Technical Memorandum on Noise from Percussive Piling | Environmental Protection Department

1. PRELIMINARY

1.4

General Introduction to the Procedures

For the purpose of determining if a Construction Noise Permit for percussive piling should include restrictions on the hours during which percussive piling may take place (referred to in this Technical Memorandum as the permitted hours of operation) the Authority shall act in accordance with the following general procedures which are detailed in subsequent sections. The Authority shall:

(a)	identify the most affected Noise Sensitive Receiver and determine the appropriate Acceptable Noise Level (in accordance with Sections 2.1 and 2.2);

(b)	calculate the Corrected Noise Level which will be generated by the percussive piling at the Noise Sensitive Receiver (in accordance with Sections 2.3 to 2.8); and

(c)	determine the appropriate permitted hours of operation for the percussive piling by comparing the Corrected Noise Level with the Acceptable Noise Level (in accordance with Sections 2.9 and 2.10).

The Construction Noise Permit issued by the Authority shall include the permitted hours of operation as a condition, and may include such other conditions as the Authority considers appropriate, such as the permissible piling methods and pile types which may be used, the area within which percussive piling may take place (referred to in this Technical Memorandum as the piling zone), the dates of commencement and expiry of the Construction Noise Permit and any special noise control measures that must be adopted. In particular, a more stringent criterion shall be applied to the use of diesel, pneumatic and steam hammer pile drivers.

A Construction Noise Permit may be issued for an initial period of such duration as the Authority considers appropriate, and may be renewed before or after the date of expiry for such further period or periods and subject to such alterations or new conditions as the Authority considers appropriate.

Construction Noise Permits for the carrying out of non-percussive piling are only required between 1900 and 0700 hours or at any time on a general holiday, including Sunday, and may only be issued in accordance with the Technical Memorandum on Noise from Construction Work other than Percussive Piling.