The daily torture of noise from construction

[Analogous]

Construction noise is nothing new for those of us living in urban settlements. Recently construction has started at a piece of land right next to the building where I live currently. The use of pile drivers has been incessant from 9 am till 6 pm.
A police complaint from residents has ensured the pile drivers don’t operate beyond 6pm.
The law says 55 db is the limit for noise levels in residential areas. But I am measuring 80 db with 88-89 db peaks. Like millions of my fellow citizens I am working in developing a stoic reaction. But it’s hard.
After a day of noise I don’t feel like listening to music too. Noice cancelling headphones help a bit but not much. It’s a huge building and the work will go on for several months apparently.
Relocating or stoicism?

 

[sidvee]

View attachment 94522
Construction noise is nothing new for those of us living in urban settlements. Recently construction has started at a piece of land right next to the building where I live currently. The use of pile drivers has been incessant from 9 am till 6 pm.
A police complaint from residents has ensured the pile drivers don’t operate beyond 6pm.
The law says 55 db is the limit for noise levels in residential areas. But I am measuring 80 db with 88-89 db peaks. Like millions of my fellow citizens I am working in developing a stoic reaction. But it’s hard.
After a day of noise I don’t feel like listening to music too. Noice cancelling headphones help a bit but not much. It’s a huge building and the work will go on for several months apparently.
Relocating or stoicism?

It is imperative now in India, anyone living in an urban space to get double-triple glazed windows or acoustic glass. It won't eliminate all the noise, but it will be manageable to a great extent. I live in a house constructed approx. 30 years ago, planning to replace all my windows with sealed double glazed glass ones. No point giving police complaints etc etc., nothing will ever get done. We are a loud, noisy country. People who like quiet/peace and silence, like perhaps members in this forum are a miniscule minority, unfortunately.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Analogous]

It is imperative now in India, anyone living in an urban space to get double-triple glazed windows or acoustic glass. It won't eliminate all the noise, but it will be manageable to a great extent. I live in a house constructed approx. 30 years ago, planning to replace all my windows with sealed double glazed glass ones. No point giving police complaints etc etc., nothing will ever get done. We are a loud, noisy country. People who like quiet/peace and silence, like perhaps members in this forum are a miniscule minority, unfortunately.
Cheers,
Sid

I am indeed getting two large balcony sliding doors replaced with double glazed ones. Hoping it will make a good difference.

 

[rikhav]

Same situation in our area in Mumbai
two nearby buildings have this hammering on from morning 8 am
one is absolutely audible from 400 mtrs away
The buildings near to the construction site makena police complaint and next day it's same

 

[Nitin K]

In our country, sound pollution or any kind of pollution for that matter is not taken seriously like some other countries. In my vicinity also we have been subject to construction noise and vibrations due to the redevelopment frenzy starting at around 8:00 am.
Celebration is also associated with loud noise whether it is fireworks or music. Basically louder the noise, more is the level of celebration whether it is parties, or festivals.
The "Chalta hai" attitude is quite prevelant here.

 

[Analogous]

I do believe it’s more practical to deal with noise by each cause.
While an over arching law to regulate noise exists, it is not implemented very poorly, if at all.

Unlike noise from religious festivals and social events (which quickly become socially divisive, political flashpoints), construction and industrial noise tend to be continuous and longer.

There will always be those who want to get their construction done and those who are affected by the construction activities.

There are laws that specify safety standards with measurable parameters. A society that calls itself advanced will ensure adherence to the rules made with scientific safety standards.

As individual citizens it’s our challenge to make this happen in real terms and not merely rhetoric.

 

[mbhangui]

There is a new phenomenon that is happening in Pune for the last 7 years or so. If you live in a condominium, whenever a house is sold, the new owner will tear down everything inside - walls, tiles, bathroom, kitchen (except the structural beams). Lot of these so called interior decorator firms have mushroomed here whose only job is to promise you a Taj Mahal inside and they specialize in changing the complete layout inside. The noise is incessant and carries down and up to all flats many floors above and below from 9AM to 6 PM.

 

[sidvee]

There is a new phenomenon that is happening in Pune for the last 7 years or so. If you live in a condominium, whenever a house is sold, the new owner will tear down everything inside - walls, tiles, bathroom, kitchen (except the structural beams). Lot of these so called interior decorator firms have mushroomed here whose only job is to promise you a Taj Mahal inside and they specialize in changing the complete layout inside. The noise is incessant and carries down and up to all flats many floors above and below from 9AM to 6 PM.

