Industrial noise control - measurements, studies, works

Industrial noise control is a necessity, in particular in relation to two problems which, in certain contexts, can be cumulative:

• the protection of workers from noise: this is a health issue, as exposure to excessively high noise levels is likely to cause irreversible hearing trauma that involves premature hearing loss.
  
  In the European Union, Directive 2003/10 /CE of February 6, 2003 concerns the minimum safety and health requirements relating to the exposure of workers to the risks due to physical agents (noise); transposed into French law (cf. Decree n ° 2006-892 of July 19, 2006 relating to safety and health requirements applicable in the event of exposure of workers to risks due to noise and modifying the labor code), it provides that a daily noise exposure level greater than 80 dB (A) and/or a peak sound pressure level above 135 dB (C), are above the limits triggering the action
• preservation of the noise environment: this is a question of respecting the tranquility of residents, too high noise levels being such as to create discomfort in the neighborhood.
  
  In France, an emergence value i.e. the difference between the A-weighted equivalent continuous pressure levels of ambient noise (industrial installation in operation) and residual noise (in the absence of noise generated by the industrial installation but measured on its period of activity) above some defined limits constitutes in particular an offense (cf. Environmental Code) - depending on the ambient noise level 5 or 6 dB (A) during the day and 3 or 4 dB (A) during the night -.

Industrial noise, in relation to sound emissions from machinery, equipment and facilities, e.g. production or processing, is therefore a consequence of human activity to which attention should be paid, both with respect to industrial sites inside and to their environment.

Measurements, studies and works for industrial noise control

Industrial noise control (measurements, studies and works) is at the heart of the activity of Isolation Technologie Services (ITS).

Indeed, industrial noise control requires an analysis of the situation in terms of acoustics, based on measurements of sound levels, and, when the admissible thresholds are exceeded, the definition of appropriate means for reducing noise emissions for incriminated noise sources (e.g. soundproof buildings, sound enclosures, silencers, lagging) or the limitation of sound propagation (e.g. acoustic screens, noise barriers), which constitutes the basic know-how of ITS.

Whatever the context, industrial noise control equipment (soundproofing devices) can be studied, sized and/or marketed (with or without installation) by Isolation Technologie Services (ITS), taking into account (all) the constraints, variable from one project to another: aerodynamics & ventilation, thermal, resistance of materials, fire behavior, dimensional limitations, applicability of standards and calculation codes (possibly: local), possible ways for on-site intervention.

In terms of industrial noise control, measurements and studies are carried out:

• by a human resource experienced in acoustic metrology, as in building physics
• with equipment (sound level meters, noise generators) duly calibrated and verified
• using specific calculation software (some: resulting from research and development - R&D -) , both for the simulation of sound propagation and for the dimensioning of noise reduction equipment of all kinds, for which the acoustic performance (and if necessary: ​​the aerodynamic performance, when it comes to air network elements) is determined

The ITS qaulity management system for its engineering missions is regularly assessed in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.

With regard to the fight against industrial noise, the works (when it is not a question of the supply of soundproofing hardware, the integration of which will be carried out by the Customer or by the Manufacturer of the Original Equipment - OEM - which is frequently the case) marketed by ITS involve teams with various skills:

metallic construction (for the realization of soundproof enclosures for equipment, buildings with acoustic insulation, noise barriers)

boilermaking (for the implementation of silencers)

finishing works (for the implementation of sound-absorbing coverings in production halls or in technical rooms)

In some cases, the provision of a site supervisor allows the use of local manpower (when the Customer wishes to provide it), while having all guarantees as to the respect of the quality of the works and their deadlines.

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