How to Deal with Construction Noise
Acoustic Barriers
Construction sites are a major contributor to environmental noise pollution and can cause problems for builders and contractors alike. Environmental noise can give rise to noise complaints, which often have a negative impact on construction activities and can cause setbacks to timescales and budgets.
However, construction noise can be easily reduced with the right controls, such as acoustic barriers. These are often considered to be the preferred method of reducing construction site noise and they are effective in both the reduction of environmental noise and for the protection of on-site workers.
Controlling Noise from Construction Sites
Noise during construction is difficult to control. Unlike typical industrial activity such as factories, construction sites tend to have a lot of movement and variation in terms of noise sources and their locations. Heavy earth moving vehicles and building equipment contribute to the intensity of various noise sources during the day. Noise sources on site can include the use of jackhammers, dump trucks, cement mixers, welding machines, drills and sledgehammers to name a few. These all contribute to background noise, impact noise and intermittent noises that contribute to the overall noise level of the site. This noise needs to be controlled.
Identifying Solutions
In order to identify if a construction site needs noise controls, noise assessments are often carried out by a professional. Noise regulations define the exposure action values, which in turn indicate if actions need to be taken. Noise exposure levels within the upper action values will require that action is taken in the form of a noise reduction plan, which will help mitigate the impacts of noise on the surrounding area,
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Once a noise problem has been identified or reported, there are several ways site noise can be controlled. Of these, noise barriers or acoustic barriers are one of the most effective and simplest solutions that can be implemented.
Acoustic Barriers
An effective way of reducing construction site noise is to locate it behind purpose-built acoustic barriers. Ventac supply acoustic barriers made with sound absorbing and barrier materials, which provide the maximum amount of noise reduction. Noise barriers tend to be found along the outskirts of construction sites or around noisy activities. Barriers are most effective when they are located as close to the noise source as possible.
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How do Noise Barriers Work?
Acoustic barriers work by reducing the transmission of noise from its source to the receiver. For barriers to be most effective, they should be constructed as close as possible to the noise source. But considering the typical movement around a construction site, this is not always practical. If the noise barrier can’t be located near the noise source, the next option is to place the barrier near the receiver, which is often the solution found around construction sites within urban locations with barrier curtains around the perimeter of the site. However, the benefit of the barrier diminishes the further the receiver is from the noise source, which is an important factor to bear in mind if you are located near noise sensitive locations.
