AUTHORITIES in Shenzhen recently released 10 measures to regulate nighttime construction in order to protect the public’s health and prevent residents from being disturbed, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.

Three departments, namely the municipal housing and construction bureau, the water authority and the transport bureau, announced a ban on nighttime construction. All the city’s housing, infrastructure, traffic and water projects are prohibited from being conducted at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Projects that are currently under construction are also not allowed to start any kind of operation like loading or unloading building materials or transporting building trash at night, except for in tunnel boring or emergency rescue situations, according to the announcement.

Electricity, with exception of that used for necessary lights and equipment for safety precautions, should also be cut off.

Units that are in charge of undergoing projects involving mass concrete casting or a long period of operation should make out a scientific plan in advance to avoid nighttime construction.

When nighttime construction is unavoidable, construction sites should submit an application to the environmental protection department for permission. Once approved, the operation can be conducted at night. A notice should be put up for the public 24 hours before the nighttime operation at the site.

Construction units are required to abide by rules regarding noise control and are forbidden from using steam spiral hammers. They should also post relevant information, including the project name, construction time period, construction area and contact information of the person in charge of the project, at the gate of the construction site.

The three departments will strengthen supervision and punish illegal behaviors. Relevant departments at municipal and district levels should establish special supervision groups to conduct surprise checks at night.

Other measures, such as using surveillance footage and conducting long-distance law enforcement, are welcomed to supervise such activity, said the report.

The Shenzhen environmental protection department released the regulation on environmental noise pollution in 1993 and made an amendment in 2018.

(Wang Jingli)