Christchurch City Council has supplied St Albans News with this useful explanation of construction noise in residential areas. Click on the table image to the right to enlarge and read. This is best viewed online.
Construction noise is covered by a New Zealand Standard (NZS6803).The standard recognises that construction noise by its very nature will create louder noise and provides for it by setting appropriate noise levels. Also, the days and times of day for construction work are specified as a further means of control. Generally, noisier work can only take place between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday.There should be no noisy construction work occurring on Sundays and Public Holidays although quieter and complying work could occur on those days. It should be noted that this would normally apply in the case of commercial work, and not necessarily for limited DIY activities.
The noise levels specified in the construction standard are far more liberal than those set in the District Plan. For example, the levels in the construction standard – for building work over more than 20 weeks – are an LAeq (average over time) of 70 dB and an LAFmax (maximum level at any time) of 85 dB. In comparison, the level during the day in the District Plan is set at 50 dB LAeq. There is no applicable LAFmax.
