It has been seen that there is a lot of construction and repair work going on in the area. Many projects that had been stopped during the pandemic years of 2020–2021 were restarted in 2022, with many people undertaking renovations. However, this has meant disturbance for many people. We are hearing about work starting at sunrise and even continuing way past sunset.
Construction work is noisy, whether something is being built or torn down; even repairs and renovation work can be deafening too. Tools and machinery make noise. Materials being loaded or unloaded make noise. There are sounds of the mixers churning, hammering, or welding, and even instructions being shouted out. This noise is bound to disrupt other people and can certainly be an inconvenience. When there is construction or renovation in a residential area, it does affect daily lives and routines, like kids studying for exams, colicky babies, the elderly napping, a night-shift worker sleeping, or a person on WFH.
Construction sites are often not fully enclosed. Not everyone puts up corrugated sheets as fencing, which works to contain noise and dust to a certain level. The noise created travels freely through the air and spreads to surrounding areas.
The law limits noise after certain hours; loudspeakers, DJs, bands, and the like are not allowed after 10 p.m. In the absence of clear instructions from the government on quiet hours, the RWAs cannot enforce restricted noise levels but can only request that residents lower volumes after sundown. Construction or repair work ideally shouldn’t be carried out after sunset, especially close to residential areas. Even during the day, one should consider how noise will affect nearby residents. Such activities should ideally be not allowed on Sundays.
Being considerate of your neighbours from the start of a renovation, repair or construction project can prevent issues and complaints & help things run smoothly. Simply assuming that neighbours will ‘compromise’ or ‘accept’ high decibel levels is not going to work.
Noisy operations can be avoided early in the morning, during the evening, or at night. There’s nothing worse than being woken up by a loud noise or having your meeting disturbed by deafening sounds. One minute you’re discussing something, and the next one you can’t hear yourself or others.
Neighbours can be told in advance about what’s happening and when it is happening so that they can prepare and know that this was planned. This gives people time to make alternate arrangements, like moving a meeting to a quiet hour or raising concerns.
