The national power crisis has caused a ripple of complaints, new regulations and additional costs with no thanks to noisy generators disturbing the peace.

Such is the case for two sisters Zita and Candice du Preez from Charleston Hill, Paarl East, who are complaining about the Super Spar centre’s generator buzzing at industrial noise levels in a residential area. Outdoor Power Equipment

“This generator not only disturbs my sleep at all hours of the night, but also during the day while I’m working,” said Candice. “Aside from that, this noise disturbance can affect the value of our property.”

The troubled and tired resident is a learning content writer for a foreign company and works remotely from home.

She said Drakenstein Municipality sent agents out to do a sound test in November 2022.

“They came out, conducted a decibel (dBA) test and later confirmed the noise coming from the centre’s generator is at an industrial level and therefore in clear violation of municipal by-laws.”

She claims DM’s Environmental Officer’s reading was around 78 dBA while legal noise levels should be between 50 and 60 dBA.

A notice was served soon thereafter, indicating the noise from the centre’s generator is in contravention of municipal bylaws and was given one month to suitably soundproof the generator by 23 December 2022.

“The fact that we are talking about this in January 2023 means they have not complied with the order,” Candice points out.

“Disturbing the peace every day and every night is harmful to healthy sleep and mental well-being. The other night the generator went on from 20:00 to midnight and then again from 04:00 to 08:00.

“I start work at 08:30. The following day, it was from 02:00 to 06:00. I got one hour’s sleep before I had to be up for work.”

The municipality’s Executive Director of Planning and Development, Jacqui Samson, said the complainant Candice and her sister found the noise level of the generator at the centre (of which Super Spar is a tenant) at “disturbing” levels from their residence, in accordance with the Western Cape Noise Control Regulations of 2013.

“The municipality issued a notice to the property owner on 23 November 2022, requiring them to implement appropriate noise-mitigation measures,” she confirmed.

These regulations prohibit a “disturbing noise”, which is defined as one that is 70 dBA or greater above the applicable outdoor rating level for a particular district.

“Since the generator is located on business premises along a busy road, the applicable district is an ‘urban district’ with one or more of workshops, business premises and main roads,” Samson poined out.

She added a disturbing noise in this district would be noise at levels that are equal to or greater than 67 dBA in the daytime and 57 dBA during night time, and the centre’s generator is therefore above maximum outdoor noise levels.

“The municipality understands the property owner will provide a reasonable time frame to address the issue shortly. However, if this is not the case, the municipality may have to take the matter to the Municipal Court.”

The management of the centre known locally as the Minitzers, spoke to Paarl Post .

Dennis Minitzer first clarified the issue has nothing to do with Spar, “and responsibilities related to generators rest on the building’s management alone.

“We received a notice from the municipality and have since then tried to get the soundproofing materials necessary. However, increased hours of load shedding and demand for generators also caused a delay in the supply chain of soundproofing materials.”

Minitzer says this is the second generator the centre has bought in the past 14 years.

“Previously we had the proper soundproofing shield. But the other day we came out to inspect the soundproofing that was also used on the new generator and found it was gone, probably stolen.

“The initial soundproofing cost about R50 000, and the new shield may range anywhere between R50 000 and R100 000.”

He is hopeful the material arrives soon and that the noise levels should show improvement within two weeks.

Samson provides guidelines showing how all new commercial or residential generators that are fixed installations must be on the approved building plan(s) of the property prior to their installation.

“Various departments comment on these applications, including the municipality’s Fire Services, from a fire safety perspective, Electro-Technical Services, from an electrical safety perspective, and Environmental Management, from an environmental and noise perspective.”. Generators that are connected to the grid also require an electrical certificate of compliance. . There are also portable generators on the market, and these may not cause a disturbing noise. For instance, if a resident purchases a portable generator within a suburban district with little road traffic, the noise level of the generator beyond the property boundary must be below 57 dBA during the daytime and 47 dBA during the night time.. A suggested best practice is to avoid placing the generator on the boundary and have the generator soundproofed by an acoustic engineer to ensure that the noise level complies with the Western Cape Noise Control Regulations of 2013.. Property owners who wish to install a generator are required to consider surrounding properties when deciding on a location for the generator. . Residents may submit a disturbing noise complaint to environment@drakenstein.gov.za, or by calling 021 807 4833 during office hours for investigation.

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