Our Advanced Noise Reduction Solutions can save many thousands of pounds on the cost of industrial noise control.

could save you thousands of pounds

Industrial Noise Reduction

Abatement of Noise Nuisance

We have considerable experience of carrying out noise abatement work to help companies solve noise pollution problems that cause nuisance and disturbance to domestic residents. We offer a much larger range of industrial noise abatement solutions than normal. This includes a variety of solutions that are not widely available and which reduce the noise at source. These “at source” noise abatement solutions use advanced noise reduction technology and specialist engineering techniques to achieve high noise reductions at considerably lower cost than common types of noise control solution. Consequently, we often help our customers save thousands of pounds on the cost of industrial noise abatement.

For some types of machine, our advanced technology solutions provide a much higher noise reduction than common noise suppression items such as a noise barrier, acoustic screen, enclosure, silencer, etc. As a result, we have solved noise nuisance problems where other noise abatement solutions have failed.

Noise Abatement Procedure

Our first step in any noise abatement project is to identify the exact cause of the noise nuisance. We have considerable experience and expertise in identifying the main noise sources. Using this and highly sophisticated noise measurement and frequency analysis equipment, we can pinpoint the causes of a noise nuisance problem very accurately and precisely, even down to an individual fan, gear or bearing. This ensures that the money spent on noise abatement is targeted where it has most effect, and it avoids wasted expenditure.

Example: following a noise nuisance complaint, a company was about to fit a stainless steel silencer to each of 3 large fans when it decided to consult us before proceeding. Our diagnostic noise measurements showed that the noise nuisance was not generated by the fans, but by a badly worn bearing on a conveyor motor situated outside the factory. So, our noise engineer saved the company wasting £18,000 on silencers that were unnecessary, and which would not have reduced overall noise levels or resolved the noise nuisance complaints.

Noise Abatement using Advanced Noise Reduction Technology

Solutions that use advanced noise reduction technology or engineering techniques to reduce the noise at source provide many benefits over more common types of solution. The major benefits include: large cost savings, higher noise reductions on some types of machine, avoiding loss of machine performance and saving time and money on maintenance. The benefits are so large that we use this type of solution to resolve noise nuisance problems whenever possible, and only use common noise abatement solutions, such as a noise barrier, acoustic screen, or acoustic enclosure, as a last resort.

Some examples of the benefits of using advanced technology or engineering techniques to reduce the noise at source are given below:-

Large cost savings

Example: two extract fans that were causing a noise nuisance problem

Usual method: acoustic enclosure and silencer for each fan: Cost: £10,000
Our advanced technology fan noise control solution: Cost: £4,500. Saving: £5,500

Example: low frequency boiler drone (53 Hz) noise nuisance problem

The usual noise abatement method for a boiler is a large industrial silencer. To reduce the drone by 20 dB, a silencer manufacturer quoted: £10,000 - £14,000 depending on the allowable pressure drop. Our engineering noise control solution reduced the boiler drone by 22 dB with no pressure drop. Cost: £2000. Saving: £8,000 - £12,000
Higher noise reduction than common noise abatement solutions

Example: food industry fan noise disturbance

A low frequency fan noise drone was causing nuisance to local residents. Because the performance of silencers is very poor at low frequencies, a standard silencer would have reduced the noise drone by only 3 dB. This is such a small noise reduction that residents would not have noticed any difference. Using advanced technology, our noise abatement solution reduced the noise drone by 19 dB. This is 16 dB higher noise reduction than the silencer could have provided. Our solution achieved such a large noise reduction that it completely eliminated the fan drone, making it inaudible at the nearest house. Also, it cost less than fitting a silencer to each fan.

Example: low frequency dust extract fan noise control problem:

A low frequency noise drone (149 Hz) caused noise nuisance complaints as soon as two dust extract fans were installed outside a new factory. Industrial noise abatement enclosures costing £6000 were fitted to each fan but did not solve the noise nuisance problem. Next, a large acoustic screen, costing £8000, was installed. Complaints continued.

Then, we were asked to help. Our noise control solution used advanced technology to reduce the fan noise at source. This produced such a large noise reduction that it made the dust extract fans completely inaudible at the nearest house. The noise nuisance complaints stopped immediately. So our advanced technology solution succeeded where enclosures and a screen had failed. In addition, our solution cost only a small fraction of the enclosures and screen. Had our noise abatement solution been fitted first, it could have saved the company the £14,000 it spent on noise control enclosures and an acoustic screen.

Example: drier, furnace, heater, flare, burner & boiler noise control problems:

Low frequency combustion noise, i.e. hums / drones from various types of boiler, dryer, furnace, etc. are a common cause of noise nuisance and noise abatement notices being served. The drone frequency is usually so low that normal noise control equipment like an industrial silencer provide little noise reduction (unless a very large, complex silencer is used, which is extremely expensive). In contrast, our advanced technology and engineering noise abatement solutions provide large noise reductions at low cost. Here are a few examples of the very large noise reductions achieved for several low frequency noise drones:-
- Low frequency boiler noise drone (117 Hz): 10 dB noise reduction
- Drier noise reduced by 11 dBA
- Low frequency boiler noise drone (110 Hz): 15 dB reduction
- Low frequency burner noise drone (37 Hz) reduced by 22 dB
Higher production performance

Example: industrial fan noise control problem

Where a high noise reduction is needed for an industrial fan, or where the fan or duct cross section are large, the type of silencer normally used has a high resistance to airflow. This can impair fan performance.

Often, we can reduce industrial fan noise using advanced noise reduction technology or engineering modifications that suppress the noise at source. This type of solution has very low flow resistance, so normally does not significantly reduce fan performance or increase energy consumption. So, advanced technology solutions can provide large performance benefits over common noise abatement solutions such as a silencer.
Save time and money spent on maintenance

Example: industrial fan noise abatement

The normal noise abatement method for a fan is an industrial silencer, which can require periodic cleaning and replacement, particularly where the air is dusty. This means that regular maintenance is required, costing time and money.

Advanced technology fan noise control solutions involve engineering modifications that last the life of the fan without maintenance. So, an advanced technology solution solves the noise nuisance problem permanently, preventing complaints (and noise abatement notices!) resurfacing later as can occur with a silencer when it becomes clogged by dust. Also, there are no maintenance costs, or machine down time for maintenance.

As a result of these large benefits, our “at source” advanced technology type of noise abatement solution has proved very successful for reducing industrial noise pollution. Our industrial noise abatement services have become so popular that a substantial amount of our work involves helping industry to resolve noise nuisance complaints and comply with noise abatement notices.

More information and examples are shown in our brochure. To obtain a copy, a quotation, or to find out how we can help you save money on / solve an industrial noise abatement problem, please click on contact us about abatement of noise nuisance.