Tag: Outdoor Noise Control

Engage Sound Control Specialists to Conduct an Audit of Your Soundproofing Requirements

In most environments and workplaces sound control is mainly considered. It is needed for providing a pleasant and safe environment for people to work and operate in. In the present world of technological advancement it is needed to consider soundproofing of an environment or noisy machine, and in most cases a soundproofing solution can be found.

Sound Control

Many techniques are involved in modern methods of soundproofing by means of which sound emitted from air pressure and hydraulic pumps, vibrating machines, bottling lines, conveyor belts, machine parts, and high speed tools can be reduced or eliminated. There can be application of soundproofing materials to the machine and its parts for absorbing sound caused by air emission, vibration, and various other sources for reducing the noise as nearby the source as possible. In other instances for enclosing a noisy area, soundproofing enclosures can be built and produce a solution for controlling noise that prevents the escape of noise into a larger area. Inside a soundproofing enclosure a whole machine can be set up, or soundproofing materials can be fitted in a room for containing the sound waves.

A special operation where there is emission of not only sound but also heat and damaging sparks is welding. There can be control of these nuisances too using specially designed welding curtains. Presently sound control is a specialized field of technology having many different solutions for soundproofing. There is a difference in each situation meaning that each environment is different. Two pieces of machinery having the same specification can be installed into two distinct environments. This creates two distinct noise problems. There are innumerable variables like walling, flooring, roofing, dimensions of the area the machine is kept in and more

Sound Control Specialists

It is wise and surely more cost effective in engaging sound control specialists for conducting an audit of your requirements of soundproofing, instead of trying to solve the problem by yourself. The specialists are knowledgeable and have access to a large range of solutions and materials. A full service is provided by sound control specialists beginning with your sound level and sources being audited. Recommendations follow for the best solution possible to your sound control. After the best solution for you has been decided, they will source, or manufacture and the solution for sound control will be supplied to you. In some instances you can install the soundproofing or if there is requirement for expertise of specialist an installer will be recommended by the sound control consultant. For controlling sound you have to consult a specialist. It is one among the aspects of most importance to provide a safe, comfortable, and productive work environment and with the present technology there is no longer a problem in dealing with control of sound.

Echo Eliminator
Echo Eliminator is an acoustical material with high performance. It is made from recycled cotton. This product is suitable for applications that control noise. Its usage is as hanging baffle or an acoustic wall panel. It is 100% recyclable, Class A fire rated, and LEED eligible. It is lightweight, easy to install, durable, impact resistant, low cost, reflects high light, relocatable (with Grommets), and acoustical absorption with high performance. Echo Eliminator can be used in commercial and larger scale projects and unlike UltraSonic DIY Kits can be found in a range of sizes and colors. Echo Eliminator excellently reduces noise for room acoustics. Echo Eliminator is usually compared to Fiberglass in terms of performance in sound absorption. It is slightly better than Fiberglass. The distinct advantage of Echo Eliminator is that in its basic form it can be utilized like a finished product not needing added decorative covering. The acoustical core materials of fiberglass additionally need facing materials usually to contain and protect the fragile glass fibers and for aesthetics. There is a choice of 9 colors in Echo Eliminator while the color of Fiberglass is drab yellowish.
Applications using Echo Eliminator
Classrooms, lunch rooms, cafeterias, school gyms, churches, community centers, multi-purpose rooms and any application needing a noise control product with high performance commonly use Echo Eliminator.
Sizes, Colors, and Densities available for Echo Eliminator
Echo Eliminator’s standard size is 2′ × 4′. Also available in sizes 2′ × 2′, 4′ × 8′, 4′ × 4′, and 12″ × 12″. The different colors are White, Light Grey, Marble Light Blue, Beige, Pure Blue, Graphite, Burgundy, Navy Blue, Hunter Green and Black. For 3lb per cubic feet density 1″ and 2″ thickness panels are needed. For 6lb per cubic feet density 1″ thickness panels are needed.
Comparison of Echo Eliminator with other Acoustic Materials
It has been found that the performance and cost of Echo Eliminator is of superior value in comparison to other acoustic materials commonly used in architectural acoustics. While the acoustical performance of 2″ Fiberglass covered with fabric is similar to 2″ Echo Eliminator, the relative cost of the Fiberglass panel covered with fabric is more than thrice as much. Echo Eliminator is an environmental, cost-effective, and people safe alternative to fiberglass acoustical panels covered with fabric.
The cost of 1″ Melamine Foam acoustical panels is more than 1″ Echo Eliminator panels but its acoustical absorption is half of that provided by Echo Eliminator. Besides 2″ Melamine Panels covered with fabric can cost almost 2.5 times as much. In terms of performance and cost, Echo Eliminator is comparatively very favorable. 2″ Echo Eliminator provides acoustical performance of more than 25% in comparison to Melamine Foam and also costs 25% less. The durability of Echo Eliminator is also much more than melamine.

