An Administrative System on the Use of

Quality Powered Mechanical Equipment (QPME)

 

Background

The industry often comes across models of "Quality" Powered Mechanical Equipment (hereafter referred to as QPME for short) that are notably quieter, more environmentally friendly and efficient in construction. But the environmental benefits, in particular the noise aspects, of these QPME are not immediately recognized by the project proponent or the Authority.  To properly recognize the benefits in using these QPME in construction works, the trade has shown keen interest in pushing ahead that some incentives should be provided like a "Pay for Environment" Scheme and the Authority should update the Technical Memorandum (TM) issued under the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).

 

Since many plants and equipment bought or introduced in the past are still in active service, an amendment to the TM is not considered appropriate without causing undue financial hardship to the trade. On the promotion of use of QPME, we understand that the Works Branch of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) is actively looking into the issue and in the course of developing a scheme using the "Pay for Environment" concept. No doubt the wider use of QPME will lead to an overall improvement in the work efficiency and the reduction of construction noise day and night. To be qualified as a "Quality" construction equipment, the concerned equipment would have to be certified to European Council (EC) Directive 2000/14/EC; issued with Low Noise or Super Low Noise Emission Label by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan (MLIT); or complied with other equivalent or better standards.

 

An administrative system is therefore proposed (1) to reflect the availability of the state-of-the-art construction equipment and facilitate the CNP application process, and (2) to support the "Pay for Environment" concept.  This paper will outline the details of the system.

 

The System

One of the essential parts of the system would be the setting up of a table, consisting of a list of approved and commonly used powered mechanical equipment (PME) which are quieter than the "standard" equipment .  For indicative purposes, a sample table of the commonly used "QPME" - the "QPME Table", can be seen at Appendix 1.  The list in the Table may not be exhaustive, but it could be updated flexibly to cater for progressive change in construction technology and equipment.  Equipment listed in the "QPME Table", each attested by a corresponding Sound Power Level (SWL), would immediately be recognized by the Engineers in Public Works Projects for the purposes of assessing payment, for example, under the "Pay for Environment" concept.  The equipment would also be recognized by the Noise Control Authority, i.e. the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), for purposes of CNP application assessment.  Initially, twelve types of equipment (see Appendix 2) would be included in the system.

 

To facilitate the CNP process (application and assessment), the equipment owners or suppliers could make a simple "one-off notification" to EPD, who would then upload onto a "QPME Database" set up to hold all the particulars of the accepted items of QPME applied under the system. If these equipment are being proposed for use in a CNP application, EPD will simply make reference to this "Database" for the purpose of assessment of noise from these QPME in assessing the CNP application and no other documentary proof, such as the noise reports being currently required, would be required to prove the lower SWL concerned. The idea is founded on the rationale that the noise performance of the QPME had already been proved by the certification authorities under the EU, the Japanese system or their like, and should be quieter in the first place than the "standard" equipment.

 

It is also intended to expand the system, in the future, to include more environmentally friendly construction equipment (i.e. other than those commonly used QPME in Appendix 2) and methods (See Appendix 3 for a sample list).  This would help to promote best practices among the construction trade.

 

Merits of the System

The system would facilitate the industry in the CNP application process, and at the same time allow for the promotion of use of QPME and environmentally friendly construction equipment and methods.  The wider use of QPME would not only help reducing the noise from construction works at all times, it would also provide an incentive for the suppliers to import more types and models of QPME into Hong Kong.  This would eventually lead to better quality products and a more competitive pricing for the QPME.  The system itself is simple and flexible.  The QPME Table can be easily updated as necessary and will be posted to a website for complete transparency.

 

Operation of the System

The proposed QPME Table would contain the information of the QPME with either (1) a EC certificate granted by an approved body appointed by any European Community Member States under the EC Directive 2000/14/EC, (2) a Low Noise or Super Low Noise Emission Label issued by the MLIT under the Designation of Low Noise and Low Vibration Construction Machines Regulation, (3) a declaration of conformity drawn up by the equipment manufacturer, who itself is an approved body, in accordance with the EC Directive 2000/14/EC or (4) other supporting documents showing compliance with any equivalent or better standard. Once an item of QPME is accepted based on the type, brand, model and the relevant documents, the acceptance would automatically be extended to the whole stock of equipment of that particular model.  The QPME Table would not only provide information to the contractors on the quieter construction equipment and methods available in the market but also provide specific noise data for CNP application assessment and compliance checking.

 

Regarding the QPME Database, it will hold the relevant information of each of the accepted QPME including the PME type, brand name, model, manufacturer, and corresponding SWL as well as specific information of individual item such as the owner's identity, serial number and requirements on operational/mitigation measures, if any. The QPME Database is to be built up through the "one-off notification" of individual items of QPME.  To include a particular item of equipment in the QPME database, the equipment owner or supplier would need to notify the Authority with the relevant supporting documents.  If the application is accepted, a unique ID code would be assigned to each of the accepted QPME.

