This article takes an in depth look at industrial noise control products.
In this article you will learn more about topics such as:
“Any surplus and gratuitous sound that exceeds the optimum level of 85dB and affects the physical and mental health of living beings is termed as noise pollution”.
Noise pollution is one of the types of environmental pollution that not only affects the physical health of living beings but also their mental health. Any particulate matter that is present in the environment for a longer period of time and disturbing the natural balance of the earth is creating pollution. Centuries ago there was only air pollution, soil pollution and water pollution but nowadays, the modern world faces a dangerous type of pollution: noise pollution. Noise pollution could be anything that we hear in our everyday life, from household chores to industrial noise. According to The World Health Organization a person who is exposed to a constant noise above 85dB for approximately 8 hours is having serious health issues.
We hear many kinds of noise pollution in our daily lives but do not consider them as pollution. These are:
These are the noises we hear mostly in our daily lives and never thought of as noise pollution.
There are two primary types of noise pollution. One is man-made and the other is environmental.
Environmental noise pollution is caused by living organisms or environmental factors. It could be the mating voices of many animals, reptiles, and birds or could be the voice of thunderstorms.
Man-made noises are of many kinds and many factors are involved in it. The types of noises that are made by the activities of human beings are termed as man-made noises. These are:
Poor urban planning is the main reason for man-made noise pollution. The population of the world is growing exponentially, and the space for their living is quite less comparatively. Large numbers of people are sharing the same spaces, and their needs for living create noise sometimes. They often share the same parking lots, which also causes fights sometimes. Other than these, residential areas are in the vicinity of industrial areas, and the noises coming from industries are creating huge problems for the people living there.
When a large number of people live in the same area then obviously there will be a lot of noise of household chores from every house such as cleaning, dishwashing, mowing, appliances and many more.
There is a lot of traffic noise whether it’s on the roads or in the air. Air traffic also creates noise pollution other than cars, buses, and ambulances.
Any social event that is organized in residential areas creates noise pollution. Fireworks, crackers, gun fires, and also loud music creates nuisance for the people living in that area.
The noise of construction work like drilling, cutting and use of heavy machinery is also a man-made noise pollution. We need construction every other day, and that not only causes hearing problems for the workers but also for the people nearby.
We live in the age of industry, and the noise coming from industries are too loud and unbearable for common people. The workers also suffer from several diseases if they do not follow sops. The noise of fans, generators, compressors, and grinding mills promotes noise pollution.
Animal sounds sometimes reach an unbearable level if they are present in residential areas. Their mating sounds, dogs barking, and howling can reach up to 80-85dB and are too difficult to cope with.
In suburban areas, the worst type of noise pollution is from gas powered leaf blowers with no noise abatement components. Additionally, lawnmowers are another yard tool that creates noise pollution especially if the mower is poorly tuned or its muffler is broken.
All these man made noises can damage not only the physical health of anyone but also the mental health if not properly taken care of.
Noise pollution can be very dangerous for human health and life if not given attention to. As discussed earlier, constant exposure to noise leads to many health issues such as hearing problems, cardiovascular diseases, behavioral and cognitive issues, sleeping disorders, physical problems, and psychological issues in human beings. A high pitched voice if constantly heard, can damage our eardrums. Our eardrums are too sensitive and cannot bear loud voices. It can rupture, causing permanent hearing loss, and possibly balance difficulties.
Noise pollution can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attacks, stress, anxiety and agitation, headaches and respiratory issues in people exposed to noise pollution regularly. Sleep disorder is very common in such people, as they cannot focus on their routine matters and loud noises, unable them to sleep properly, which can lead to serious psychological and physical dysfunction.
Human beings, wildlife, and marine life also get disturbed due to this noise pollution. Due to our use of high level technology in our industries and our routine life wildlife gets disturbed to carry out their normal functions such as their mating process, building homes, or food collection. Most marine mammals use echolocation for finding their mates or locating food in the water but due to supersonic submarines and ships, a disturbance in their functions is observed. Hence it is very necessary to control noise pollution for the well being of humans as well as wild and marine life.
We are living in the age of rapid growth, and rely on lots of industries. We have technical ways to produce anything, whether it’s our food on the table or our clothes. The roads we drive on or the houses that we live in. Each and every product of our living necessity is manufactured in industry. This dependence on the industry has facilitated us a lot and also plays a pivotal role in damaging our ecosystem and life on earth. These industries pollute our environment in many ways. These emit toxic gases and fumes directly into the air polluting our air quality, making it unfit for living beings to survive. And also these industries release their toxic water into our rivers and lakes, which go to the oceans.
Not only the air and water pollution, these industries are responsible for noise pollution also. Some industries are also responsible for radioactive and thermal pollution, which is way more hazardous than any other type of pollution. This noise pollution is affecting the workers to a dangerous level. Constant exposure to this industrial noise is the cause of hearing loss and permanent damage to their hearing abilities. Our eardrum is too sensitive for noise levels, so eardrums can rupture easily if we hear a constant high pitched voice for a longer period of time.
Other than hearing damage, this industrial noise pollution causes many other mental and physical problems in the workers of the industry and the people living near the industrial zone. Noise pollution can cause high levels of stress and anxiety in a person. Cardiovascular diseases are observed along with many psychological and behavioral changes that may lead to an exposed person’s death.
In this modern era everyone is well aware of the adverse effects of noise pollution, especially industrial noise pollution. WHO also agreed to start different campaigns across the world to mitigate the effects of noise pollution. There are certain ways to control industrial noise pollution, and some of them are discussed below:
One of the biggest challenges industries face is to reduce their noise pollution and increase their productivity. Keeping an acceptable level of noise is really important for the mental and physical health of the employees. There are many methods and products to control industrial noise pollution such as dampening, installing double fans, and using sound absorbing materials in machines, wall panels, ceiling tiles, enclosures, barriers, etc. Industrial noise can be inside or outside of the industry and should be controlled by soundproofing products. There are many types of soundproofing products that are best fit for any kind of factory, hypoallergenic and are easy to maintain. They are made up of special materials like:
The industrial noise control products are of many kinds and are discussed below one by one.
Acoustic high quality barriers give high performance in reducing noise pollution to an optimum level. Acoustic barriers are more durable and easy to install rather than any other noise controlling product. Industrial sectors where acoustic barriers are used are:
Absorptive free standing barrier is a type of acoustic barrier, which is lighter in weight and easy to install anywhere. Following are its characteristics:
Reflective acoustic cladding panels are usually a cost effective solution in mitigating the reflected sound effects in an industry. They are attached to already existing walls or barriers of the designated place. The benefits and characteristics these panels can give are as follows:
These acoustic louvered screens are used in the areas where there is ventilation required for the cooling or exhaust process in mechanical plants. They are available in stylish screens also which will look aesthetically pleasing. They are specifically required in places where proper air ventilation is required. Following are the characteristics of louvred screens:
In industry production sites, there is a lot of resonance and reflection of sound, which becomes difficult to handle and work in such a noisy environment. For this purpose, acoustic enclosures are there to help. These enclosures reduce industrial noise pollution with the help of a metal case that is formed outside the machinery. This reduces the noise and helps in smooth working. The key features of these enclosures are as follows:
The acoustic enclosures can be customized in the client's desired material and color. Some common finishes are:
Acoustic enclosures are designed for all these spaces to provide noise free office space and easily viewed machine control rooms to check the working of machines.
Acoustic canopies are designed so that they can be placed anywhere on the machinery site. It is assembled and just has to be lowered down on the machine. It can be used for both internal and external sites of the industry. It is mostly used for machinery like transformers, compressors, gas turbines, diesel generators, and other machines where proper ventilation is required to cool down the machine.
