The reduction of industrial noise nuisance is a key step in a project to build, renovate or bring into compliance a facility for the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. materials, energy, food) or the transformation of raw materials.
Indeed, various regulations must be considered to avoid noise nuisance in the industrial sector:
- to preserve the health of workers with respect to noise exposure[1]
- to protect the environment against the risk of noise pollution[2]
Otherwise, the operator of an industrial facility whose noise emissions would be too high (inside the site and/or in its vicinity) is exposed to various risks (depending on the case): recriminations, complaints, declaration of non-compliance, legal actions, administrative closure (without forgetting, as far as the interior of the factory is concerned, the disadvantages linked to poor working conditions: absenteeism, poor social climate, drop in yields and quality e.g. production delays and defects).
ITS participated in a project of reduction of industrial noise nuisance in a petrochemical site in Southeast Asia.
As the aim was to limit the noise of a combustion turbine at the source, a very high enclosure was designed and built, the partitions of which (walls - including doors for personnel and equipment access, removable elements for maintenance -, and roof) have a sound attenuation such as to enable a sound pressure level of less than 85 dB(A) at 1 meter distance - which is considerable when the sound power level of such a very large noise source is greater than 135 dB(A) -.
The achievement took the form of a metal construction, with a frame and modular, removable panels, suitable for obtaining the desired acoustic performance in terms of noise insulation and of resistance to local climatic conditions (with wind and severe weather).
To manage heat dissipation, sophisticated ventilation systems with ultra-efficient noise reduction devices have been provided to ensure, inside the enclosure limiting the sound transmission, temperature conditions compatible with normal operation of embedded high-tech equipment.
Additional equipment and accessories have been included for a comprehensive scope of supply, constituting a functional unit.
Sizing and manufacturing were carried out with human and technical resources specialized in the development of quality industrial soundproofing technical solutions, built to last, meeting all the specifications required in the particularly demanding considered context.
Designed to be transported by shipping container and assembled on site by unskilled labour (as generally provided by Client, what implies a meticulous preparation of operations), this high-tech noise reduction equipment was made available in record time.
Such equipment for reducing industrial noise nuisance will, without a doubt, give satisfaction for a long time to the operator of this sensitive site (for which production losses - in case of lack of delivery of a compliant, sufficiently performing in terms of soundproofing enclosure, what did not occur - would be accompanied by an exorbitant cost), very far from the site of its development and fabrication site, which makes all the more undesirable any hitch during the course of the construction project and any weakness of a component during the period - very extended in time - of guarantee.
ITS and its business partners pride themselves on being able to intervene in the context of projects with such challenges on a regular basis.
[1] where European directive 2003/10/EC is applicable, for the daily noise exposure level L EX, 8hours: 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A) are the thresholds, respectively lower and upper, triggering the action; 87 dB(A) is the authorized limit value
[2] where french law is applicable :
- at the limit of property, a maximum sound level is set by a prefectural decree e.g. 60 dB(A) in limit of property
- in regulated emergence areas (REAs) difference (using A-weighting) between the noise level of ambient noise (facillity in operation) and the residual noise level (in the absence of noise produced by the facility), is legally limited: depending on the case 5 or 6 dB(A) during the day and 3 or 4 dB(A) during the night