Airports are a melting pot of noises. From the turbine engines to backup alerts, loudspeaker announcements, and luggage carts, offensive sounds are at every turn.
When several things are happening at once, these levels can reach higher than 85 decibels. Dangerous Decibels tells readers it is at this point the damage from sound turns to permanent hearing loss.
What is the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990
This act is a myriad of instructions and responsibilities set forth by Congress. While business suppliers and people living near the airport share a small portion of the responsibility of keeping the noise down and protecting themselves, there are three primary groups that share the obligation of reducing noise and protecting visitors:
- Travelers
- Workers
- Residents living near the airport
Airport Owners
Owners of airports with noise levels in the dangerous zone will have to restrict the use of stage two aircraft using the facility. Newer, or stage three aircraft must adhere to new regulations set forth by the FAA and local governments to have permission to fly into the airports.
It is the responsibility of the landowner to ensure these requirements are met and continued operations fit within the parameters the governing bodies set forth.
Owners must also oversee and manage the airlines that operate within the facility to ensure they stay within restrictions for sound levels for all aircraft and at all times.
Another area where airport owners make a difference is in the application of outdoor sound barrier panels. Outdoor barriers can reduce engine noise and aircraft takeoff and landing sounds.
These noise barrier walls are also effective indoors for reducing sound reverberation and minimizing the loudness of large crowds, loudspeakers, and automated machinery.
The Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA has larger responsibilities like ensuring the airways are safe. They control what aircraft move on the airport land and what equipment can fly the skies.
It is this entity that provides approval for pilots and ensures planes are certified to operate safely.
The FAA also controls airport grants and how the landowner can appropriate collections for improving the property.
State and Municipal Governments
Local municipalities have the responsibility to oversee the land the airport uses. They have some rights concerning how, when, and why an airport expands services.
These entities govern the surrounding areas adjacent to airports and control the zoning classifications for the airport, any expansion projects, and nearby land. They also have a responsibility to monitor and manage any new airport builds in their jurisdiction.
Why Is Legislation Important
During the discovery phase of this Act, people in Congress would come to realize the scope of the problem. Determining how to address the issue is one part of the process.
Effectively managing the noise at airports is an ever-increasing problem because of new equipment and restrictions of the act.
The longer people have exposure to sound levels higher than 85 decibels, the worse the permanent damage each will amass. Noise mitigation is a must.
How Early Sound Walls Addressed The Issue
Outdoor sound absorbing panels have come a long way. Early models would use concrete and thick walls to create barriers that appeared to block the sound of aircraft engines and equipment.
Studies would determine that these solid barriers did not block the sound, but rather they reflected it in various directions. Some sound would bounce between walls that were too close together, while other noise waves would move up and over the walls.
The sound was not eliminated by any means. In some instances, the offensive noise would be louder and more damaging than the initial levels.
The next step was to determine a better way to mitigate the sound if thick and solid barriers were not the answer. The hard part was to determine what material would work best.
Another decision was how to create airport sound barriers that would protect workers along with airport visitors.
Why Modern Noise Barrier Walls Work So Well
Newer research proves noise barrier walls do not need to be thick or impervious to mitigate noise levels effectively. With walls systems like the ones from Sound Fighter, absorptive noise barriers get rid of high sound levels. These sound barrier walls do not cause the sound to bounce in different directions.
These sound barrier panels reduce or get rid of the sound so that no offensive noise leaves the airport. Sound dampening materials inside the walls diminish the effects of the sound wave making the level more comfortable and acceptable.
Maintaining these levels is how modern noise barriers help airport owners stay compliant with federal regulations concerning sound levels.
How Outdoor Sound Barrier Panels Kill Offensive Noises
With newer technologies using sound dampening or acoustic noise panels, outdoor noise walls get rid of the high sound levels.
They also reduce the amount of sound people hear from machinery, large groups of passengers, and environmental sounds. Instead of blocking one area from loud noise, these walls stop the sound wave.
As noise enters the sound barrier walls, the energy must travel through a maze of material before it can exit the other side.
As it goes through the dampening material and turns back and forth, the sound wave loses its effectiveness. When it exits, the wave has much less energy, therefore, it cannot be as loud as it entered the barrier.
Why Airport Sound Barriers Are the Key to 1990 Act
Using acoustic walls helps airports keep noise levels at a safe amount for people who are at the airport. Whether these people are workers, passengers, temporary employees, flight crews, or maintenance workers, the walls protect every group.
Panels like the SonaGuard or Retrosorb systems from Sound Fighter are portable, reconfigurable, and easy to customize with access panels and doors.
These features let airport owners remove and reset sound walls as they upgrade the airport or find a need for more protection in a specific area.
To find out more about acoustic wall systems or how this equipment helps control airport noise, please contact Sound Fighter Systems at 1-888-348-0833.
Other reference:
http://dangerousdecibels.org/education/information-center/noise-induced-hearing-loss/
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