Industrial Acoustics Service
Working in plants and factories shouldn't cause hearing loss. Our industrial acoustic service make industrial sites quieter and safer through advanced noise monitoring techniques, high-performance machinery soundproofing solutions, and damping of mechanical vibrations.
Ask our expertsIndustrial Acoustics: Noise and Vibration Control for the Industrial Sector
Industrial Noise and Vibrations Will Always Occur, But Should Never Affect Your Workers' Health and Safety
Every day, an important number of workers are exposed to noise pollution. They come from diverse backgrounds such as industrial, mining and construction. Noise and vibration resulting from these activities are a threat for those workers. Not only can they be dangerous for those who are exposed, but they can also be distracting for them. Long-term exposure to industrial noise can even lead to occupational deafness.
Within the industry, industrial machine sound insulation can play a major role to at least ensure employees’ comfort. However, that is not easily done. Fortunately, Soft dB’s Acoustics and Vibration division is composed of acoustical engineers who know how to tackle this challenge.
For any acoustics consulting service and advice regarding industrial acoustics, Soft dB offers you a vast array of options to best suit your needs.
Experts in Industrial Acoustics
Soft dB stands out in the acoustic measurement and control of industrial noise and vibration problems. We use state-of-the-art equipment for acoustic imaging, beamforming as well as acoustic sensors to measure acoustic intensity. We collect data for industrial equipment such as fans, scrubbers, engines and HVAC systems.
Solving Noise & Vibration Problems Is All We Do
We offer an acoustic power measurement service to ensure that the technical requirements are met in the buying process of new industrial equipment. We can also monitor and validate noise-mitigation measures already in place. Soft dB’s Acoustics and Vibration division has conducted numerous projects in the field of industrial noise control, including manufacturing factories, petroleum and chemical plants, quarries, and raw-material extraction facilities. Our team can provide a number of industrial noise control measures to achieve acceptable noise levels (dB). To do so, we have to:
- Take the acoustic measurements for any type of machinery, HVAC systems, equipment (ex. dust collector), building services (ex. elevator) and transportation equipment (ex. forklift);
- Identify sound vibration sources and pathways;
- Create independent designs and specifications of engineered noise and vibration control solutions.
Our Acoustical Engineers Can Help You With:
- Industrial soundproofing of rooms, enclosures, control cabins and other building structures;
- Acoustical isolation of plant floors, walls, and foundations;
- Designing noise mitigation components for loud heavy equipment such as resilient mounts, soundproofing blankets, acoustic screens, mufflers, silencers, sound-insulated structures, etc.;
- Active noise control techniques (cancellation of a noise by complimentary sound source).
- Creating advanced computer models and simulations of noise/vibration dispersion inside or outside industrial facilities;
- Evaluating occupational noise and vibration exposure levels under applicable health and safety legislation.
Measurement & Analysis of Industrial Noise Sources
First, we take the acoustic measurements of all on-site machines: HVAC systems, factory equipment (ex.: dust collector), building mechanicals (ex.: elevators) and transportation equipment (ex.: lift trucks).
We then identify the source and propagation path of the noise and the acoustic vibrations. We then construct an advanced model of the acoustic or vibratory dispersion inside or outside of industrial buildings.
Industrial Equipment Soundproofing Methods That Really Work
When the analysis work is done, we design acoustic solutions for the noisiest machines. We offer the possibility of producing technical specifications for suppliers whose equipment requires corrections for improved control of noise and vibrations.
Our interventions include:
- Industrial soundproofing of halls, building walls, control cabins or other structures;
- The acoustic improvement of floors, walls, and foundations;
- Selecting the appropriate acoustic treatments for each noise source, such as the addition of resilient mounts, acoustic screens, mufflers, sound-insulated structures, vibration isolators, etc.;
- Active noise control (or counternoise), or the cancellation of a noise with the help of another complimentary sound source.
Once the equipment is in place, we regularly follow-up to assess workers’ exposure level to noise pollution and acoustic vibrations by complying with the regulatory health and safety requirements of the CNESST.
Advanced Vibro-Acoustical Design Research & Development
Soft dB has a long history of vibro-acoustic products designed both within the company and through R&D partnerships with universities, scientists, industrial designers, and engineers worldwide. This branch of Soft dB’s Acoustics and Vibration division serves to:
- Identify, quantify and measure unwanted industrial sounds and mechanical vibrations coming from machinery and devices;
- Carry out the acoustic measurements of acoustic sound power, sound pressure and sound intensity levels using advanced sound mapping techniques. These techniques follow ISO, ASTM, and AHRI acoustics standards;
- Assess the noise of vibro-acoustic products against relevant regulatory standards;
- Identify the transfer paths between source and reception;
- Create the design (or review it) of creative damping, isolation or industrial insulation techniques;
- Develop active noise control techniques;
- Research, test, and validate in search of the most cost-efficient solutions.
Occupational Noise & Vibration Exposure Surveys You Can Act On
Exposure to excessive levels of noise or vibration can permanently damage the health and operational efficiency of employees. Luckily, the Soft dB team has extensive experience in noise pollution and vibration assessment. In order to better abide by health and safety regulations, Soft dB’s Acoustics and Vibration division may be brought over to:
- Take measurements of current workplace noise, acoustical vibration and structural vibration levels and analyse them;
- Conduct risk assessments and verify regulatory compliance to the following regulations:
- Federal: R.S.C 1985 & SOR/86-304;
- Quebec: R.S.Q., c2.1;
- Ontario: O.C.885-2001;
- New Brunswick: Reg 851.Carry out the assessment of individual machinery and tools for adverse;
- Carry out individual machinery and tools assessments for adverse whole-body or hand-arm vibration (ISO 2631 for whole-body and ISO 5349 & 15230 for hand-arm;Assess the potential for workplace-related injuries such as industrial deafness and vibration white-finger.
- Monitor industrial sounds during a continual or fixed-period;
- Design personal or engineering noise and vibration control measures for workplaces;
- Assess the potential for workplace-related injuries such as industrial deafness and vibration white-finger.
Machinery Vibration Control
Exposure to excessive levels of noise or vibration can damage the health and operational efficiency of employees and can also be a problem for some structures. In order to avoid those problems, Soft dB’s Acoustics and Vibration division may be appointed to:
- Characterize machinery vibrations (resonant frequency, power loss due to vibrations, identification of vibration transfer paths, etc.);
- Improve installations in order to control the industrial vibrations induced through floors;
- Assess individual machinery and tools for adverse whole-body or hand-arm vibration (ISO 2631 for whole-body and ISO 5349 & 15230 for hand-arm;
- Measure and analyze workspace industrial vibration (mechanical, acoustical and structural) levels;
- Create specific designs to solve the current problem;
- Review the creative insulation or damping techniques.
Industrial Acoustics Service: Keeping Industrial Noise & Vibrations Under Control
Mitigating heavy equipment noise and vibration levels can help you optimize your operations while protecting your most valuable assets: your employees and your community. As acoustical engineers, solving noise and vibration problems is all we do—and we're best at what we do.
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