General Principles On Environmental Noise Control

By Eugenia Dickerson


Noise can simply be described as unwanted or annoying sound. Significantly high noise levels negatively impact on the human population both emotionally and physically. A noisy environment is not only difficult to work in but poses a significant health risk as well. Persons that work in such environments need to undergo regular medical check-ups so that they can be screened for hearing impairment. The main purpose of environmental noise control is to make the acoustic environment better.

The management of this pollution is centered on architecture, urban planning, transport and occupational areas. Globally, aircraft and road traffic are the most stubborn sources of pollution. With the exception of electrical vehicle development, very little has been to abate road and aircraft air pollution. Recreational activities may affect people living in neighboring areas by generating amplified sounds and music. This poses a significant challenge in effective control strategies

There are various methods that may be employed indoors or outdoors depending on the source. The available potions can be used for walls, ceilings, floors or exterior walls. The type of material chosen is determined by, among other factors, the function of the structure. Theaters, recording studios and auditoria produce sound that can be easily absorbed by baffles. Sound masking is the active addition of other sounds that help minimise other unwanted sounds.

A long term plan for managing traffic related pollution is the use of hybrid vehicles. To realise an appreciable amount of positive impact in the streets, introduction of hybrid vehicles will need to achieve about 50 percent of market share. Abating noise at source level can be attained by providing better designs of tire treads and improved shielding diesel stacks. The least sound is emitted by vehicles moving at minimum speed of 30 kilometres per hour, therefore, speed restriction can also be an effective technique.

Aircrafts with quitter engines are now being adopted by a number of designers and this has gone a long way into making the environment better. Restricting flights in some sensitive areas also helps in managing the pollution. Restriction can be done through allocation of specific times for flights, allocating specific paths, runways and so on. The main disadvantages of doing this include inconveniences to travellers and unfavourable flight economics.

A number of finishes and materials can be employed in ceiling panels and acoustic walls. A good panel is one that does not interfere with the substrate. Fabric covers are used for effective maximum absorption. The covers may be modified into sound blankets or curtains that are used to cover surfaces or noisy equipment. Moreover, windows that are thicker or double glazed may also serve the same purpose.

Industrial equipment can be designed in such a manner as to produce minimum noise possible, for the health benefit of workers. Also, special equipment including shock mounting source equipment, solid barriers and ear protection equipment can be used by workers. Office workers can look out for quieter office equipment such as photocopiers and printers as simple solutions for more conventional office environments.

A properly organised environmental noise control framework is required in virtually all public places. The methods chosen for this are variable but will fall in any of the following categories: vibration dumping, vibration isolation, absorption or sound isolation. In general, sound isolation is the use of barriers to impede transmission. Damping involves extraction of vibration energy from various media and dissipating it as heat.




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