26 December, 2013

Basic Facts On Environmental Noise Control

By Eugenia Dickerson


Noise can simply be described as unwanted or annoying sound. Significantly high noise levels negatively impact on the human population both emotionally and physically. A noisy environment is not only difficult to work in but poses a significant health risk as well. Persons that work in such environments need to undergo regular medical check-ups so that they can be screened for hearing impairment. The main purpose of environmental noise control is to make the acoustic environment better.

There are many sources of this type of pollution other than the industrial sources. The commonest causes include architecture, the transport industry and urban planning. Air and road traffic are considered the biggest sources of pollution worldwide. Some sources are fairly easy to bring under control while others are a major challenge.

Different methods have been used to manage interior sound levels. These include party wall designs, exterior walls, and floor and ceiling assemblies. Rooms designed for specific purposes like entertainment halls, recording rooms and auditoria generate sound which can be contained by constructing sound absorbers or baffles. Sound masking as opposed to proofing refers to active addition of sounds to minimize the perception unwanted sounds.

The planned introduction of hybrid vehicles is set to reduce the level of sound pollution in the streets. This, unfortunately, will take an extremely long time to be realised. It is estimated that at least half of the vehicles have to be replaced on the roads if the pollution is to be controlled. Other ways of controlling the problem include modification of tire tread designs and improving diesel stacks. Speed control is an additional measure that can be undertaken.

Aircrafts with quitter engines are now being adopted by a number of designers and this has gone a long way into making the environment better. Restricting flights in some sensitive areas also helps in managing the pollution. Restriction can be done through allocation of specific times for flights, allocating specific paths, runways and so on. The main disadvantages of doing this include inconveniences to travellers and unfavourable flight economics.

A number of finishes and materials can be employed in ceiling panels and acoustic walls. A good panel is one that does not interfere with the substrate. Fabric covers are used for effective maximum absorption. The covers may be modified into sound blankets or curtains that are used to cover surfaces or noisy equipment. Moreover, windows that are thicker or double glazed may also serve the same purpose.

In manufacturing industries, it is important to adopt designs that will produce the least amount of noise possible. Persons that are stationed in these places should have protective equipment and should be exposed to the environment only when necessary. Quality control departments should have their own quiet rooms where proper acoustics are fitted to keep away the disturbance.

Well planned environmental noise control can eliminate a key component of industrial, recreational or road traffic impact on the surrounding environment. Summarily, the available techniques include sound insulation, absorption, vibration, damping and isolation. Sound insulation introduces a mass barrier to prevent sound transmission. Damping works by extracting vibration energy and dissipating as heat from the thin sheet.




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