We live in a highly industrialised busy environment, where noise is one of the most clearly recognised and annoying factors. Billions of people around the globe are exposed to the excessive noise levels daily: whether it is traffic noise on the streets, or the mechanical noise generated by refrigeration or air conditioning systems, boilers, elevators, power generators, etc., or the occupational noise ranging from slight yet irritating buzzing in the offices to the extreme din at metal workshops, factories, plants, etc. To protect humans from the excessive noise levels, a number of specifically designed engineering products, commonly referred to as noise control solutions, are developed, and acoustic barriers from Noise Control Engineering (NCE), Australia, are among them.
In order to protect residents and workers from the excessive levels of noise, in many countries, including Australia, the maximum level of noise in residential, commercial, or industrial areas is strictly regulated by building codes, environment protection acts, and other legislative initiatives. Thus, implementing a noise control solution at sites with the sources of noise present is usually a legislation demand.
Acoustic barriers, also known as sound barriers or sound walls, offer efficient noise attenuation, while being a cheaper solution in comparison to acoustic enclosures. They are commonly used to reduce factory, railway, roadway, and industrial sources of excessive noise. Furthermore, acoustic barriers do not interfere with ventilation or personnel access to the noise-generating equipment.
Structurally, acoustic barriers are usually designed and made in the form of a wall, using concrete, wood, or masonry, when it is necessary to attenuate noise on the roadway or some larger manufacturing sites. Alternatively, when it is necessary to install an acoustic barrier around some equipment, for example, an air-conditioning unit on the roof of the building, specifically designed acoustic panels are used, which are commonly made from steel and sound insulating and absorbing materials. Speaking about acoustic barriers, two types are usually distinguished: reflective and absorptive barriers. The purpose of the latter is to absorb noise rather than just to reflect it from the protected area. Absorptive qualities are usually achieved through the use of perforated steel sheets in the construction of the acoustic barrier.
Acoustic barriers, manufactured by the Melbourne-based Noise Control Engineering, are capable of reducing noise by about 20 dBA, depending on the noise source and a particular noise control solution chosen. Thus, a comfortable zone for humans is achieved behind an acoustic barrier, where the noise levels are kept within the permitted range.
Finally, acoustic barriers from NCE feature excellent weather resistant and aesthetic characteristics. Upon thorough site evaluation, all the barriers are individually designed and built at the NCE manufacturing facilities to meet all the requirements of a particular site of application. A range of finishes are offered to adjust the acoustic barrier in accordance with the exterior design expectation. As the result, choosing NCE acoustic barriers customers receive innovative custom-built noise control solutions with excellent performance, proven durability, and obvious environmental benefits (noise is often mentioned among the common types of pollutants by the Environment Protection Authority in Australia).