Dog Kennel/Grooming Salon Acoustics

Acoustic Surfaces has many different products that could all possibly lessen the noise in a dog kennel/grooming salon and all offer their own respective advantages and disadvantages. Some are washable, some are very economical, and some are customizable and decorative. The top three panels that come to mind are the Echo Eliminator, the Sound Silencer and the Fabric Wrapped Fiberglass panels. Each of these options offers a different advantage.

Echo Eliminator Panels

Of the three options the most cost effective is the Echo Eliminator panels. It is available in ten different colors. Made from recycled cotton fiber and usually left as it is which is somewhat similar to feel and look to a piece of felt. These panels are mostly installed onto the ceilings or walls with a spray adhesive or a construction adhesive. For mounting points some customers use grommets in the panels or also Velcro. Even though these panels are the least expensive, usually they have the least finished look. Depending on the room aesthetic and where the ceiling space or available wall is there they may work for you or not. The NRC rating of these panels is .80 (for the 1” thickness) which means that they are very absorbent.

Sound Silencer Panels

The Sound Silencer panels are available in 2’x4’ but absorb about 50% of the sound as either of the two other options. The great advantage this option has is the fact that these panels can be completely washed and can be utilized in areas that other panels will just not work. They can be attached to the ceiling or wall with adhesive.

Fabric Wrapped Fiberglass Panels

The Fabric Wrapped Fiberglass panels have the most finished look and have a little more absorbance than the Echo Eliminator panels. They are all customized offering the freedom of custom fabrics and panel sizes to utilize as the decorative facing. Since their production involves labor, they are also the most costly.

For knowing the number of panels that are needed, experts have suggested a thumb rule. That is 3% of the cubic volume of the room (height x width x depth) will give you the area to be covered by panels. This is a generic guideline and adjustments may be needed on the basis of the needs of a particular room.

Where you place the panels is entirely up to you and wherever they are placed in the room the same basic result can be got. The location of the panels does not make any difference to the acoustical result and functionality of the room. The area of panels installed relative to the size of the room has to be determined than them being put in specific locations.

Does Your Ceiling Fan Make A Lot Of Noise? Find Out Why
Have you not experienced the feeling when someone standing next to you keeps buzzing in your ear? It is natural that you will be irritated and you will lose the concentration in whatever work you are doing after some time. That feeling is exactly similar to the feeling that you will get when you are sitting under a fan that gives out a continuous buzzing noise.
Reasons for Fan Noise
There could be many reasons why a fan should be making unpleasant noise. To start with, we can say, that lack of proper maintenance and collection of dust may be one of them. Secondly, incorrect earthing and electrical faults may be other possibilities. Thirdly, the fan may be running at a very slow speed. Let us find out why the third reason should cause a problem. .
The motor of the fan is designed to run within a particular range of speed. The focus of the manufacturers is on the higher range of speed because fans running at higher speeds give out better air ventilation and more comfort by reducing perspiration. But, on the contrary a person feeling cold will in all probability switch off the fan completely.
However, there can be situations, when a person who is not comfortable without a ceiling fan and so would like to run the fan by reducing the power to the minimum. If the fan that is being used has been designed to run at prefixed limits, you may not have any problem. If there is a regulator on the fan to adjust the level of speed, you may try to choose a level that is so low that the motor starts giving out a buzzing noise. There is no definite solution to overcome this problem.
Possible Alternatives
The sensible thing to do is to identify that position of the regulator where the fan makes minimum noise when speed is reduced. You should not reduce the speed lesser than this level. Alternately, get a fan which has a motor having less power. Motors with higher power and range of speeds tend to malfunction when they are set to run at very low speeds at low power. That is why you can get over this problem by opting for a motor with less power. But it is well to remember that this suggestion may be successful only if you are planning to run the fan all the time at the lower speeds. In case you are particular to select a fan having provision to run at both low speed as well as high, it is clear that you will have to settle for either the performance of the fan or accept the sound pollution that will result.
Conclusion
Better fan designs are now available which can be run at lower speeds without much noise problems, but you may have to pay more. Also better maintenance like cleaning and oiling regularly may reduce the operating noise.

