Many construction sites in Switzerland are located in densely populated areas. Construction work may be short-lived or may last for years. To protect neighbouring residents, building owners and contractors must ensure that noise-reducing measures are taken. The Federal Office for the Environment’s (FOEN) construction noise regulation shows how this works in practice.
Construction work such as blasting, pile driving, excavating and milling can cause considerable noise pollution. In the case of large-scale projects in particular, this can adversely affect neighbouring residents’ quality of life over several years.
As the intensity of construction noise varies greatly and construction sites are temporary, the Federal Council has not set any exposure limits. Instead, the FOEN’s construction noise regulation (CNR) offers recommendations for ways to minimise noise. The CNR contains a non-exhaustive list of measures. These depend on the type, intensity and duration of the work, the distance between the site and neighbouring residents, and the construction site traffic. The building permit authorities approve the planned measures.
Measures against construction noise
Noise protection concept
Organisation of the construction site
Low-noise construction methods, equipment and machinery
Noise barriers
Information for neighbours
To ensure effective protection of the neighbourhood from construction noise, the right steps must be taken as early as the planning and project design phase. The first step is to draw up a noise protection concept containing specific noise protection measures. This will allow the building permit authorities to specify appropriate protection measures in the construction decision.
Optimum organisation of the construction site is also crucial to reduce noise from the construction site and construction transport. This includes carefully selecting storage and handing areas, planning transport routes and using noise barriers. Considerate planning and time restrictions for noisy construction activities can significantly reduce the nuisance to neighbourhood residents.
The use of low-noise construction methods, equipment and machinery helps to reduce noise from construction sites. Examples of this include machines with low noise emission levels, electrically powered construction machinery, concrete chisels or milling machines instead of pick hammers. Where these options reach their limits, placing noise barriers close to the source provides effective protection for neighbours. All equipment and machinery used on construction sites must comply with the requirements of the Machinery Noise Ordinance (MaLV).
The spread of disturbing construction noise emissions can be reduced by short-term, mobile or permanent use of noise barriers. These are most effective when they are used close to the noise source, e.g. use of a sound protection enclosure on a generator. The industry now offers efficient and flexible solutions.
An important aspect in reducing the nuisance to the neighbourhood is informing residents about the construction activities. The neighbourhood should be informed early and specifically about the progress of the noisy work.
Responsibilities
The municipalities (building permit authorities) or the relevant cantonal offices are responsible for assessing and controlling the implementation of noise protection measures. In the case of federal construction projects, responsibility lies with the relevant federal office. As a rule, complaints should be addressed in the first instance to the site management or, if necessary, to the local police.
Baulärm-Richtlinie. Stand 2011 (PDF, 711 kB, 06.07.2012)Richtlinie über bauliche und betriebliche Massnahmen zur Begrenzung des Baulärms gemäss Artikel 6 der Lärmschutz-Verordnung. Stand 2011
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Last modification 20.10.2023
