Enclosing Noisy Plant or Machinery

Industrial Processes

Many industrial processes are inherently noisy and require acoustic or other treatment to reduce noise to high levels of noise, which can induce hearing loss, the Health and Safety at Work Act requires that noise levels in a working area are reduced to less than 90 dB (A) for an 8 hour working day.

To achieve reduced noise levels, a number of steps may be taken:

1. Use quieter machines and processes.

2. Enclose individually noisy machines.

3. Where there are a large number of machines, treat the whole interior surface with noise absorbing panels.

4. Apply acoustic control methods to noisy pipes, ducts and air handling plant.

(The maximum practical reduction in environmental noise within plant rooms is 10 dB. A typical reduction in a room where only the ceiling is treated is 5dB).