Diffusor Panel
A diffusor panel is more expensive because it is usually more difficult to build and design. There is some difficulty in integrating it into a room. They are rarely found in the average room but are commonly seen in recording studios and high end rooms.
Diffusion vs Absorption
A diffusor panel just absorbs sound waves and a panel as such can be placed wherever the overall room reverberation needs to be reduced and addresses the most damaging reflections. A point is quickly reached in many domestic rooms where no sound is heard. Problematic reflections are addressed by diffusors without absorbing their energy. They are an alternative to sound absorption since they do not remove sound energy but can be effectively used to reduce distinct reflections and echoes. In comparison to a reflective surface which causes reflection of most of the energy, in a diffusor, sound energy will be radiated in many directions. This leads to an acoustic space that is more diffusive. Also it is important that reflections are spread by a diffusor in time and also spatially. Another benefit is that when a small room is treated with diffusion it sounds bigger, while if absorption is used in treating a room there is a tendency of sound to be more controlled till it fades off.
Placement Considerations
You can place absorbers wherever you want in a room but the placement of diffusors is dependent on certain rules.
1. Minimum listening distance
At close range diffusors become inffective. The specific panel decides the minimum distance. Usually there is a requirement of 1m or more but where a wall behind is close to a listening position, a distance of .5m may be allowed by a low profile diffusor panel.
2. The impact of sound waves is reduced if before reaching the diffusor panel they have reflected off many boundaries.
3. Diffusors have a limited effective bandwidth.
4. Don’t overdo it!
Too much diffusion is likely to create imaging confusion.
Types of Diffusors
Mostly there are either 1D or 2D diffusors. QRD (Quadratic Residue Diffusor) is a common example. Since it is one among the simplest it is popular. A 1D QRD works in one direction and is very simple. A 2D QRD works in both directions. The Skyline diffusor is quite similar, which is essentially the same thing without the grid. Quite similar is the Skyline diffusor, which is basically the same thing without the grid.
Confusion over Diffusion!
Some panels are mistaken as dispersers while in fact they could be best described as scatterers. Panels featuring small pyramids or curves are not actual diffusors. More specular reflections are created by curved panels. They are similar to a curved mirror, while an actual diffusor panel is more like a matte painted wall.

Decorative Acoustical Products
Now acoustic panels are also available as decorative acoustical products in the sense that they bring decorative color and design to acoustical solutions. Acoustic panels are accepted widely as a wonderful way of insulating and soundproofing your building or home. Till now acoustical panel designs were more function-oriented, style and looks being neglected. Users took it for granted that acoustical panels were meant to be that way and that they don’t have anything to do with the decor of the other areas in the space. Now you get attractive acoustic panels which match your personal tastes and style and at the same time they meet your functional requirements, that is, sound proofing and control. Any space in your home or office can be treated with the new decorative products.
Types of Decorative Acoustical Products and Benefits
The acoustical tiles and panels must have color and texture matching with rest of the interior. Today it is possible to insulate your ceilings and walls with decorative acoustical products which bring form and function to merge with the rest of the room. There are flowing wave tiles which create built in pattern across the space. With the peel-and-stick multicolor hexagon tiles you can create any pattern or look that you like. At the same time you can reduce the sound level. They are easy to install. All that you do is peel off the stickers from the back of the tiles and stick them wherever you want sound control. Many urban and old industrial buildings have problems related to noise and sound. The conventional type of acoustic panels may not be to the taste of urbanites because they do not go with the existing decor. New decorative panels which are manufactured to look like corrugated sheets can add color and looks to such spaces. They can also absorb noise. Some spaces may be too large or not amenable for traditional acoustic panels. In such cases new ideas like custom-cut acoustic panels may be the solution. They can be stuck to MDF boards and suspended like a false ceiling. They go well with spaces like museums and are good in absorbing sound and at the same time give a friendly look.
If you have a requirement to dampen sound in a space, ceiling is the place you normally start with. Decorative baffles which are suspended like a false ceiling can not only absorb sound but also give an appealing look and improve aesthetics. If you have light fittings on the ceilings or walls and you would like to conceal them without affecting the decor. The decorative acoustic products like panels can be designed to enclose the lighting points and fixtures in a way they can absorb sound as well. Besides being suitable for study areas this will create very pleasing and aesthetic looks.
Good acoustics are necessary for both home and business life. But you can’t compromise on function for style. The new decorative acoustical products can give you style, looks, and also the sound control functions.

