Factories are often incredibly noisy places, and proper soundproofing for factories is crucial to reduce the risks of excessive noise exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that if employees have to yell to communicate over short distances or suffer from temporary hearing issues following their work shift, the noise level is probably excessive. To protect your employees’ hearing and foster a healthier, more efficient work setting you need to minimize industrial noise. Investing in soundproofing measures helps establish a safer and more comfortable atmosphere, enabling employees to concentrate and excel without the risk of long-term hearing damage.
Defining what is soundproofing for factories
Soundproofing in factories aims to limit noise transfer between rooms to keep disturbing sound levels to a minimum in industrial environments. This is crucial in operations where there are high levels of noise from machinery, equipment, and production processes. Soundproofing, with the assistance of specialist materials and techniques, enhances the comfort, privacy, and efficiency of employees, offering a cleaner and more productive working environment with no external distractions
Types of industrial noise & their sources
There are several varieties of industrial noise, and each one comes from a distinct source in a plant. Effective soundproofing techniques depend on knowing the sources of these disturbances, which can range from high-pitched squeals to low-frequency hums.
Common types of industrial noise:
- Machine Noise: Generated by heavy machinery, such as presses, conveyors, and grinders.
- Impact Noise: Caused by sudden impacts, like hammering or metal-on-metal contact.
- Airborne Noise: Resulting from ventilation systems, fans, and exhausts.
- Mechanical Vibration: Arises from the operation of motors, pumps, and rotating equipment.
- Worker Noise: Created by conversations, tools, and other human activities on the shop floor.
Each of these noise types can affect worker health and productivity, making it essential to address them with proper soundproofing measures.
Benefits of soundproofing for factories
Soundproofing offers several key benefits for factories, not only improving the environment but also enhancing productivity and worker well-being.
- Improved Worker Health: Reduces exposure to high noise levels, which can lead to hearing loss, stress, and fatigue.
- Enhanced Productivity: Employees can concentrate better in a calmer setting, which boosts output and reduces errors
- Improved Communication: Clearer communication is made possible by lower noise levels, which also lower errors and encourage teamwork.
- Better Compliance: Compliance with noise regulations and standards prevents legal complications and penalties.
- Improved Comfort and Safety: A more peaceful, comfortable work environment can promote overall safety and job satisfaction.
How to isolate sound in factories: best techniques
- Create barriers between workers and machines: Place equipment near foam-padded walls or use sound absorbing materials to absorb sound and reduce its impact on employees.
- Maintain machinery: Regular servicing, including lubricating machines and tightening parts, reduces sound produced as a result of friction and faulty operation, encouraging quieter operation.
- Run loud machines during off-peak hours: scheduling the loudest machinery to run during off-peak hours, when fewer workers are on the factory floor.
- Create space between employees and equipment: Increasing the distance between workers and machinery can reduce noise levels by 6 decibels. Adding baffling, acoustic panels, and keeping a greater space between employees and machines can further reduce sound levels.
- Seal gaps and cracks: Use weatherstripping or soundproofing sealants to seal gaps, cracks, or inadequately sealed doors and windows to stop noise from leaking.
- Use soundproof doors and windows: To greatly minimize noise transfer from outside or between rooms, replace standard windows and doors with soundproof ones.
- Use acoustic baffles and curtains: To efficiently absorb sound and manage noise, hang acoustic baffles or curtains from the ceiling, especially in factories with high ceilings or spacious areas.
Top soundproofing products for your factory
- Quiet Barrier MD Soundproofing Composite: With medium-thick foam, this composite is perfect for creating quieter, insulated spaces such as offices or break rooms adjacent to noisy factory floors.
- Quiet Barrier HD Soundproofing Material: Available in rolls, this material is designed for both sound-dampening and soundproofing, offering great versatility for various applications in large areas.
- Acoustic Partitions: These freestanding, movable walls can be positioned around loud equipment to block off sound sources and stop noise from reverberating throughout the manufacturing area.
- Acoustic Foam Panels: These budget-friendly, peel-and-stick panels reduce reverberation, absorb sound, and contain noise in particular spaces, providing a fast and efficient repair.
- Acoustic Hanging Baffles: These hanging baffles significantly lower noise levels in expansive open areas by preventing sound from bouncing and echoing, making them perfect for industries with high ceilings.
Powerhouse: custom soundproofing services
Powerhouse offers custom acoustic insulation solutions designed to protect against both noise and vibrations, ensuring a quieter, more efficient work environment. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges factories face, Powerhouse tailors its soundproofing strategies to meet the specific needs of each customer. Whether you’re dealing with machinery noise or environmental sound, Powerhouse provides personalized options that effectively address your factory’s soundproofing needs. Their expert team works closely with clients to assess noise sources, identify areas of concern, and deliver solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also enhance productivity, safety, and comfort within your facility.
Powerhouse acoustic paneling for large-scale structures
Powerhouse provides industrial-grade acoustic paneling that is intended to provide exceptional noise reduction for large facilities and high-noise conditions. These panels are designed especially for huge buildings where standard soundproofing materials might not work, such as factories, warehouses, and other expansive industrial facilities. Industrial-grade panels from Powerhouse are designed to operate at peak efficiency, substantially reducing noise and significantly improving acoustic comfort. With our soundproofing for factories, we customize solutions to each client’s specific requirements, guaranteeing a more peaceful, effective workplace that promotes worker well-being and boosts operational effectiveness.
Additionally, Powerhouse has proven its capability in handling large-scale projects, having successfully completed a major sound insulation project across 24 ministerial buildings in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. This accomplishment highlights the company’s expertise in providing customized, high-performance soundproofing solutions for even the most demanding environments.
Contact Powerhouse today to discuss your specific soundproofing needs