4 WAYS TO QUIET A NOISY MACHINE

Treat the Room

• Maximum Noise Reduction: 6-9 decibels (30-40% decrease in loudness)
• Advantages: No inconvenience to workers
• Disadvantages: Almost all of the room must be treated regardless of the size of the noise source.
• “QFA” – Quilted Fiberglass Sound Absorption Products, Polywrap Baffles or Sanitary Baffles, depending upon specifics of application.

Treat the Wall Behind the Noise

• Maximum Noise Reduction: 1-2 decibels if noise source sprays noise out into room, 4-6 decibels if noise is sprayed directly onto wall (such as noisy vent on the back of a machine).
• Advantages: No inconvenience to workers
• How much QFA? Treat the wall behind the machine with about twice the square footage of the “noise shadow” of the machine on the wall.

Build a Barrier or Partial Enclosure

• Maximum Noise Reduction: 6-15 decibels
• Advantages: Very good noise reduction
• Concerns: May have to incorporate view windows for visibility and/or sliding panels for access.
• What Size? At a minimum, 8′ high. Typically they should be double the height of the noise source.
• “BSC” or “BBC” sound absorption/noise barrier composites

Build a Complete Enclosure

• Noise Reduction: Up to 20-30 decibels
• Advantages: Maximum noise reduction
• Concerns: May have to incorporate view windows for visibility and/or sliding panels for access as well as ventilation baffle(s) for air flow.
• “BSC” or “BBC” sound absorption/noise barrier composites.