HVAC noise mitigation is an important part of environmental controls for any large company that requires commercial-sized utility plants for their businesses.
Constant noise like the hum of chillers, compressors or cooling towers is aggravating to listen to and potentially harmful to the people and environment closest to it.
Anyone who has ever worked around commercial HVAC equipment knows that the powerful and robust nature of said equipment often leads to excess noise.
Cooling towers generate high and low frequencies that require differing approaches to mitigating sound down to acceptable levels.
Innovations and new technologies have created better ways to decrease sound by absorbing noise instead of reflecting it like many of the older technologies.
Absorbing the noise also minimizes the chance of vibrations that can build up over time. Commercial HVAC and cooling towers are two of the primary sources of nuisance noise for occupants or nearby residents.
While numerous options exist to attenuate these machines, this can be costly and many managers are skeptical about inhibiting the way their HVAC units perform.
As a result, many municipalities have regulations on noise levels inside city limits, so there are also noise-compliance issues for companies to deal.
HVAC units put out noise in a variety of frequencies. Some sounds are more likely to affect comfort levels in the surrounding community than others, but all noise can be offensive.
Properly-designed sound absorbing panels can absorb the offensive noises and significantly reduce it. The result is a quieter system, and an aesthetically-pleasing visual screen.
Why It’s Important
Structural damage continues with low frequency noise makers vibrations that are created from equipment that is placed on the roof of a business are causing problems for the business itself.
Putting HVAC units on the roof may sound like a good idea, but it causes a build-up of vibration that transfers from the roof into the walls and foundations of the company.
The HVAC noise often causes a shuddering that creates shaking in lighting fixtures and decorations. In the worst case, it can cause pictures and plaques to fall from the wall, which is why HVAC noise control with sound barriers is so important.
Low-frequency sounds are the cause of the vibrations that can create problems inside the building. HVAC noise reduction is easy to accomplish with sound absorbing barriers.
Because the sound is reduced, vibrations never begin, and the problems are eliminated at the source.
Commercial chillers and cooling towers noise reduction are two of the primary sources of low-frequency sound that causes internal damage from continuous shaking are a large part of the problem too.
Air conditioning units are thought to be safe when used on the top of a building like a huge industrial company or residential complex, but the after effects of their use are evident in recent years with more sound testing.
Commercial and industrial companies can reduce problems by using noise absorbing materials.
Sound Fighter Systems is widely recognized for their use of innovative products that absorb sound rather than reflect it in another direction.
HVAC Components That Benefit From Noise Control
- Condenser fans
- Chillers
- Cooling towers
- Condenser motors
- Evaporating equipment
- Air handlers
- Air conditioners
Employees Need Sound Protection
The Occupational and Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, says that employees can suffer hearing loss along with several other problems when they have exposure to sounds that exceed the 85-decibel level.
Employees can have issues from ringing in the ears to depression and loss of productivity at work. Even an increase of just ten decibels while working causes a temporary loss in hearing that worsens with overtime shifts.
Controlling HVAC Noise Can Save Time, Money and Hassle
When you use a sound wall like the absorptive noise barriers at Sound Fighter Systems, the potential compliance and health-related risks are greatly reduced, if not eliminated altogether, potentially saving you money on noise testing and even vibration-related maintenance in the long run.
How To Reduce Air Conditioner Noise
The use of our absorptive panels has helped dozens of companies meet environmental guidelines and local regulations on noise.
It also helps businesses minimize sounds for workers or tenants while protecting the foundation of the structure.
Our noise absorbing panels answers are available for portable and easy to take down and reconfigure as needed.
No matter how large or small your HVAC noise issue is, we can design an air conditioner noise reduction system to significantly reduce unwanted noise.
Avoid Sound Reflecting Material
Given that modifying existing machinery can be an expensive, risky, and time-consuming process, many are interested in investing in other methods.
And while reflecting this unwanted noise via common materials like wood or concrete sound walls has been a common strategy for many years, our absorptive noise barrier technology is becoming a more attractive option.
Instead of reflecting the noise, Sound Fighter Systems has a solution that gets rid of the noise to eliminate any structural issues from vibrations.
Our noise barriers are designed to look nice while performing an important service and lightweight nature makes it ideal for any weight sensitive structure.
Sound Reflection vs. Noise Absorption
Most HVAC noise reduction barriers in the past have been designed to reflect sound away from the facility. However, this can create problems for neighboring communities that have the noise sent their way.
Given that commercial locations have come under criticism for this unfortunate side effect of reflection-based noise reduction, new methods have been developed.
By utilizing noise absorbing material, companies can eliminate the issue altogether without creating disturbances at nearby areas.
Custom Absorptive Panels For Each Client
Our team at Sound Fighter Systems is proud to provide tailored services for our clients no matter what occupation or industry.
Our HVAC screen walls are easy to assemble, weatherproof, and aesthetically pleasing. We provide thorough set-up instructions and blueprints. We can even assist in locating a suitable installer if desired.
Benefits of our Air Conditioner Sound Enclosure
- Appealing design
- Lightweight components
- Easy to assemble and take apart
- Unlimited color options
- Non-conductive
- Customizable design
- Will not rust
- Weatherproof and water resistant
- Does not attract animals or provide a nesting place
- Quick delivery options
- Fully absorptive noise absorbing panels
Sound Fighter Systems provides environmental noise control to fit any commercial HVAC noise mitigation need.
Effective Solutions for a Variety of Industrial Machines
HVAC units come in all shapes and sizes, and most large scale commercial applications require multiple units.
Whether the need is for cooling tower, evaporator or air conditioning noise reduction, sound absorbing materials are typically a good solution. Not only are they effective, but they can be installed in a timely and affordable manner.
We provide solutions for new companies, and they create custom resolutions for existing businesses. We are known for our retrofitting treatments that significantly reduce low and high frequency sounds.
Our wall solutions work for:
- Boilers
- Chillers
- Air conditioning units
- Air handlers
In addition to our permanent noise barriers, Sound Fighter also offers a free-standing, portable noise barrier, which can be disassembled and transported to new job sites.
Our barriers are lightweight and are ideal for weight-sensitive structures and roof mounted applications. Absorbing noise is often the best solution for businesses and buildings that have cooling machinery.
Sound Fighter Systems’ barriers are designed to look nice while performing an important service.
The use of our absorptive noise barriers has helped dozens of companies meet environmental guidelines and local regulations on noise. Sound absorbing panels is the most acceptable solution for businesses and buildings that have cooling machinery.
To find out more about HVAC noise control, contact us today. Our team at Sound Fighter Systems can provide the information you need to help you in your decision making process.
Our church HVAC condenser unit is emitting too much noise so we are not in compliance with our Plymouth, MI township noise ordinance requirement. We already have a sound barrier around the unit. I need a proposal and estimate on additional noise reduction.
Kerry Montgomery
Chair, Board of Trustees
Quite an interesting read! Controlling HVAC noise is crucial for several reasons. First, the vibrations that might cause issues within the structure are brought on by low-frequency noises. High noise levels can cause stress responses, disrupted sleep, and other biological or biophysical effects in those exposed to it. There are several methods for reducing noise, such as installing sound-absorbing barriers.