Under sections 71 and 104(1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Secretary of State may approve codes of practice for the purpose of giving guidance on appropriate methods for minimising noise (which includes vibration) and the Secretary of State must approve such a code of practice for the carrying out of works to which section 60 of the Act applies. These works include building and roadworks, demolition, dredging and other works of engineering construction.

The Secretary of State’s powers to approve codes of practice are exercisable by the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Wales.

This Order approves the four codes mentioned in Article 2. The code of practice for basic information and procedures for noise vibration and control mentioned in Article 2(a) applies to all construction sites and other open sites. The codes of practice mentioned in Article 2(b), (c) and (d) apply, in addition, in relation to surface coal extraction, piling operations and surface mineral extraction sites respectively.

This Order replaces, in relation to Wales, the Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order 1984 and the Control of Noise (Codes 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 Standards 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: