Problem:
Industry where machinery produces high noise levels.
This problem has two consequences: on the one hand, it can severely affect workers’ health—exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing loss, concentration difficulties, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, and lead to other psychological problems. On the other hand, it can lead to non-compliance with current legislation on occupational risk prevention regarding noise exposure for workers in their workplaces—as established in Royal Decree 286/2006, of March 10, on the protection of workers’ health and safety against risks related to noise exposure—which can result in financial penalties.
There are various acoustic solutions to address this problem, generally based on encapsulating the part of the machinery that generates noise—typically the motor, or in production lines, a press. This solution is the most effective in terms of reducing the noise produced. However, it is not satisfactory for a large number of cases for two main reasons:
- Encapsulating machinery restricts access to it, hindering maneuverability and maintenance and/or cleaning tasks.
- Encapsulation prevents ventilation of the motor, leading to overheating. This carries a high risk of mechanical failures or breakdowns.
Acoustic curtains allow access to machinery, ventilate its components, and are also a much more economical solution.
Objective:
To reduce the noise level produced by industrial machinery, integrating the solution to the size of the machinery and allowing for its maneuverability.
Intervention:
- Step 1 – Diagnosis: By conducting on-site tests of noise immission levels—following the measurement methodology established in Royal Decree 286/286—and using appropriate measuring instrumentation, results for the sound exposure level at workstations related to the machinery to be intervened are obtained.
- Step 2 – Solution Design: Since all our acoustic fabrics are tested according to UNE-EN ISO 10140-5, we have the sound reduction index for all of them. Based on this parameter and the obtained sound exposure level data, we determine which types of fabrics to combine to create a multi-layer curtain that acts as an acoustic insulator. Once the solution is chosen based on technical criteria, we proceed to the decorative design, where it is possible to choose between different combinations for the front and back visual layers, in addition to the finishes.
- Step 3 – Installation: Corrective measures are installed inside the industry—multi-layer acoustic curtains. The process is quick, allowing the machinery to continue its activity without interrupting the workload. In this case, a 620g PVC tarpaulin was chosen for the front and back layers, as this material is easy to clean and does not deteriorate easily.
- Step 4 – Verification: Measurements of the sound exposure level to which workers are exposed are carried out to verify its effectiveness—by comparing the results with those obtained during diagnosis.
NOTE:
Generally, photographs cannot be taken inside industrial facilities, which is why we do not have images of more projects carried out by our clients. We are also not allowed to provide further details than those offered.