This is even worse, then even double glazed glass is not going to help as the sound is transmitted through the structure itself. Not sure if anything will help in this case.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Analogous]

There is a new phenomenon that is happening in Pune for the last 7 years or so. If you live in a condominium, whenever a house is sold, the new owner will tear down everything inside - walls, tiles, bathroom, kitchen (except the structural beams). Lot of these so called interior decorator firms have mushroomed here whose only job is to promise you a Taj Mahal inside and they specialize in changing the complete layout inside. The noise is incessant and carries down and up to all flats many floors above and below from 9AM to 6 PM.

The noise of a hammer drill on masonry is exquisitely painful,!not dissimilar to a dentists drill in some ways.

 

[Analogous]

This is even worse, then even double glazed glass is not going to help as the sound is transmitted through the structure itself. Not sure if anything will help in this case.
Cheers,
Sid

Taking permission from other residents in the building and specifying how long it would take is a good beginning?
Making and offering alternative temp accommodations for immediate neighbours is another way to mitigate the inconvenience

 

[Nitin K]

One can understand that construction projects have to be completed and there will be certain amount of inconvenience to people living around.
But not adhering to rules for other's around & rules not being implemented is something that one cannot understand.

 

[Analogous]

One can understand that construction projects have to be completed and there will be certain amount of inconvenience to people living around.
But not adhering to rules for other's around & rules not being implemented is something that one cannot understand.

This may help to understand:
A lack of empathy for the suffering of others
The confidence that money and power/political patronage will let them get away with flouting rules.
Apathy and learned helplessness of the public at large.

 

[Sean de Silva]

Same situation in our area in Mumbai
two nearby buildings have this hammering on from morning 8 am
one is absolutely audible from 400 mtrs away
The buildings near to the construction site makena police complaint and next day it's same

It's the same torture in my colony. Mumbai is on a redevelopment rampage.

 

[Analogous]

It's the same torture in my colony. Mumbai is on a redevelopment rampage.

And most people endure the suffering by venting their frustrations on social media as we are doing
There has to be a better way, there has to be. Right?

 

[morerajendra5678]

And most people endure the suffering by venting their frustrations on social media as we are doing
There has to be a better way, there has to be. Right?

There is a concept of acoustic fencing which you can see on roads specially those passing near to courts. They help to trap noise outside only. You can have them installed.

 

[arj]

This is a real problem in most cities, but in a country where air and water pollution is not taken seriously, will sound pollution be ?
In the end its the local administration which can perhaps decide..but in bangalore, in most complexes voting % is 40..why would they care

 

[rikhav]

This is a real problem in most cities, but in a country where air and water pollution is not taken seriously, will sound pollution be ?
In the end its the local administration which can perhaps decide..but in bangalore, in most complexes voting % is 40..why would they care

whoever you will vote its the same story.
All say vote wisely.. But whoever comes to power repeats the same thing
And suddenly the party not in power after elections suddenly thinks about the city and the common population which they never thought of when in power.
Delhi, Mumbai same story and it should be same everywhere else

 

[Analogous]

This is a real problem in most cities, but in a country where air and water pollution is not taken seriously, will sound pollution be ?
In the end its the local administration which can perhaps decide..but in bangalore, in most complexes voting % is 40..why would they care

It all comes back to us and the choices we make as we vote (or choose not to vote)
Elect bad or incompetent people to govern and then complain that they are not doing their jobs?

About 30% of MPs and MLAs face serious criminal cases in India

Analysis reveals 31% of MPs and 29% of MLAs in India face serious criminal charges, with BJP leading.

www.thehindu.com

 

[shekarwrites]

It all comes back to us and the choices we make as we vote (or choose not to vote)
Elect bad or incompetent people to govern and then complain that they are not doing their jobs?

About 30% of MPs and MLAs face serious criminal cases in India

Analysis reveals 31% of MPs and 29% of MLAs in India face serious criminal charges, with BJP leading.

www.thehindu.com

Our candidate list on the evm ballot is to choose the least bad amongst the worsts.. Good people does not generally venture in to the rot of politics, so we have very few good choices. Our representatives are the reflections of our society.. everyone is to be blamed

 

[Analogous]

Our candidate list on the evm ballot is to choose the least bad amongst the worsts.. Good people does not generally venture in to the rot of politics, so we have very few good choices. Our representatives are the reflections of our society.. everyone is to be blamed

I am sure there are good people contesting elections (at least those with no criminal records) they may be independent candidates. We need to be careful we do not vote for the “party/ideology” but on the basis of integrity, and competence.
After all everyone employed in the private sector is interviewed for these qualities. Why should extremely important positions be decided otherwise?
Change will come from the ground upwards. It may take time. But if enough people do this the message will reach the parties too- they can not nominate criminals anymore.