New Commission to combat construction noise

Members of the commission meeting around a table in Monaco

A commission has been set up to deal with construction projects in the Principality. Among its objectives, the team will deal with scheduling and noise laws that were proposed earlier this year and look at international solutions that can be applied here.

Members of the commission meeting around a table in Monaco
The ‘Commission d’Innovation du BTP’ held their first meeting this week ©Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

The first ever meeting of the Building Innovation Commission took place on Tuesday 26thFebruary. Among its members are Director of Public Works Jean-Luc Nguyen, representatives of the Principality, representatives of the public and private sectors of construction and concessionaires (telecom, water, electricity), and Government Counselor – Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Marie-Pierre Gramaglia.

The creation of the commission follows the publication at the beginning of the year of the ministerial decrees on the schedules and noises of building sites. The main objectives are to mobilise and cooperate with construction stakeholders, to take stock of practices already existing in Monaco with regard to the management of construction nuisances, to look for solutions implemented in similar situations internationally, to confront these solutions with feedback from the Monaco players, to study the replicability of these solutions in Monaco, and to decide on the recommendations that will be implemented in Monaco.

The commission will be supported by two technical consultants: SETEC Energy Environment and Bureau Veritas. They will be in charge of performing an audit of existing solutions and completing a feasibility/replicability study in Monaco.

The government has said that noise pollution, including construction equipment, work methods, and construction techniques, be treated as a priority.

“This approach will allow us to find the best techniques and practices to apply on our territory,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia during her introductory speech. “It is important for this Commission to give companies a medium and long-term vision and to enable them to know the expected changes in terms of resources and organisation.”

She continued: “All of this can be a real opportunity for Monegasque companies who will be able to propose relevant solutions to the State, within the framework of the logic of awarding public works contracts to the best bid.”

Coordinated by the Directorate of Public Works, the Building Innovation Commission will meet at regular intervals. The next plenary meeting is scheduled for July 2019.