Green Compliance

Noise Control Ordinance

(Cap. 400)

Disclaimer: Lectures are given in personal professional capacity and

not represent the official position of EPD and HKSARG 1
Environmental Noise

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Noise from Domestic Premises

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Noise from Public Places

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Noise from Percussive Piling

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Noise from General Construction Work

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Noise from Industrial Premises

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Noise from Commercial Premises

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Noise from Intruder Alarm Systems

◆ Intruder alarm system in

premises

◆ Intruder alarm system of

vehicles

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Noise from Public Entertainment
(open venue)

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Noise from Air Traffic

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Noise from Railway

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Noise from Road Traffic

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Noise Control Ordinance

Overview of
Noise Control Ordinance
(Cap. 400)

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Noise Control Ordinance

Objectives of NCO

◼ Noise prevention, minimization and abatement

◼ Not controlling:
◼ aircraft noise
◼ occupational noise
◼ road traffic noise
◼ Annoyance not tolerated
by a reasonable person

Annoyance 煩擾
Noise Control Ordinance
Noise Control Ordinance & Control Authorities
 Noise Controlled under NCO

Noise Sources Complaints Handled

Domestic premises and Local police stations

public places (immediate follow-up
Percussive piling actions)
General construction work in
evening/night time or at any EPD
time on general holiday,
including Sunday
Intruder alarm systems
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Noise Controlled under NCO

Noise Sources Complaints Handled

Industrial/commercial EPD
premises including railway, and
airport (ground noise only)
Prescribed products
Places of public Local police stations
entertainment (immediate follow-up
actions)
EPD
Individual vehicles Transport Department
Noise NOT Controlled under NCO

Noise Sources Complaints

Handled
General Designated EPD
construction projects
work in under EIAO
daytime on
any day other Other Building
than general projects management office
holiday (renovation work)
EPD
(difficult complainant)
Noise NOT Controlled under NCO

Noise Sources Complaints Handled

Road traffic HyD (uneven road surfaces)
TD (road traffic management)
EPD (general road traffic noise
/
retrofitted measures)
Air traffic Civil Aviation Dept
(including helicopter
flights)
Occupational Noise Labour Dept
Noise from Domestic Premises and
Public Places (S.4)

Night time (2300 to 0700 hrs.) or any time on

General Holiday (including Sunday)
Any person Owner, tenant, occupier or
person in charge of
Domestic premises or public Domestic premises
place
Makes or causes to be Knowingly permits or suffers
made
Noise which is a source of annoyance to any person
To emanate from the premises
Fine of $10,000
Noise from Domestic Premises and
Public Places (S.5)

Any person at any time in:

Domestic premises Public places
Musical instrument, record/cassette player, radio, TV,
loudspeaker, game or pastime, trade or business

A/C or ventilating Attracting attention to goods,

system, animal or bird wares or trade (at or near
public place)
Makes noise which is source of annoyance to any person

Fine of $10,000
Noise from Commercial & Industrial
Sources (S.13A or S.13B)
(Example: Intruder alarm)
Any Person who controls Any registered owner
Premises Vehicle
Emit audible signal caused
otherwise than by act of
direct physical contact; or
Fails to provide automatic device
to cause audible signal to cease within
15 minutes 5 minutes
Subject to fine of $10,000 & Subject to fine of $10,000
imprisonment of 3 months
Noise Abatement Notice

◆ Served on:
◼ person making noise or causing or permitting noise to
be made; or
◼ owner, tenant, occupier or person in charge of noise
source

◆ Priority − Owner (OC), management company

◆ Not perpetual − discharged by compliance

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Issue of NAN

S.13(1)(a)
▪ Noise being a source of annoyance

S.13(1)(c)
▪ Noise not complying with TM standard / limit

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General Requirements in NAN

◆ Time period for carrying out noise abatement work

(“Grace Period”)
◼ Effective after 28 days from date of issue of NAN (7 days
for delivery + 21 days for appeal)
◼ Specified having regard to nature, difficulty and
complexity of noise abatement work
◼ Normally 30 days

◆ Subsequent “Maintenance Period”

▪ Normally 6 months (cater for summer and winter
modes of air-conditioning systems)
Compliance Check

❑ 2nd check conducted (written warning 1 month before

check) only after result of 1st prosecution available

❑ Discharged by compliance found in “maintenance

period”

❑ After expiry of “maintenance period”, NAN invalid

once compliance found

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Defence under NCO

◼ Exemption, authorized by licence or permit

◼ Prevent injury to or saving life of person
◼ Prevent unforeseeable damage to property
◼ Prevent unforeseeable interruption or disruption to
public transport system
Enforcement Approach

◼ Annoyance, subject assessment

◼ Reasonable man
◼ No noise measuring equipment used
Noise Control Ordinance
Proposed Amendments

◼ Strengthening control on:

◼ using loudspeakers by shops and hawkers for peddling
◼ introducing a fixed penalty system
◼ adjusting maximum fines
◼ empowering Authority to obtain information to enhance
enforcement efficiency and deterrent effect
◼ Relaxing restrictions on noise from festive celebration
activities in places of public entertainment after 11 p.m.
under specific conditions
◼ Consultation for two months until October 2023
Noise Control Ordinance
Proposed Amendments
Noise Pollution Prevention & Control

Construction Noise
& Its Mitigation
Development of Construction Noise
Control and Management
Construction Noise Permit (CNP) System

Percussive Piling General Works

General Weekday General

Hours Weekdays
Holidays s Holidays

0000-0700    
0700-1900    
1900-2400    
 - Allowed  - Not allowed  - CNP required
Technical Memoranda

❑ Industrial & Commercial Noise

❑ Percussive Piling
❑ General Construction Works
❑ Prescribed Construction Works
Prescribed Construction Work (PCW)

❑ Erection / dismantling of formwork /

scaffolding
❑ Loading / unloading / handling of
rubble, wooden boards, steel bars,
wood or scaffolding material
❑ Hammering
Prescribed Construction Work (PCW)

Designated Area

Designated Area

Areas in which the control of SPME and PCW will apply

* virtual ban for noisy work in built-up area
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General Works Control
 Specified Powered
Mechanical Equipment

Hand-held
percussive Bulldozer
breaker

Concrete lorry mixer Dump truck Vibratory poker

CNP Assessment

❑ Technical memoranda
for assessment
❑ Assess noise impact on
nearby Noise Sensitive
Receivers
❑ Correction for multi-sites
❑ Complaints / legal actions
considered
General Construction Work CNP

❑ Assessment according to two Technical Memoranda

❑ Acceptable Noise Level of NSR
❑ Noise from Equipment
❑ Working Methods for PCW
❑ Unavoidable Constraints
❑ Complaints / Prosecutions
Application for Noise Emission Label

❑ Prescribed Product
– Air compressor for construction use,
- Hand-held percussive breaker
- NEL must be affixed to equipment when in use

❑ Application in prescribed form, together with

supporting documents, e.g. test report, EEC cert.

❑ To be processed within 28 calendar days.

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Hand-held Breaker fitted with NEL
NEL

Air Compressor fitted with NEL 44

Quality Powered Mechanical
Equipment (QPME)

Environmentally friendly
QPME = in manufacturing and operation

◼ Meeting EU Directive
◼ 2000/14/EC, Japanese MLIT
or other equivalent or better
standards

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Quality Powered Mechanical
Equipment (QPME)

Benefits to Communities:
◼ Less environmental nuisance
◼ Quieter
◼ More efficient
◼ Used also in daytime
Benefits to Industries:
◼ Apply CNP in simple manner
◼ Encourage use of QPME
◼ Support “Pay for Safety &
Environment” Scheme
◼ Free of charge
Equipment included in QPME System

◼1. Tracked bulldozer

◼ 履帶式推土機 ◼9. Asphalt paver
◼2. Wheeled bulldozer ◼ 瀝青攤鋪機
◼ 輪動式推土機 ◼10.Vibratory compactor
◼3. Tracked loader ◼ 振動式壓實機
◼ 履帶式搬土機 ◼11.Power rammer
◼4. Wheeled loader ◼ 機動夯土機
◼ 輪動式搬土機 ◼12.Generator
◼5. Excavator ◼ 發電機
◼ 挖土機 ◼13.Air Compressor
◼6. Mobile crane ◼ 空氣壓縮機
◼ 流動起重機 ◼14.Concrete crusher
◼7. Road roller ◼ 混凝土壓碎機
◼ 道路滾壓機 ◼15.Hand-held percussive
breaker
◼8. Vibratory roller
◼ 振盪式滾壓機 ◼ 手提撞擊式破碎機 47
Liability of Directors (S.28A)

◆ Offence committed by body corporate

◼ Director or officer (concerned in management of the
body corporate) guilty of the like offence

◆ Defence:
◼ (other than s.6(1)(a), (2)(a) or (3)(a)) if director or
officer:
◼ Reasonable precautions and due diligence (code of
practice to be issued by Authority under s.28B); or
◼ Proper system established with effective operation
Defence (S.33)

Authorization under any licence, permit or exemption

granted under other Ordinance
Prevention of injury to person or saving of life of
person
Prevention of damage to Circumstances which
property would otherwise cause
such damage or
Prevention of serious interruption/disruption
interruption or disruption could not reasonably
to public transport system have been foreseen
Emergency Construction Works

◼ Construction works under categories in S.33 of NCO

(e.g. works connected with road collapses or with
repair of burst mains)
◼ Authority unable to issue CNPs immediately
◼ Contractor adopt measures to minimize noise as far
as practicable (administrative)
◼ Public utility companies/Government departments
record and report details of work to EPD under
Emergency Work Reporting System (administrative)
Construction Noise Mitigation
Noise Barrier (Cyber Port)
Noise barrier to protect
nearby NSRs
Construction Noise Mitigation

Noise Barrier (Cyber Port)

Noise barrier to protect nearby
sensitive receivers Noise cover
Construction Noise Mitigation

Noise Barrier (Road T7)

Construction Noise Mitigation

Noise Enclosure (West Rail)

 Construction Noise Mitigation

Acoustic
Enclosure

Noise Enclosure for Engines (Road T7)

Construction Noise Mitigation

Silent Piler for Sheet Piling (MOS Rail)

Construction Noise Mitigation
Quieter Equipment

Modern wire saw for concrete cutting:

16 dB(A) lower than excavator mounted breaker
Construction Noise Mitigation

Quieter Equipment

Hydraulic piling hammer: Hydraulic crusher for demolition:

reduce 2-9 dB(A) 20 dB(A) lower than excavator
mounted breaker
Construction Noise Mitigation

Enclosure / Barriers

Enclosure effectively reduced

noise from generator

Acoustic enclosure for

breaker reduce 3-5 dB(A)
6 m barrier for pre-bored
machines reduce 3 dB(A)
Construction Noise Mitigation
Enclosure / Barriers

Specific design noise

Container used as noise enclosure
enclosure
Quiet Construction
Technologies and Practices

Hydraulic Press-in
Piling Method
Quiet Construction
Technologies and Practices
Hydraulic Demolition
Quiet Construction
Technologies and Practices

Hat-down Method

Vibro Ripper
Quiet Construction
Technologies and Practices
Slurry Type Pipe Jacking
Quiet Construction
Technologies and Practices

Self-compacting Concrete

Light-weight Formwork
Noise Pollution Prevention & Control

Commercial & Industrial

Noise & Its Mitigation
Common Sources of C&I Noise

Ventilating systems
− Ventilating fan

− Cooling tower
− Chiller
Common Sources of C&I Noise

Pumping systems
− Pumps
− Piping
Common Sources of C&I Noise

Source
▪ too near
dwellings
▪ defective
▪ without
mitigation
measures
C&I Noise Mitigation
Noise Abatement Measures for Karaokes,
Discos & Bars
避震器 吸音綿

氣隙

小型喇叭箱 木板假天花

外門
雙層玻璃隔聲窗
內門

超低音喇叭

音量限制器
音響系統 + 令音量不超
過預設水平
雙重門
地毯

吸音綿 透氣膜
防震墊
吸音層

卡拉OK、的士高和酒吧可採用的噪音消減措施
Mitigation of C&I Noise

◆ At sources

◆ At paths

◆ At receivers
Mitigation Measures at Sources
◆ Quiet equipment, e.g. screw compressors in lieu
of reciprocating compressors for chillers

Reciprocating compressor Screw compressor

 Mitigation Measures at Sources

◆ Modification of equipment, e.g. enclosing noisy

components with noise panels

Compressors
enclosed with noise
panels
 Mitigation Measures at Sources

◆ Sound power levels of different chillers in one

case:

Chiller with Capacity SWL

Reciprocating compressors not 200 tons 108 dB(A)
enclosed with noise panels
Reciprocating compressors enclosed 200 tons 103 dB(A)
with noise panels
Screw compressors enclosed with noise 200 tons 92 dB(A)
panels
Noise Mitigation at Paths

◆ Air-borne noise
− Noise panels (barriers or enclosures)
− Silencers
− Acoustic louvres
− Vent cowls to divert noise away from NSR

◆ Structure-borne noise
− Vibration isolators at different transmission paths
Noise Mitigation
at Paths

Anti-vibration Mounts
Noise Mitigation at Paths
Vibration Isolator

Mounting Hanger Flexible Inertia Mastic

connector block
Spring Spring
Rubber Rubber
Pad
(rubber/cork)
Between plinth Between Between Between At
& machine, or ceiling & machine & machine & wall/slab
(pad) between machine/ pipe/air mountings opening
pipe and pipe pipe duct for pipe
support
Noise Mitigation at Paths
Vent Cowl for Diversion of Noise
Noise Mitigation at Paths

Noise Panel

Noise of water spraying

in cooling towers
screened with noise
panels
Noise Mitigation at Paths

Silencer
Noise Mitigation at Paths
Silencer and Flexible Connector
Fan

Flexible connectors at fan inlet and outlet Silencer

Noise Mitigation at Paths

Acoustic Louvres
Noise Mitigation at Paths

Vibration Isolator

Spring mountings
for pump
Noise Mitigation at Paths

Vibration Isolator

Spring hangers
Noise Mitigation at Paths
Vibration Isolator

Flexible connectors at
pump inlet and outlet
Noise Mitigation at Paths

Vibration Isolator

Rubber pad at pipe support

Noise Mitigation at Paths
Vibration Isolator

Mastic filling in gap

between pipe and wall
Retrofitted Measures for
Machine Noise
Mitigation Measures at Receivers

Noise insulation:

◆ Specially provided
glazing

◆ Hotels and service

apartments fitted
with central air-
conditioning only

Double glazed window

Retrofitted Measures
for Railway Noise

MTR - Heng Fa Chuen

Retrofitted Measures
for Railway Noise

MTR - Tsui Wan Estate

Retrofitted Measures
for Railway Noise

KCR - Tai Wo Estate

Retrofitted Measures
for Railway Noise

KCR - Tai Po Market

Noise Impact Assessment

Thank You