Varitone sound absorption panels are rectangular and are attached to the walls or hang down the ceiling of an enclosed or semi enclosed area. They are highly compatible in reducing the echo or resonance produced inside any building by dispersing it inside and creating a softer tone to improve audio and visual communication. These varitone panels are made up of perforated steel, and inside their walls there are acoustic absorbents present, making them highly effective to use in areas like schools, sport halls, or music rooms. Additionally these panels can be cleaned easily and thus very useful in food facilities. Varitone absorption panels are finished with galvanized steel and polyester powder coating. Other features are as follows:
Soundproof curtains and blankets are made up of soundproof materials that are cost effective and easy to install anywhere where required. Industrial sound is blocked and absorbed by these curtains, which are made of fiberglass or foam core, and the outer area is made of aluminum or polyester fabric. These materials are ideal for covering machinery or any outdoor space. If these curtains are required for indoor use, then decorative curtains are made according to the client's demand. The soundproofing blankets are made up of fiberglass used in the core area, whereas the facing is of vinyl or flameproof foil and is usually highly effective in wrapping the external elements of the building. These reduce noise pollution to an optimum level in industries and are offered in many varieties. Some of the types of soundproof curtains and blankets are as follows:
Eco barriers are industrial sound control product, and its features are as follow:
Quilted curtain is also a type of soundproof curtain that is used for unusual conditions. Other features of the quilted curtain are as follows:
An exterior quilted barrier acts both as a noise barrier as well as a sound absorber composite. This absorbing blanket consists of an exterior grade that is UV resistant with quilted fiberglass facing, and it is bonded with an interior vinyl barrier. Its outdoor panels are made with grommets present top to bottom and Velcro seals along the vertical ends. Other specifications are as follows:
Soundproof interior doors are available for reducing noise pollution in any specific area and not disturbing the entire site. Salient features of soundproof doors are as follows:
Soundproof windows are also available that can efficiently reduce noise pollution. Its characteristics are as follows:
Ceiling baffles are the devices that are hung down the ceiling of the building to reduce the resonance or echo produced. The characteristics of ceiling baffles are:
Acoustic foams absorb the airborne sound waves and thus reduce noise pollution of the area. Acoustic foams can be applied on the ceiling, doors and walls of the room which helps reduce the sound of low to mid frequency. These acoustic foams are flexible in structure and when a sound wave is entered into its composition, it is absorbed and reduced drastically. Acoustic foams can be found in two shapes, flat shaped or convoluted shape. They can be placed parallel on the surface or in egg crate shape. There are three different types of acoustic foams:
Acoustic foams are easy to install, help reduce noise pollution, enhance voice quality, and give a good look to the area. The acoustic foams can be used in offices, gymnasiums, home theaters, manufacturing facilities, churches, schools, corporate offices, and auditoriums.
Mineral wool is made from inorganic mineral fibers enhanced with glass fibers with a sound transmission class (STC) of 10, which means that it provides a high level of sound reduction and noise control. It is made from several different minerals including polycrystalline and silicate. Mineral wool is made from molten rock that is passed through a stream of air or steam. More advanced processes, spin the molten rock to produce the rock fibers.
Rockwool is a stone wool insulation able to withstand temperatures of 2150 oF with exceptional acoustical dampening properties
Properties of Rockwool:
Air duct silencers, also known as sound attenuators, are designed to control noise in ducts, building openings, enclosures, and equipment. The various forms of silencers include acoustical silencers, generator and engine silencers, HVAC silencers, and sound traps that reduce sound volume from a factory floor.
When thin sheets of metal in a duct system expands, it makes popping and banging sounds. Systems can also make noise if they have not been cleaned or are undersized. To suppress the noise, silencers are installed near the source of the noise such as fans, air handling units, air flow regulators, or fire and air dampers.
Helmholtz resonators are a narrow bandwidth device that targets single frequency anomalies in the RPM range. It is frequency specific and operates in a narrow bandwidth. The helmholtz resonator is a cavity with a wide mouth and thin neck at its diameter.
The air in the resonator is at a higher pressure that causes it to move out of the resonator leaving low pressure in the resonator. The motion creates an oscillating motion from high to low pressure at a particular frequency, which is the resonant frequency of the helmholtz resonator.
As air moves past the helmholtz resonator, air is pulled in and pushed out changing its pressure and the sound it produces. They are ideal for treating low frequencies.
Perforated tube silencers are referred to as reactive silencers and have a similar structure as the perforated tubes in automobile exhausts. The perforations in the tubes redirect the sound waves and deflect them back toward their source, which reduces their volume. Perforated tube silencers do not have acoustic insulation. They attenuate sound by scattering and deflecting the sound waves.
One of the benefits of reactive silencers is how easy they are to clean because they do not have fibers and have very little pressure loss. The size of perforated tube silencers makes it possible to install them in high speed machinery, generators, and blowers. They can be used for high, medium and low frequencies.
ANC uses sound to minimize intrusive sounds and is designed to work against by causing it to be canceled. It is used in headphones and computers to suppress the noise from their fans. ANC mirrors the compression and rarefactions of the sound waves with the same volume with the sound waves of the ANC being inverted.
The process of an ANC causes the two sets of sound waves to combine and create destructive interference to form a neutral soundwave. ANC technology is designed for small noise problems and cannot be scaled for large applications.
Sound dampening reduces the volume of sound by increasing the distance from the sound, installing dampening structures, and using anti noise devices.
Properties of Sound Dampening Materials
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