If you work in the construction industry in the city of São Paulo, you’ve certainly heard about Decree No. 60.581, which regulates construction noise emissions in the city. You might even be familiar with the document and have memorized the established noise limits. Even so, you probably still have many questions about what needs to be done to comply with the noise decree.

In this article, we aim to explain the rules of Decree No. 60.581 in a straightforward way and introduce a noise monitoring system that can help you take action in real time, ensuring that the noise produced at your site stays within the decree’s established limits.

Decree No. 60.581 – regulates construction noise control

Decree No. 60.581, published on September 27, 2021, “regulates noise control during the execution of construction works in the Municipality of São Paulo.” This means that every construction project subject to an Execution Permit in the city of São Paulo must comply with the noise limits set by this decree, except for certain situations we’ll present next.

If the provisions of the decree are not followed, violators are subject to penalties based on Article 146 of the Law No. 16.402 – Land Subdivision, Use and Occupancy Law, as outlined in item 12, Table 5, annexed to the LPUOS.

Noise emission limits set by Decree No. 60.581

It’s impossible to carry out a construction project without increasing the typical noise levels in the area. That’s why the decree states that “the worsening” of noise pollution will be considered normal due to the increase in noise-emitting agents (various types of machines and noisy construction activities).

Even though it’s understood that discomfort from noise is inevitable during construction, it’s essential to have regulations to ensure noise levels don’t exceed acceptable limits, especially during rest periods.

This is precisely the purpose of Decree No. 60.581, which sets noise emission limits based on days of the week and times. These limits are shown in the following table.

Cases not subject to the noise decree limits

Not all construction projects are required to comply with the noise emission limits set by Decree 60.581: specifically, public works and emergency works.

Other private civil constructions are also exempt from the limits in the following situations: loading and unloading, earthmoving phase, foundation, demolition, and structure, as long as the days and hours specified in the decree are respected.

If there is any violation concerning these times and days, which condition these two exceptions, the penalties described in Article 5 must be applied.

By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to take the necessary actions to avoid any trouble regarding your construction’s noise emissions and with noncompliance with the decree.

In any case, it’s important to clarify the penalties violators might face if the site’s noise exceeds the established limits.

To start, the decree considers violators to be “the property owner or holder, and, when applicable, the technical manager of the project.”

The penalties, as set out in Article 5 of the decree, become more severe with each recurrence:

1st notice: in addition to a fine (the amount set in the Table 5, annex of LPUOS), an official notice will be issued to stop the irregularity.

2nd notice: if the violation recurs, the fine will be double the previous amount and another notice will demand the issue be resolved.

3rd notice: the third notice results in a fine three times greater than the first and a shutdown of the project.

Recurrence means every infraction after the first for the same work, within a one-year interval.

Measurements to confirm compliance, as well as the issuance of citations, are carried out by PSIU – Technical Division for Urban Silence Inspection.

In cases where the violation persists, according to Article 7 of the decree, PSIU can take more drastic measures, referring the case to the Police Department, CREA or CAU, and the Department of Defense of the Environment and Heritage of the General Attorney’s Office of the Municipality (DEMAP).

How to avoid being penalized under the Decree 

The best way to comply with any noise emission law is through careful planning. For example, scheduling the noisiest phases for times when higher noise limits are permitted is a great start.

However, with construction projects, this planning can be tricky due to the range of phases, machines, and equipment involved.

Another complicating factor is that the duration of a project can range from months to two or three years (or more), depending on the size and complexity. This long period raises the chances of noise issues with neighbors, for example.

So how do you plan efficiently to ensure you won’t have noise problems? The answer is simple: monitor the noise emitted from your site!

To plan construction activities during less restrictive times, you need to know the noise levels emitted in each phase. There’s no way to do this except by measuring with proper equipment.

However, as mentioned before, a project goes through many phases, with various noisy machines, over long periods. So, a simple, short-term, or single-phase measurement isn’t enough. In construction, continuous, long-term monitoring is necessary.

At this point, you’re probably thinking long-term monitoring won’t be economically feasible for your project with its tight budget. This is where we introduce OTOH, a low-cost system developed specifically for this purpose: long-term noise monitoring.

Next, learn more about this system and how we can help you and your company avoid noise decree penalties and maintain good relationships with neighbors.

OTOH and construction site noise monitoring

OTOH is a smart, low-cost sound monitoring system that lets you check noise levels in real time. With strategically placed sensors on your site, you can analyze noise data through a user-friendly platform, using a computer or mobile device.

Monitoring noise levels in real time allows you to identify the noisiest sources on-site, leading to efficient activity planning and quick, precise action.

Finally, with the insights provided by OTOH, you’ll be able to clarify information for the local community, plan your construction activities, and have a secure tool to prove compliance with the limits set by Decree 60.581.

To learn more about this innovative noise monitoring system and get all your questions answered, get in touch with the OTOH team!

