Off-road

In order to curb the output of air pollutants at building sites, the FOEN put into force the “Prevention of Air Pollution on Construction Sites” (Construction Guideline for Air) guideline on 1 September 2002. To reduce diesel soot emissions, the guideline provides for mandatory particulate filters for construction machinery with a capacity of 18kW or more used on B construction sites.
By accepting the motion “Jenny”, the parliament therefore instructed the Federal Council to harmonize the execution of the regulations on air pollution for the use of construction machines with particulate filters throughout Switzerland. The Federal Council complies with this instruction by raising the relevant regulations of the FOEN guideline to decree level. At the same time, the Federal Council extends the regulation to all construction sites in Switzerland. This means that the previously valid classification for construction site size no longer applies.

This change has led to a situation where construction machines must be retrofitted with a soot particulate filter as follows:

• For new machines and devices with a capacity of 37 kW or more, the regulations became effective on 1 January 2009.
• Machines already in operation with 37 kW or more (year of construction 2000-2008) must be retrofitted as of 1 May 2010. For use at large construction sites (so-called B construction sites), the previous obligation to retrofit continues to apply with no changes. The oldest machines (construction year prior to 2000) are exempt from the regulations until 2015.
• For new machines and devices with a capacity of 18 to 37 kW, the requirements as of construction year 2010 apply. The use of construction machines of this category which are already in operation and are not equipped with a particulate filter is not restricted.