's schedule of individual
construction operations can be used to determine, in advance, which
construction operations are likely to produce the greatest noise levels at a
particular location.
• Emphasis can then be placed on monitoring the operations with the
potential to create the highest noise levels at that location.
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity

MEASURING OF ENTIRE OPERATION

• Mobilization;
• Demolition;
• Clearing and grubbing;
• Earthwork;
• Structures and foundations;
• Bridge Construction;
• Grading for pavement base construction;
• Paving; and
• Cleanup.
 9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity
MEASURING INDIRECT NOISE EFFECTS

Construction projects often create activities that extend beyond

the project limits. It is essential to consider the potential for
noise effects of such activities on adjacent sensitive receptors,
particularly those located in communities particularly sensitive
to noise. Examples of such activities include:
✓Trucks supplying material (stone, concrete, steel, etc.) to the project;
✓Trucks hauling excess material from the project
✓Activity associated with off-site operations such as concrete batch
plants, waste areas, wetland creation sites, material storage areas
✓Effects of traffic detoured or rerouted due to construction activities
9. 3 Noise Pollution Monitoring at Construction Activity
TYPE OF NOISE MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT

In performing valid construction noise measurements, the

following factors should generally be considered:

•Using an "integrating" sound level meter;

•Ability to measure and display Leq, Lmax, and Lmin. L10, L90
•Ability to measure A-weighted decibels;
•Capable of measuring at slow and fast response settings;
•Ability of monitor to be calibrated in the field;
•Use of a proper wind screen; and
•Proper measurement locations as related to adjacent buildings,
structures, and activities.
 9.4 NOISE CONTROL AT CONSTRUCTION SITE

NOISE CONTROL

• Limiting noisy oriented activity during working day

• Keep truck driver informed of noise control activity practice
such as minimizing the use of engine brake
• Regular equipment maintenance and inspection
• Consult with sensitive receptor ex school to ensure noisy
activity to be not schedule during important school event like
exam time
• In many cases , changing the process can be one way of
getting to grips with noise generation . For example replace
high-impact impulsive force (i.e. mechanical power ) used for
pile driving in building and construction with hydraulic power.
 9.4 NOISE CONTROL AT CONSTRUCTION SITE
NOISE CONTROL

• Noise barrier installation