Decree No. 60.581, published on September 27, 2021, “regulates noise control during the execution of construction works in the Municipality of São Paulo.” This means that every construction project subject to an Execution Permit in the city of São Paulo must comply with the noise limits set by this decree, except for certain situations we’ll present next.
OTOH is a smart, low-cost sound monitoring system that lets you check noise levels in real time. With strategically placed sensors on your site, you can analyze noise data through a user-friendly platform, using a computer or mobile device.

São Paulo Construction Noise Decree: What You Need to Know!

Each sector has specific requirements, noise sources and challenges. The OTOH technology adapts to these particularities to generate relevant information for the management of each operation.

Traceability solution and data for incorporators and builders that need to act quickly, manage complaints and comply with the EIV.

Continuous monitoring for control and management of noise for shows, festivals and licensed spaces.

Support for urban noise management integrated with smart city solutions.

Continuous monitoring of operations and their impacts on the surrounding communities.

Continuous support for PGR, labor demands and related assessments to NR-1, NR-15 and PPP.

Operating sectors

Monitoring adapted to the reality of each operation

Construction noise management to reduce conflicts with the neighborhood

Real-time noise alerts

Strategic data for noise monitoring

Noise monitoring for environmental compliance

Continuous registration for noise management

Cases of use

When a complaint arrives, I extract the report and have a plausible justification quickly.

(...) very good to be able to analyze (data), make decisions with real basis.

The service was fast, the evaluation and visit were also everything great for us.

Real cases of noise management with continuous data

Companies that achieved these results

Monitor your operation 24 hours a day, automatically identify the main sources of noise and have the complete record quickly to verify compliance, investigate incidents and support technical decisions.

Continuous Sound Monitoring · IoT + AI

With specialized support and a simple implementation, transform the noise of your operation into information that guides decisions.

The contract starts with a diagnostic meeting, which aligns the scope of the monitoring with your operation.

The contract is a recurring service and includes the necessary investment for implementation and use of the system.

Just a bivolt power point and 15 minutes per station to implement the system and have acoustic data.

The monitoring stations have independent connectivity, without the need for local network.

The monitoring data is encrypted, and the system does not record audio by default.

The monitoring stations are autonomous, do not need local network.

How it works

Contract according to your operation

Quick implementation and real-time data

Noise management with privacy and security

The OTOH technical team performs an operation diagnosis to define the correct number and placement of sensors.
This sizing takes into account factors such as installation, distribution of sound sources, and critical monitoring points.

The OTOH technical team works with your team to assess the needs and characteristics of each requirement to define the most appropriate monitoring period.
The length is fully flexible and can be adjusted to the needs of each operation, ranging from short-term projects to long-term, continuous monitoring.

OTOH monitors, identifies the source, and documents noise behavior. 
With this knowledge in hand, your team can take proactive steps to reduce noise by rescheduling, relocating sources, and managing suppliers.
Designing and installing physical noise control solutions, such as acoustic barriers, insulation, or machine enclosures, is not within OTOH's scope. In these cases, an acoustic consultancy can decide and prioritize interventions more accurately and assess their efficiency after implementation.

To implement the system, you only need to provide an electrical network and the location where the sensors will be installed. The system is, by default, simple, and the team can study alternatives if the project requires any specific needs.

The OTOH digital platform can be accessed from any device without the need to install an app or software.
During the diagnostic meeting, we define who on your team will have access to the data, as well as the need to receive alerts and your preferred notification channel.

The OTOH system does not record audio by default.
The data is encrypted and respects both company and personal privacy.
Audio sample collection is an exceptional procedure, aimed exclusively at identifying customized sound sources, and is only carried out with prior and explicit authorization defined in the diagnostic meeting.

To ensure that the commercial proposal is tailored to your needs, the first step is to schedule a diagnostic meeting. This way, our technical and commercial team can assess your scenario, allowing the scope design to be aligned with your requirements.
Only then can we present the investment needed for implementation and use of the system, ensuring the scope matches exactly what you need.

The OTOH system includes intelligent monitoring, the data management platform, and the use of sensors on a lending basis.
Our model is a service provision, in which the sensors remain under our technical responsibility and management.

Results Achieved

Frequently Asked Questions

Check the record of the period and verify exactly what happened, even days after the event. Source identification allows responding with technical evidence.

Differentiate the monitored operation from external noise and direct actions to the correct cause.

Each event is associated with its main sound source.

Clarify what happened with continuously recorded data.

The history supports the resolution of conflicts, the relationship with the neighborhood and the verification of compliance.

The OTOH identifies the source of the noise, when it occurred and how long it lasted. With this information, your team acts on the correct cause, differentiates operation events from external sources and responds to complaints with evidence.

Why Source Identification

But it's necessary to understand the source of the noise to act

In the meantime, see what we’re saying about noise management.

We are working on various noise management applications in the construction industry.

Do you have a noise-related challenge in your operation?

The OTOH page for the construction industry is under construction.

The OTOH page for the construction industry is under construction.

São Paulo Construction Noise Decree: What You...