Problem:
An industry where machinery produces high noise levels.
This problem has two main consequences: on one hand, it can seriously affect workers’ health—exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing loss, lack of concentration, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, and other psychological issues. On the other hand, it may lead to non-compliance with current legislation regarding occupational risk prevention concerning noise exposure in the workplace—as established in Royal Decree 286/2006, of March 10, on the protection of the health and safety of workers against risks related to noise exposure—which can result in financial penalties.
Various acoustic solutions exist to address this problem, generally based on encapsulating the part of the machinery that generates the noise—usually the motor or, in production lines, a press. This solution is the most effective in terms of reducing the noise produced. However, it is unsatisfactory in many cases for two major reasons:
- By encapsulating machinery, access to it is lost, hindering maneuverability and maintenance and/or cleaning tasks.
- Encapsulation prevents motor ventilation, leading to overheating. This carries a high risk of causing mechanical failures or breakdowns.
Acoustic curtains allow access to the machinery and ventilation of its components, and they are also a much more economical solution.
Objective:
To reduce the noise level produced by industrial machinery, integrating the solution into the size of the machinery while allowing for maneuverability.
Intervention:
- Step 1 – Diagnosis: By conducting on-site tests of noise immission levels—following the measurement methodology established in Royal Decree 286/2006—and using appropriate measuring instrumentation, results for the sound exposure level are obtained for the workstations related to the machinery involved.
- Step 2 – Solution Design: Since all our acoustic fabrics are tested according to the UNE-EN ISO 10140-5 standard, we have the acoustic reduction index for all of them. Based on this parameter and the sound exposure level data obtained, we determine which types of fabrics to combine to create a multi-layer curtain that acts as acoustic insulation. Once the solution is chosen based on technical criteria, we move to the decorative design, where it is possible to choose from different combinations for the front and back visual layers, as well as the finishes.
- Step 3 – Installation: Corrective measures are installed inside the facility—multi-layer acoustic curtains. The process is fast, 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 effectiveness—comparing the results with those obtained during the diagnosis.
NOTE:
As a general rule, 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 permitted to provide more detail than what is offered here.