[Inside Chodong] Expectations for More Advanced Inter-Floor Noise Policies

"Can we reduce noise between floors? Or can’t we?"

This was a question posed by a structural engineer I met about 3 to 4 years ago when noise between floors was a hot social issue. When I countered, "Isn’t the technology still lacking?" he replied, "There’s no need to develop it." He claimed, "If major construction companies set their minds to it, they could achieve the highest domestic noise reduction grade of Level 1 (37dB or below) within 1 to 2 years." He criticized that there are only regulations for setting standards, but no policies to incentivize construction companies to develop technology.

When the noise reduction regulation was first introduced in 1991, it only contained the fundamental content of "constructing structures that sufficiently block impact noise on floors." In 2003, the "minimum performance standards for impact noise blocking (Levels 1 to 4)" were introduced, followed by the announcement of a standard floor structure with a slab thickness of 180mm or more in 2004, and a reinforced slab thickness of 210mm in 2013. All measures related to noise between floors were based on licensing standards.

The apartments built at that time also faithfully followed the government’s set standards. Most apartments built from 2003 onward met the minimum noise reduction performance standard of Level 4, and the slab thickness was exactly aligned with the government’s announced standards. From the construction companies’ perspective, there was no need to invest heavily in developing higher-grade technology or to use many materials.

However, the situation has changed recently. Last year, when the government announced plans to revise regulations by introducing a "post-construction verification system" and providing "incentives for sale prices and floor area ratios" for noise reduction, surprisingly, companies like Hyundai Construction and Samsung C&T reported developing technology that lowered noise levels even below the highest Level 1 standard of 37dB.

So, does this mean we are entering an era of living in apartments without noise between floors? Experts say, "It is important to find the right balance for incentives." The policy of introducing post-construction verification and incentives ultimately relates to project costs, so detailed incentive plans that satisfy construction companies, project operators (associations and developers), and local governments (licensing authorities) are necessary.

The post-construction verification system that manages noise after completion inevitably affects construction schedules through measurement notification timing, criteria for selecting units to measure, and measurement periods, which can lead to increased construction costs. Also, it is difficult to perform remedial construction on apartments already completed if they fail to meet noise standards, and clear guidelines are needed on how and to what extent construction companies should compensate even if damages are paid.

Regarding incentives, there are concerns that both too little and too much can be problematic. For example, if incentives are too low, construction costs may exceed the incentive (5%), leading to a situation like the currently unpopular "Ramen structure incentive system." Conversely, increased construction costs for noise reduction could raise sale prices, burdening buyers and others.

However, one thing is clear: the government’s first step has led to the development of previously stagnant noise reduction technology. What matters now is the future. Currently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is conducting related research to determine the appropriate incentive rate for noise reduction. Hopefully, they will set the right balance and build a legacy as the "government that solved the noise between floors problem."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.