Industrial soundproofing is a unique form of acoustic engineering that’s used to reduce the noise of manufacturing and other industrial settings. As the number of complaints about noise has skyrocketed in recent years, manufacturers and industrialists have become more aware of how much noise their operations generate. In an effort to cut down on noise levels, some manufacturers turn to industrial soundproofing. It not only helps reduce noise but also makes it possible for workers to operate machinery in a safe environment. Here’s what you need to know about industrial soundproofing.
Key Principles of Soundproofing
Deflection
Most manufacturing operations generate a lot of sound. This is particularly true for those handling heavy or high-speed metal parts that generate high sound pressure levels. To reduce the risk of hearing damage or tinnitus, manufacturers can use a technique called deflection. This is when they shield equipment from high sound levels by redirecting part of the sound from a source (like a machine or tool) back toward the source using a baffle piece or acoustic screen. In this way, the equipment isn’t absorbing sound but just redirecting it. This is a cheap and effective way to reduce the overall sound pressure level in the room.
Absorption
An acoustic screen is only as effective as the material it’s made of. Acoustic screens made of rigid materials like plywood, particleboard, and MDF are not only expensive but they’re also pretty poor at absorbing sound. That’s where an acoustic absorbing material like QuietFibre Stone Wool Cavity Insulation comes in. When Stone Wool Cavity Insulation is exposed to sounds, it wicks away excess moisture and then rebounds sound back toward the source. The sound pressure level in the room is reduced by about 40%.
Decoupling
The goal of factory soundproofing is to reduce overall sound pressure levels as much as possible without totally eliminating all sound from an installation. For example, soundproofing can be done to separate different areas of an office or factory by installing several layers of soundproofing. One layer is the wall itself; the second is the door and window frames or sashes; the third is the insulation behind the layers; and the last is the roof. To fully decouple an office or manufacturing plant from the outside world, the walls and doors should be made of different materials so that sound moves only one way inside the building.
Thermal Conversion
One of the biggest challenges in industrial soundproofing is keeping equipment running at a constant low temperature. Manufacturers that want to run equipment at a constant low temperature without generating significant levels of sound should look to thermal conversion. Thermal conversion is the process of creating a low-energy environment inside equipment by converting sound energy into heat energy. For example, an air handler converts sound into warmth and humidification inside a room, and an exhaust fan can create heat and sound pressure outside the building. Industrial equipment that’s designed to run at a low temperature without generating significant sound levels often uses sound or heat sensors to shut down parts of the equipment when noise levels get too high or sound is coming from outside the building.
Types of Soundproofing materials
Acoustic Foam
Acoustic foam is a high-density polymer composited from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyurethane (PU). It’s specifically made for use in sound proofing, and it’s typically used as an insulating board or a sound absorber. Because it’s a thermoplastic, it can be cut to size, painted, or filled with fiberglass. It’s often used in places such as hotel rooms, lecture halls, and classrooms where regular acoustic boards or foams would be inappropriate.
Sound Proof Canopy
Soundproofing a ceiling is done by adding sound-absorbing materials, often known as panels or layers, between the ceiling and room. In the case of soundproofing a room, you can also refer to adding a soundproof canopy to the room. The soundproof canopy is usually made of expanded Polystyrene (EPS) or Styrofoam. An acoustic canopy is a stacked layer of sound-absorbing materials. It’s usually made up of two materials: an outer layer of fiberglass or a sound-damping material such as Teflon, and an inner layer of materials that absorb sound such as polyurethane, polyfoam, or fiberglass. One of the most effective and easiest ways to soundproof a room is with a soundproofing canopy. You can purchase one in either rigid or flexible configurations.
Exhaust Silencers
Exhaust silencers are soundproofing solutions that reduce the sound from escaping from a structure during heavy traffic or loud noises. Some types of exhaust silencers come with baffles to reduce the sound’s intensity, as well as sound-damping materials such as muslin, polyester, or cotton.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass is an extremely strong, lightweight material that’s used to make soundproofing panels and doors. You can either buy it pre-foamed or add it yourself. When you buy it pre-foamed, it’ll usually come in a tube form. You cut the tube into sections and then leave the ends open to allow air to escape.
