Under sections 71 and 104(1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Welsh Ministers may approve codes of practice for the purpose of giving guidance on appropriate methods for minimising noise (which includes vibration) and the Welsh Ministers 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.

This Order approves the two parts of the British Standards Institution code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites. Open sites are defined in the code as sites where there is significant outdoor excavation, levelling or deposition of material.

This Order also revokes the Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) (Wales) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1795 (W. 170)) and the Control of Noise (Code of Practice on Noise from Audible Intruder Alarms) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1829).

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of regulatory impact assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.

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: