Construction firms grapple with stricter regulations on inter-floor noise
Samsung C&T employees test inter-floor noise levels at its R&D facility in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in this undated file photo. Courtesy of Samsung C&T
Concerns are growing among small- and medium-sized construction firms in Korea, after the government announced earlier this month that it will not authorize the completion of newly built apartments if inter-floor noise levels fail to meet accepted standards, according to industry officials, Thursday.
Unlike top-tier builders that have developed various technologies to prevent disputes between neighbors over noises, smaller companies are alarmed by a potential rise in their construction costs.
Since conflicts over inter-floor noise have been pointed to as the cause of a number of violent crimes in recent years, major construction firms have made efforts to minimize potential trigger points.
Samsung C&T established the nation’s first lab specializing in inter-floor noise last year, while Hyundai E&C developed integrated technologies to reduce noise between floors. Daewoo E&C, GS E&C and DL E&C came up with new types of floor structures.
POSCO E&C and Lotte E&C joined hands with Samsung C&T last year to develop technologies to reduce inter-floor noise.
Hyundai E&C employees test inter-floor noise levels at its R&D facility in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in this undated file photo. Courtesy of Hyundai E&C
However, most small- and medium-sized construction firms lack departments dealing with inter-floor noise issues. They also do not have any plan investment in relevant technologies.
“Mid-size builders without technologies for inter-floor noise will have no choice but to pay to adopt the technologies of larger companies,” a Korea Housing Builders Association official said. “The policy needs a grace period to alleviate burden on small- and medium-sized companies.”
There also exists concerns that small- and medium-sized builders and their subcontractors could face lawsuits from customers, if their apartments fail to get the government approval due to substandard inter-floor noise levels.
The government plans to force construction companies to compensate home owners for subsequent delayed movements to new apartments.
“It would be better if the government takes measures to alleviate the burdens on companies, instead of compelling their sacrifice,” said Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy researcher Lee Eun-hyung.
Amid the growing concerns among builders, civic groups criticized the government’s plan for being less effective.
“Sampling of only 5 percent of households in each apartment building is not the proper way to check inter-floor noise levels,” the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice said in a statement. “It is necessary to inspect all apartments in each building.”