Network
May 11th 2015
London construction sector air quality site launched
A new website aimed at helping the construction industry to understand its impact on air quality and encourage pollution reduction measures has been launched by King’s College London (KCL)
A new website aimed at helping the construction industry to understand its impact on air quality and encourage pollution reduction measures has been launched by King’s College London (KCL).
Screen shot of the new LLECP website
Aimed specifically at users in the construction and demolition industry as well as local authority planners and pollution control teams, the website contains information on currently available ‘best in class’ pollution reduction measures and advice on monitoring around construction sites.
Pollutants from construction sites are produced by the plant diesel engines, machinery and power generators, collectively known as non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), as well as from dust generated from activities such as demolition and earthworks.
NRMM contributes around 10% of London’s overall particulate matter emissions, while road transport contributes around 50%. NRMM also contributes “a similar amount” to London’s NO2 emissions, according to the website.
NRMM low emission zone
The website launch comes ahead of new regulations in London for emissions from construction machinery — the world’s first NRMM low emission zone — which come into force from September 1 2015.
From that date, NRMM — such as forklifts, bulldozers and tractors — of net power between 37kW and 560kW use in London will be required to meet certain standards for emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter. These standards will then be tightened again from September 2020.
Included on the website is information on the forthcoming low emission zone requirements, as well as the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) NRMM register and current air pollution forecasts for the London area.
The website has been launched as part of the London Low Emission Construction Partnership (LLECP) — a collaboration between the ‘Cleaner Air Boroughs’ of Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth.
LLECP also includes industry partners across the construction sector and King’s College London, and was funded by the GLA as part of the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund.
It is hoped that project will encourage the construction sector in London to improve pollution monitoring and make this monitoring data more readily available, while it will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pollution abatement techniques.
The Partnership will also be carrying out educational visits and presentations as well as trials on active demolition sites in order to promote the message of air pollution mitigation, KCL said.