could save you £ thousands

Industrial Noise Reduction

Noise Nuisance

We have considerable experience of carrying out noise abatement work to help companies solve industrial noise pollution problems that affect domestic residents, causing disturbance and complaint. By using 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 money is targeted where it has most effect and avoids wasted expenditure. For example, a company was about to fit a stainless steel silencer to each of 3 large fans when it decided to consult us before proceeding. The diagnostic noise measurement service carried out by our engineers showed that most of the noise causing the disturbance was not generated by the fans, but by a badly worn bearing on a conveyor motor situated outside the factory. So, our noise engineers saved the company wasting £18,000 on silencers that were unnecessary, and which would have achieved no reduction in overall noise levels.

Having identified the precise cause of the noise nuisance problem, we can then help solve it. We offer a much wider range of industrial noise abatement solutions than normal. This includes a range of solutions that are not widely available and which reduce, or engineer out, the noise at source. These solutions use advanced technology, engineering and other specialist noise suppression techniques to achieve high noise reductions at considerably lower cost than common types of noise control solution. Consequently, we are often able to find solutions that help our customers to save thousands of pounds on the cost of noise abatement.

In many situations, the "at source" type of solution provides a much higher noise reduction than common noise suppression equipment such as a noise barrier, acoustic screen etc. As a consequence, we have often solved noise nuisance problems where other noise abatement equipment and solutions have failed.

The benefits of the "at source" / engineering / advanced type of solution are so great that we use these 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.

The main benefits of the "at source"/ advanced type of noise suppression solution include:-

Large cost savings

Example: two extract fans causing a noise nuisance problem

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

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

The usual noise suppression method for boiler noise 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 disturbance and 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. Our advanced noise abatement solution reduced the noise drone by 19 dB - such a large reduction that it completely eliminated the fan drone, making it inaudible at the nearest house. The installation cost was similar to that of 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 reduction 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 advanced fan noise control solution produced a much higher noise reduction than the enclosures and screen. It achieved such a large noise reduction that it made the dust extract fans completely inaudible at the nearest house. There have been no complaints since. Had our advanced noise abatement solution been fitted first, it could have saved the company spending £14,000 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 "at source" noise control 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 / duct cross section is large, the type of silencer normally used has a high resistance to airflow. This impairs fan performance (or increases energy consumption due to the higher fan speed required).

Often, we can reduce industrial fan noise using advanced engineering modifications that engineer out / suppress the noise generating mechanism at source. This type of solution does not normally reduce fan performance or increase energy consumption significantly, so provides large performance benefits over a silencer and other common solutions.
Save time and money spent on maintenance

Example: industrial fan noise reduction problem

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 requires money being spent on maintenance, plus machine down time.

Advanced fan noise control solutions involve engineering modifications that last the life of the fan without maintenance. So, an advanced 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 normally no maintenance costs or machine down time for maintenance.

As a result of these large benefits, the "at source" / advanced type of noise abatement solution has become very popular for reducing industrial noise pollution. Consequently, our industrial noise abatement services have become so popular and been so successful that a substantial proportion 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.