Fan Noise Suppression at Food Manufacturing Factory
It is very common for fan noise at a factory or industrial company to cause nuisance to nearby residents. Companies’ first thought is usually to fit an acoustic enclosure over the fan. However this is very costly and it often fails to solve the noise nuisance problem. The first step should always be to carry out diagnostic noise tests to determine which part of the fan and its ducting etc. radiates most of the noise and then to target this with noise suppression measures. The most effective and lowest cost solution is usually one that is designed to suppress the fan noise at source.
This is an example where we used a specialist fan noise suppression solution to stop the noise nuisance that was caused by several axial fans mounted on the roof of a large food factory.
Following noise nuisance complaints from residents living opposite the factory, a food manufacturer asked our specialists for help with noise suppression for their roof extract fans. We carried out tests to determine the main noise radiating components and the amount of sound attenuation needed at each frequency. We then provided the company with a solution to suppress the fan noise at source at low cost.
Our diagnostic noise tests showed that solely treating the fans would not be sufficient to solve the nuisance problem because several industrial machines were also contributing to the noise at residents’ houses. Noise levels were between 90 dBA and 97 dBA in many production areas inside the factory. Machine noise suppression was needed as well.
To reduce the noise transmitted to the nearby houses, we recommended that a new industrial steel door be fitted to the outside wall of the factory to provide the necessary industrial machine noise suppression. We also recommended that various machines be treated at source if a further noise reduction was needed afterwards. A major benefit is that this would reduce workers’ noise exposures as well as lowering the risk of noise nuisance.
Noise nuisance complaints ceased following installation of the fan noise suppression solution and fitting a new soundproof factory door. So the problem was solved at low cost with localised silencing treatment to each of the roof extract fans and by replacing a factory door. However, the company plans to reduce workers’ noise exposures and further lower the risk of noise nuisance in future. They intend to carry out further sound mitigation work by installing machine noise suppression measures inside the factory as we recommended.
More Information on our Industrial Noise Suppression Solutions
Our specialist fan noise suppression solutions provide higher sound reduction than other types of noise control solution. They usually provide such a high sound reduction that the fans cannot even be heard at the nearest houses to the factory. This means our specialist industrial noise suppression solutions often solve noise nuisance problems after other noise control products have been tried, but not provided enough sound reduction to prevent residents complaining. For more details of our highly successful fan noise solutions, including in food factories, see our industrial fan noise reduction solutions.
For more examples of reducing sound that is affecting local residents, see noise nuisance abatement.
To see factory noise suppression examples for reducing
noise at work from industrial machines,
see how to reduce noise at work.
How to get help from Industrial Noise Suppression Specialists for your Factory or Fan
We can help with noise mitigation on all types of industrial machine or fan. We have over 40 years’ experience of providing successful industrial and fan noise suppression solutions. Please contact us as shown below to find out how our specialists can help you with fan or factory / industrial noise suppression.
You can also read more about how we reduce industrial fan noise within factories and plant rooms.
Note the photos are illustrative only and do not show the roof extract fans or the food factory described in this example.
For help with a noise problem contact us
or call us on 01727 864667