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Noise

Sound insulation, sound barriers and noise enclosures.

Noise at work can lead to serious health risks for both your workers and the wider public. Excessive noise can make warnings harder to hear, interfere with communications and lead to a range of long-term medical conditions

The Source of Noise on Site

Harmful noise levels are created by a wide variety of machinery used during site activities including cutting, wall chasing, drilling, grinding, blasting, piling, excavation and breaking. Activities over 80dB are considered unsafe and every decibel has a permissible exposure time. For example, a Jackhammer Drill at 125dB can cause damage after just 3.5 seconds of exposure. The noise generated from saws, cutting equipment and hand-held breakers can also easily exceed 100 dB. Whilst the operator of such equipment will be protected by PPE, the protection of other workers and nearby members of the public requires further measures. Small generators and compressors can also produce high levels of noise at low frequencies, meaning that the noise can travel across longer distances and cause disruption across wider areas.

Larger plant on site is a significant cause of hazardous noise with diesel generators, excavators with breaker attachments and pile drivers all producing readings of over 80 dB. With pile driving, for example, measuring between 115-132dB, these noise levels can have a catastrophic effect if left uncontrolled.

Failure to provide acoustic control whilst machinery such as the above is in operation can result in irreparable damage to your workers’ hearing.

The Health Risks

Uncontrolled noise can drastically effect workers’ health; hearing loss can be gradual and, by the time most sufferers notice a change, it is usually too late. Therefore, a lack of adequate noise control on site could result in claims for hearing loss and tinnitus in the future.

Results of exposure to dangerous noise levels can also go beyond this. Losing one of your key senses can induce many long-term debilitating illnesses and conditions such as psychological stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression, impaired memory, and social withdrawal. Subsequent reduced job performance and loss of earning power can also be devastating. As with hearing loss and tinnitus, many of these long-term effects can take time to develop.

Managing Noise on Site

RVT believes that effective noise control can be managed in three easy steps:

  • Capture the hazard - Position the acoustic barrier close to the noise source (fully enclosing it if possible) to maximise the acoustic shadow area.
  • Contain the hazard - Block the line of sight by ensuring the noise barrier is seamless. You may wish to consider whether an enclosure would be more suitable for fully containing the noise.
  • Control the hazard - Use high quality noise barriers, with high sound attenuation, to absorb excessive noise. Screening reflective surfaces like walls may also help to reduce noise bouncing the sound over the barriers.

Soundex Acoustic Barriers

Temporary acoustic barriers are the ideal way to reduce noise on site. By positioning a noise barrier as close as possible to the noise source, you break the line of sight, and reduce the audible noise level outside the work zone.

RVT offer a wide range of acoustic solutions which are available to hire.

Why Soundex® is the original & preferred solution

Fire Resistant

Soundex products are made entirely from fire resistant materials, independently tested and certified by a third part approval body.

Velcro Connected

The patented Soundex design incorporates an ingenious velcro connection enabling faster installation and the construction of virtually unbroken noise barriers.

Scaffolding Compliant

Soundex acoustic barriers are certified to conform with BS7955 making them suitable suspension scaffolding and many other structures, fences or hoardings.

Weather Resistant

The Soundex range incorporates water resistant technologies of the highest integrity making them safe to suspend from secondary structures.

High Attenuation

Independently tested and certified to BS EN standards, Soundex® offers the highest attenuation in the industry with noise reduction up to 35.6dB

Easy to Assemble

Our patented design incorporates an ingenious Velcro connection which enables the construction of a virtually unbroken noise barrier.

Non-Irritant

The Soundex range of products utilises non-irritant materials making them safe to handle without the need for extra protective clothing.

Manufactured in the UK

All Soundex products are manufactured to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards in the UK, ensuring that the highest standards of product quality are maintained.

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