 

A QPME Label, which contains key information of the QPME, would need to be affixed to the equipment when it is in use.  This is for easy identification of the equipment concerned.  The QPME Label works like an ID for the equipment.  The Label would adopt a standard format and to be prepared by the user.  When an item of QPME is accepted, the user could download a template from a website and print on it the trade name, model, serial number and the assigned ID code to produce a Label for that QPME (See Appendix 4). It is advised that the label should be plastic laminated before being affixed to the equipment. The whole process under the administrative system is to be done on a voluntary basis, but it would greatly facilitate the contractors in making CNP applications.

 

Compliance Checking

It is the responsibility of the owner to make sure that the equipment is properly maintained so that the noise performance would not deteriorate significantly.  If an item of QPME operated under a CNP is suspected to be emitting excessive noise due to poor maintenance, modification or alteration, the CNP holder would be asked to conduct noise measurement to verify its SWL.  If the SWL is found to exceed the relevant EU/Japanese limit, the relevant CNP may be cancelled and this particular item (not the whole fleet) would also be taken out from the QPME Database and would no longer be considered as QPME in future CNP applications.

 

If a "noisy" QPME is being used and claiming payment, for example, under the "Pay for Environment" concept, the Engineer could take note of the situation and take appropriate actions under the contract, e.g. to require the contractor to conduct tests as instructed to prove that the noise level is complying with the required standard. Alternatively, the findings could be relayed to the Authority for follow up with the ultimate position of taking the particular item out of the QPME Database and would no longer be considered as QPME in future CNP applications.

 

Way Forward

It is considered that the trade should in general welcome the proposal, but they should be fully consulted on the package as they may have some particular views on the detailed implementation aspects.  As the industry, including the equipment suppliers, would be the major users of the system, briefings or workshops should be arranged so that the ideas could be better communicated to them through direct dialogues. With the support of the Hong Kong Construction Association, three identical briefing/workshop sessions were held in October 2004, in which QPME was one of the major topics. Three more identical workshops, which were well received by the industry, were held in July 2005 to tie in with the launching of the QPME System on 29 July 2005.

 

Environmental Protection Department

September 2005

Appendix 1

 

A Sample QPME Table

 

Type of QPME	Trade Name	Model	Guaranteed Sound Power Level
Tracked Bulldozer	Hyper	TD2	106
	Hyper	TD3	107
	Super	SW-6B	113
	Super	SW-6C	114
	Super	SW-6F	107
	Energy	E-45Y	107
	Energy	E-46Y	107
	Federal	PD-82M	108
	Federal	PD-52S	109
Tracked Loader	Energy	E-4LY	109
	Energy	E-4GY	110
	Hyper	H-2C	108
	Super	SL-4A	109
	Super	SL-4B	110
	Super	SL-4C	111
Wheeled Loader	Hyper	WL9	105
	Hyper	WL10	103
	Energy	E-32X	102
	Energy	E-50X	104
	High Watt	HW - LL2	103
	High Watt	HW - LD3	100

Appendix 2

 

12 Types of Construction Equipment Included in the QPME System

 

Equipment Description	General Application
1. Bulldozer, tracked	Civil / Building Works
2. Bulldozer, wheeled
3. Excavator, wheeled/tracked
4. Loader, tracked
5. Loader, wheeled
6. Asphalt paver	Civil / Road Works
7. Road roller
8. Roller, vibratory
9. Power rammer (petrol)
10. Compactor, vibratory
11. Crane, mobile (diesel)	General Construction Works
12. Generator	General Construction Works

Appendix 3

 

A Sample List of Environmentally Friendly Construction Equipment and Methods

 

Environmentally Friendly Construction Equipment	Types of Work Involving Usage of the Equipment	Traditional Equipment to be Replaced
Wire saw / Wall saw	Breaking of wall of building structure	Breaker
Crusher (hand-held or robot mounted)	Breaking of wall of building structure	Breaker
Infra-red paving machine	Paving road surface	Asphalt paver
Silent piler	Sheet piling	Percussive piling

 

 

Environmentally Friendly Construction Methods	Types of Work Involving Usage of the Method	Traditional Methods to be Replaced
Saw and lift method (by using a kick ripper)	Removing road surface	Breaking road surface by breaker
Use of non-explosive chemical agent	Geotechnical, slope, site formation work	Blasting or breaking by breaker
Pipe-jacking	Pipe and cable laying	Open-trench pipe laying

 

(Printed on a piece of white paper with plastic lamination)