4.6 Fixed Plant and Machinery

Most premises will have mechanical ventilating units, air conditioning units, chiller-units, water or beer pumps. These items will often consist of external units mounted outdoor that may be operated round the clock. If the premises are located near residential properties, the noise from these machinery items may cause disturbance to the nearby noise sensitive receivers and/or exceed the statutory Acceptable Noise Levels. The situation is more acute when such units are operating in the late evening and at night time.

Scenario (i)

Sad

Outdoor Units / Chiller

Outdoor units or chiller

Smile

  • Erect a barrier between the outdoor units/chiller and the nearby residential buildings so to block the noise propagation path
Erect a barrier between the outdoor units or chiller and the nearby residential buildings

Smile

  • Fabricate a complete enclosure so as to contain and absorb noise energy radiated by the sources
Fabricate a complete enclosure to contain and absorb noise energy radiated by the sources

 

Scenario (ii)

Sad

Ventilation Fans

Ventilation fans

Smile

  • Install acoustic louver to prevent excessive noise emission towards outdoor environment
Install acoustic louver to prevent excessive noise emission

 

For more information, please refer to the booklets "Good Practices on Ventilation System Noise Control"(http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/environmentinhk/noise/guide_ref/files/Vent_sys_E-06.pdf) or "Good Practices on Pumping System Noise Control" (http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/environmentinhk/noise/guide_ref/files/Pump_sys_E-06.pdf) available in EPD's website.