Broadband Reversing Alarms

As a way to minimise disruption to neighbours, improve safety and to comply with the latest City of London Code of Practice, the 21 Moorfields project has specified that all delivery vehicles on the project should be fitted with broadband-only reversing alarms.

Noise from broadband-only reversing alarms dissipates quickly at distance and thus reduces nuisance to neighbours. The frequency of the sound is also easier for operatives to locate which improves site safety.

As broadband sounders are not a legislative requirement, Sir Robert McAlpine have been working closely with the supply chain to implement this improvement. The project has been running a survey on the use of alarms in delivery vehicles, and since the survey has started, the proportion of ‘beeping’ reversing alarms has halved and continues to drop. Training has also been provided to the site team to communicate its importance.

When a vehicle is verified to have broadband reversing in place, a sticker is provided on the bumper. This sticker acts as an acknowledgement so our traffic marshals know that this particular vehicle is compliant. The sticker also raises awareness of the need for broadband sounders in the City of London and demonstrates that contractors are actively checking vehicles, encouraging the retrofitting of vehicle fleets.

This management practice should have a lasting benefit to construction sites and their neighbours, making them both safer and reducing environmental nuisance.