How quiet are electric construction machines?

The effects of noise pollution

Noise pollution is a major environmental health concern in Europe. In fact, it’s a real problem for 1 in 5 EU citizens causing poor sleep, stress and impacting physical and mental health. Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Zero dB is the threshold of human hearing. An increase of 10 dB corresponds to a doubling in the perceived sound and a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on noise pollution around the world highlighted the noise levels in some of our cities. It suggests 55 decibels (dB) is the acceptable noise level for outdoor residential areas, but many of our cities are exceeding this level from traffic noise alone. Like Paris, where it ranged from 35 dB to 80 dB, London, from 54 dB to 86 dB and Stockholm, between 55 dB and 70 dB. Add in construction works, and it just gets noisier!

In the EU, the Environmental Noise Directive is the main law to identify and tackle noise pollution. But it’s a complex issue, requiring solutions on a local and industry level.

Why is noise control important in construction?

Construction can be a noisy industry, especially for people living and working nearby so it’s important to take measures to minimize noise as far as is practical. This can mean thinking about working hours, using acoustic barriers, and providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). But eliminating noisy processes is the best way to deal with noise on a construction site.

Electric machines offer a beacon of hope. Substantially quieter than diesel machines thanks to their electric drivetrains, they have the potential to transform the noise levels of urban construction projects - and in doing so, transform our living and working environments.

The lack of combustion and mechanical movements in electric machines results in a significant reduction in both noise and vibrations.

The Volvo EC18 excavator, for example, is around 13 dB quieter than its diesel counterpart. It has an exterior noise level of around 80 dB compared to 93 dB for a diesel equivalent. And remember, we perceive a 10 dB decrease as being half as loud – or conversely a 10 dB increase is heard as twice as loud.

Electric machines make construction quieter

This makes electric machines ideal for use in busy inner city and urban environments, outside schools, homes, shops, offices, and hospitals, where noise regulations may be toughest. They also allow work to continue later into the night or begin earlier in the morning, helping to get the job done faster, while also delivering cost savings.

But it’s not just residents and passersby that benefit. Electric machines also provide more comfortable, healthier, and safer working environments for operators and site workers too. Less noise and vibrations reduce stress levels and allow for easier communication on site without the need to shout or stop work. And with electric machines there is no idling time either as the machine shuts off when it’s not in use and restarts automatically when the controls are pressed, meaning noise is kept to a minimum.

How quiet is an electric machine compared to its diesel equivalent?

To understand more about how the noise levels for electric machines compare to their diesel equivalents, the table below provides some helpful information