Don’t let noise be your headline – the benefits of Noise Barriers
This upcoming event season, let your only worries be how muddy you'll get, not noise complaints. With noise barriers, you can party hard whilst locals can rest easier.
In this Insights blog, our acoustics experts turn up the volume on the important issue of managing outdoor noise and explain how properly specified and deployed noise barriers can help ensure compliance with local noise regulations and maintain positive public relations on both sides of the fence.
What are noise barriers?
Noise pollution can be defined as unwanted or disruptive sound that impacts the health and wellbeing of people and animals. It can be caused by a wide range of sources, from construction site activity to loud events, cheering crowds, and whirring generators. For these reasons, local councils and environmental agencies often require sites to have clear measures in place to manage external noise, with costly penalties for noncompliance.
To tackle this issue, many events planners, production companies and construction firms use noise barriers — also referred to as noise reduction barriers, noise control barriers, noise fence barriers, acoustic fence barriers or just acoustic barriers. These are panels of acoustic material covered in a weatherproof vinyl outer layer which are hung on security fencing to lower noise levels by absorbing, diffracting and blocking soundwaves.
As well as avoiding fines and delays, taking a proactive approach to noise control is also important for public relations, reducing the risk of complaints and keeping neighbouring communities in support of your project or event.
How effective are noise barriers at reducing environmental noise?
If specified and deployed correctly, noise barriers can be a highly effective way to reduce noise pollution in the external environment in all kinds of settings, from outdoor events to construction sites. Made from a combination of dense ‘high mass’ materials and porous materials, they work by absorbing and reflecting the sound waves generated by the source on one side of the barrier away from potential receivers on the other side. Psychoacoustic studies into how the brain perceives sound also have demonstrated that just visually obscuring people’s view of a noise source can further reduce their perception of how loud it is.
There are many types of exterior noise barrier solutions on the market, and it is important to understand how their performance is measured to determine the most effective solution for a particular scenario or application.
A Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw) gives a true picture of how a sound reduction product performs. Different products can reduce sound differently across the human hearing spectrum; the thickness, density and combination of materials will impact the barriers’ ability to block certain frequencies of sound. The higher the Rw value, the better the product is at reducing noise from a source.
Product | Best for | Rw Rating |
Absorbing and controlling noise at source | 16 dB | |
Enhanced absorption with acoustically transparent rear | 17 dB | |
Cost-effective for open sites | 22 dB |
Where should noise barriers be used?
Noise barriers are extremely flexible and can be used, adapted and reused to suit the need of any project or event. They can be quickly deployed and simply hung on metal fences using bungee cords, S hooks or cable ties — and easily taken down and moved if location layouts change or rolled up and stored once they are no longer needed, ready to use on the next project.
However, it is not as simple as putting the barriers up wherever the fencing is. The placement of the noise control barriers can impact how effectively they can reduce external noise.
Noise barriers should be positioned close to the noise source in the correct orientation, with the absorptive material facing towards the source. They should also completely block off the direct path (line of sight) between the noise source and receiver. As shown in the diagram below, this facilitates sound attenuation— a reduction in sound intensity— as the sound waves diffract around the barrier and creates what is known as an ‘acoustic shadow’ behind the barrier. This means that for people close to the noise source and therefore be most affected, the noise levels will be substantially reduced.
It is also important to make sure that these acoustic barriers are installed with a slight overlap to create a continuous barrier and prevent sound from ‘leaking’ out. Most noise fence barriers are also supplied with pre-punched metal eyelets around the edges, so there is no need to make any holes in the barriers when fixing them to the fence that may reduce their effectiveness.
How can noise barriers improve the appearance of sites?
Noise barriers not only reduce unwanted sound but also enhance visual appeal of sites and events, offering businesses a chance to make a positive impression. They are engineered ensure a high level of weather resistance and durability to make sure they not only work as intended even when exposed to elements, but also maintain a clean, professional look. This demonstrates a clear commitment to minimising disruption and a respect for the local community. Custom-branded graphics printed on the vinyl surface can further boost aesthetic appeal and provide a unique marketing opportunity for organisations involved in the event or project.
Keeping noise fenced in
Siderise Noise Barriers are the go-to solution for managing sound at outdoor events, ensuring compliance, enhancing audience experience, and maintaining positive community relations. They have been developed to provide robust and durable, yet cost-effective external noise control solutions that can withstand the tough conditions of a working site or a busy crowded venue. With different compositions to choose from depending on your requirements, their acoustic performance has been independently tested, offering reassurance that they will deliver the performance your site needs to comply with regulations and ensure a positive public image.