Create Your Very Own Garden of Eden with Acoustic Barriers
A garden can be a place of extreme relaxation and peace if you are lucky enough to live in a quite or remote area. For most of us however, we are in a constant battle against road and street noise surrounding our home. Whilst moving house might not be an option, there are several alternatives we can choose from to reduce the amount of noise pollution we hear, all of which can add to the aesthetic beauty of our back yard Eden.
Panelling the Fencing
The panelling or fencing that you put up on the borders of your garden can be improved by installing acoustic barriers. The cloth utilized for outdoor noise insulation can be attached to existing wood, plastic, or metallic panels, or they can be bought readymade and be fixed up with the help experts. Private as well as gated communities have been installing acoustic protections for years because they can fit the style of the community living there and also because they help in keeping out any sound from neighbouring area. Selecting a wood finish and installing them on the borders of your garden will eliminate a large part of the unwanted noise getting in. They are available in different heights and you don’t have to compromise between a nice view and sound proofing. The fencing will make nice back drop for green vegetation.
Planting Trees and Having Water Feature
Planting a number of tall trees or long hedge around the borders of your garden can also give noise reducing effects, but these do not give the same effect as acoustic barriers. Nevertheless they provide a solution to control noise which is more natural. They also help to reduce wind and dust from entering in, which can protect your vulnerable plants, particularly in winter. If you decide to choose hedges and trees as noise solution, you have to consider things like time for growing trees, maintenance and their effect on the plants already being grown.
Water Feature
There is yet another interesting solution suggested to mitigate the effect of noise from outside. A water feature comprising of running water from a nearby water source will mask the sound with the soothing tones of flowing water. If you can install such a water feature to your garden, even if it is small, it will help a lot.
Conclusion
Out of the three suggested solutions above, acoustic barriers are most effective in reducing the amount of undesirable noise entering your backyard. They can also protect your home from burglars as they are difficult to scale. For relaxing and enjoying your leisure time in your garden the investment in noise reduction treatment is highly worthwhile.

Corporate Office Interior Designing
Corporate office interior designing has assumed so much importance now because for many in the corporate world office is like home where they spend most of their time. Therefore it is natural that the design aspect of the interior of the office must be given lot of care. The two factors that are important for a model office space are functionality followed by visual appeal. An office interior that has very good aesthetics but poor utility will be a failure unless its good looks are matched by its practical design. Most of the corporate offices pay great attention to the design of their interior because they believe that the first impression created in the minds of employees, customers, and the public is through the appearance of the interior. This is also helpful to foster a unique office culture that the employees are proud of. A company’s slogan, logo or its motif when imaginatively used, boosts the company’s image creating its own style and sets the stage for the company’s success.
Create the Work Atmosphere
Corporate office interior designing if done with care and foresight will ensure that work will be smooth and hassle-free. As per a study by experts the ambience of the workplace is also an important factor that affects the mood of the employees and their productivity considerably. It has also been seen that work places that get plenty of natural light are conducive to happier and healthier employees when compared to workplaces that are poorly lit and badly ventilated. Another factor to remember while designing the office interior is about work spaces – how much space should be allotted for private office spaces and how much for staff working in team work-related projects. Best thing to do is to find a well thought out plan having both the layouts within the interior to ensure privacy for work and at the same time provide scope to develop bondage between fellow employees.
Proper Furniture and Color Scheme
The selection of furniture, its design, and how it is arranged also require some consideration. The furniture should not only be thought of just as a seating arrangement but provision should be made for sufficient space for storage. Furniture placement should be compatible with the arrangement of other items and aspects of the interior design. The design should ensure higher energy flow, which is considered as another important contributing factor for developing healthy relationship between employer-employee and vice versa. Investment in furniture is not a waste. It ensures that employee health is cared for. Also an ergonomically designed chair or table placed at proper levels can avoid many occupational syndromes. Corporate office interior designing should pay attention to color scheme of the interior which is a critical factor influencing the mood at the workplace. Proper color scheme directs the flow of energy in the proper direction.
Finally, corporate office interior designing should be futuristic, in the sense that there should be a long term plan for future expansion.

