Under section 71 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Secretary of State may give guidance on appropriate methods for minimising noise (which includes vibration) by approving codes of practice. She is required to approve a code for the carrying out of works to which section 60 of the Act applies. These include building and roadworks, demolition, dredging and other works of engineering construction.

This Order (which applies only to England) approves the four codes mentioned in article 2. The Code of practice for basic information and procedures for noise and vibration control mentioned in article 2(a) covers all construction sites and other open sites.

This Order replaces, in England, the Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order 1984 and the Control of Noise (Code of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order 1987.

The approved Codes of practice can be obtained in person or by post from the British Standard Institution at the Customer Services Sales Department, BSI, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL; telephone 020 8996 7000.

The ISBN numbers for the approved Codes of practice are as follows: