Case Study: Noise Barrier for Local School

THE CHALLENGE

St. Mark’s Cathedral School needed to update the HVAC system serving the cathedral and school complex. The challenge was that the only feasible location for the new air-cooled chiller was near the children’s playground, where mechanical noise, visibility, safety, and security all had to be addressed.

Sound Fighter Systems designed and supplied a four-sided absorptive noise barrier enclosure using its Absorptive Noise Barrier System. The finished enclosure was built to reduce unwanted HVAC noise around the chiller yard while maintaining access for service and helping screen the equipment from students and nearby properties.

This case study shows how a properly designed school HVAC noise barrier can support campus upgrades without creating unnecessary noise impacts for students, staff, or surrounding neighborhoods.

Their objectives were fourfold:

1. Create a noise barrier walls to minimize unwanted noise to the students and surrounding neighborhood.
2. Create a safety barrier to keep the children away from the equipment.
3. Create a visual air conditioning noise reduction to screen the industrial-sized chiller system.
4. Create a security barrier to discourage theft and vandalism.

THE SOLUTION

Sound Fighter® Systems designed a 4-sided, hvac screen walls enclosure for the equipment, utilizing the Absorptive Noise Barrier System.

The design included a double man-door for maintenance access. Once installed, the barrier addressed all four of the client’s objectives.

“We chose Sound Fighters® because we knew of their reputation.” states John Scheel, Facilities Manager at St. Mark’s. “We knew they could come-up with a solution, and that is exactly what they did. They met our expectations and were very good to deal with. It happened without a hitch, and was the easiest construction project I have ever seen.”

Sound Fighter Systems provided:

• Custom-designed sound wall with lockable double man-door
• All structural steel components
• Stamped Engineering
• Detailed installation drawings and assistance for the installing contractor

Download PDF of Feature Project — St. Mark’s Cathedral School HVAC Noise Barrier

OWNER — St. Mark’s Cathedral School
GENERAL CONTRACTOR — Gene Nims Builders, Inc.
SOUND BARRIER — Sound Fighter Systems’ LSE Absorptive Noise Barrier System

Frequently Asked Questions About School HVAC Noise Barriers

Why did this school need an HVAC noise barrier?

St. Mark’s Cathedral School needed an HVAC noise barrier because the new air-cooled chiller had to be installed near the children’s playground. The school needed to reduce unwanted chiller noise, screen the equipment from view, maintain service access, and discourage theft and vandalism.