Conveyor Noise Issues – A Thing of the Past
Conveyors are generally big complicated motorized equipment which is very noisy. As employees work hard around the conveyor, different machines work nearby, materials flow along the structures noise levels can grow to be even louder than anticipated. When it comes to health and safety of human beings, conveyor sound should be taken seriously. We shall consider what forms of conveyor sections make the maximum noise and available methods to lessen the sound problems that conveyors cause.
Causes for Noise
The unbearable noise created by conveyors is due to the components that are connected with the process. Those components are the conveyor rolls, and roller shaft, and roller bearings. To decide the amount of noise generated by the conveyors, we need to check their rolling speed. Furthermore, the frames of those conveyors made from thick gauge steel are also responsible for making the noise.
Yet another part of the conveyor that to a large extent adds to the sound is its drives. Subunits of the drive consist of electronic motors, gear boxes, power trains, belts, bearings, sprockets, chains, guards, and mounts causing high pitched whines and annoying vibrations to those working around. Also, pneumatic devices can cause hearing problems. The pneumatically controlled conveyor causes unwanted static due to air compression modules and drained ports.
Controlling Conveyor Noise
The layout, condition and direction of the belt floor and joints inside the belt can make a big difference to the sound levels as well as how the belt moves across the roller mattress or the slider bed. Sooner or later the encompassing walls and work spaces can become major factors in noise dampening. Having a suitable place or building to install a conveyor is as important to sound dampening as tuning the conveyor and building it accordingly.
The companies usually look for the best for themselves as well as for their employees. They would not wish that their employees be harmed as a result of the noise problems posed by the conveyors. Since conveyors cannot be got rid of totally, the solution is modernizing them. Faulty conveyors should get replaced. Additionally conveyors must be checked frequently to make certain that their condition is not harmful to the humans around.
Other Methods
Ensuring that all conveyor parts are properly lubricated, moving logically and are not worn out is an almost definite way to maintain conveyor noise levels under control. Some other more complicated techniques include dampening, vibration isolation, and as well as absorption. This can be achieved through effective shielding or encasing. Those lucky enough to start their venture from the very beginning should try hard to get rid of the potential noise problems at source itself in the original design.

Conclusion
Since companies cannot do without conveyors in their businesses, it is important that they follow the regulations of OSHA. The employees should be sent for health checkup regularly and wear audio protectors.

Controlling Noise in Factories

In the United States, there are noise standards e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect workers from harmful health effects of exposure to high level noise. The standards are meant to safeguard workers from getting exposed to high level noise above an 8-hour time weighted average of 90 decibels (dBA). In addition to this, workers are also required to go through a hearing conservation program (including monitoring of hearing). It is necessary for employees whose noise exposure levels in 8-hour exceed 85 dBA. This type of safety standards are enforced in other countries as well. Factory workers are exposed to harmful levels of noise due to closeness to noisy machinery. It is known that in some factories noise level is higher than even 100 dBA.

Resorting to the use of ear plugs for hearing protection is to be the last attempt only if all other efforts to control noise within the accepted standard after implementing all other noise control measures have failed. That is why engineering and administrative steps to control sound are important.

Noise Control – Factories must Satisfy the Following Conditions

They must not cause any obstruction for workers in the use of the machine. Machine enclosures and noise barriers are effective methods for reducing noise; but their presence must not seriously hamper workers or affect productivity. Designing effective barriers for noise control without obstructing workers, for lift movement and walk ways is a challenge. They must be resistant to the rigors of working conditions in the workplace. Any noise control method selected must suit the environment in which they are going to function. The materials for noise control must withstand exposure to dirt, water, or oil which are common in the factory. Also they should resist the impacts of high traffic if they are placed in such areas. They must not affect the productivity and dependability of the machine and not lead to malfunctions or other technical problems.

Acoustic Enclosures

Though acoustically approved enclosures of machines can effectively control noise, there may be some airflow problems which may cause overheating of machines. To overcome this, you may need cooling systems, which in turn may need cooling systems themselves. Enclosures should not cause visibility problems near machines and other factory areas where visibility is important. In order to ensure visibility for managers to oversee work areas transparent materials may be used for noise control.

Conclusion

Noise consultants may be hired for assessing sound levels and advising on noise control systems. A competent noise consultant should be capable of designing the appropriate systems for noise control which will meet all the above conditions. Noise monitoring services are available to measure sound and vibration levels.