Decades ago, the acceptable noise level within a working environment was set by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Following this, industries were required to monitor noise levels within their facilities and, wherever workers are present, keep these levels within the set limits.
In order to comply with this mandate, industries employed both engineering and administrative noise control measures. Some companies decided to use technology and the latest equipment, while others resorted to limiting workers’ exposure time.
Now, in terms of noise, metal buildings are the “sound” choice. This is because metal buildings, from the name itself, is almost 100% made of metal – and metal is known for its various benefits, including noise control. Metal can be used for walls, in place of mineral fiber or fiberglass, when you want to achieve optimal noise control. Unknown to many, metal is actually excellent for sound absorption and this material has been widely-used in Europe for many decades, even before it became popular in the U.S.
Today, perforated metal walls are the emergent trend for noise control in metal buildings. Perforated aluminum or steel – the most common types – can absorb sound by up to 95%, when reinforced, say, with acoustical fleece panels. And while other combinations of materials can match this acoustical absorption rate, metal is more resistant to damage and is easily more sustainable.
Another standard technique for metal buildings in commercial applications is the use of resilient furring channels. Simply said, these metal channels reduce noise by breaking the path of sound waves that attempt to pass through spaces within the structure.
For some metal buildings, however, the first two techniques are not enough to mitigate the noise. For larger scale noise control, which is common in the industrial setting, the use of reflective metal interlocked systems is popular. This is somewhate similar to the first method discussed, with perforated metal sheets, except this time they are reinforced with an amalgam of mineral wool and solid steel panels.
There are many ways around a noise problem, and these are not mutually exclusive solutions. Of course, the choice depends largely on the level of noise that you have to deal with. Take time to define your environment before employing noise control measures for your metal buildings.
Archive for April 1st, 2012
Metal is a Sound Choice
Sunday, April 1st, 2012Know When It’s Time for Noise Control
Sunday, April 1st, 2012When you notice how your head aches after your daily plant visit, or how the rumbling and pounding of machines rhythmically turns your good morning into a bad one, don’t even wait for to get complaints from neighboring establishments about the noise from your warehouse – it’s time for noise control.
Simply said, noise can be disruptive to any environment, be it a theater or a church. Exposure to constant noise is scientifically proven to affect temperament, performance, and health. This is basically why the OSHA requires establishments to, let’s just say, quiet down.
Since OSHA’s release in 1970, several methods have been developed in order to meet this new requirement. Acoustical walls, ceiling panels, and combinations of all sorts have been used for noise control in metal buildings. But the first step to controlling noise is determining what the noise is all about.
You have to determine what’s causing the noise before you can identify just how much money and effort you have to put in to reduce it. For metal buildings in industrial applications, they may be machinery, indoor vehicles, or specialized equipment. For metal buildings in commercial applications, noise may be caused by the number of people talking at the same time. The primary causes of noise are extremely variable and largely depend on the nature of your business.
Once you have determined what’s causing the noise, you have to define the geographic locations of these causes. When you’re in manufacturing, it’s likely that your machinery is concentrated in a single large portion of your warehouse. For most metal buildings, it is also likely that part of it is used for administrative functions. The proximity of the two areas and the structures that separate them, such as walls, are crucial information to determine the appropriate noise controls. This is how you know not only what type of acoustic walls and reinforcements you will have to install, but also exactly where you have to put them.
Lastly, you’ll have to prioritize. Noise is a collective result of many factors. Dealing with causes that relatively contribute less noise will reduce the overall noise level insignificantly. For example, both the boiler and the exhaust are noise contributors. Reducing the noise from the exhaust first will have little effect on the overall noise level. Only when you deal with the noise from the boiler will you notice the difference. So as a final check, you must rank the causes and know which ones to address first, in order to enjoy the benefits of noise control inside metal buildings, within the shortest time possible.