Innovations in HVAC Noise Reduction: Exploring Modern Sound Wall Solutions

Effective noise reduction in HVAC systems is crucial for enhancing a facilities’ occupants’ overall comfort and well-being. Excessive HVAC noise can disrupt daily life, causing stress and discomfort for occupants both inside and nearby.  Loud HVAC units in outdoor spaces contribute to noise pollution, which can affect neighborhoods.

Properly-designed sound walls, or noise barriers, can reduce noise pollution that may impact communities. Sound Fighter Systems is the leading HVAC sound barrier solutions provider, providing effective noise control for commercial spaces.

In this guide, we’ll go over the principles behind HVAC noise reduction. We’ll also cover its impact on people, current regulations regarding noise pollution, and effective sound wall solutions available to businesses today.

Decibel Levels and Regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets permissible exposure limits (PEL) standards to protect workers from excessive noise. OSHA’s PEL for noise is 90 decibels over an 8-hour workday. In addition, OSHA employs a 5-decibel exchange rate, meaning that the allowable exposure time is halved for every 5-decibel increase in noise.

These regulations emphasize the importance of implementing effective noise reduction strategies in industrial and commercial HVAC systems to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and safeguard workers’ health.

Further, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates noise levels to maintain a healthy living environment in residential areas. The EPA provides guidelines for acceptable noise levels in communities. 

Excessive noise can lead to stress and impact the overall well-being of individuals. Therefore, adhering to recommended noise levels ensures a peaceful living environment.

Integrating innovative noise reduction solutions in residential HVAC systems contributes to community noise control and aligns with EPA recommendations for maintaining a healthy and harmonious neighborhood. Sound Fighter Systems offers proven solutions for residential and commercial HVAC systems. These solutions can be applied to various commercial projects, providing many innovations in HVAC technology:

• Air handlers
• Evaporators
• Air conditioners
• Cooling towers
• Condensers
• Chillers

SonaGuard Outdoor Fiberglass Wall Panels

Sound Fighter Systems SonaGuard fiberglass wall panels represent a revolutionary solution for outdoor noise barrier walls, addressing key challenges and objectives with remarkable efficiency. The innovative design features spherically perforated reinforced fiberglass sound panels, offering superior acoustics and increased strength.

These panels reduce sound levels with a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 1.05 and a Sound Transmission Class (STC) of 35. Their incredible strength allows them to meet rigorous wind load and deflection requirements, making them an ideal choice for businesses in various locations, performing much better than reflective sound barriers.

Downsides of Using Reflective Sound Barrier Walls

Traditional HVAC sound barrier solutions include using reflective sound barrier walls and other materials. While these solutions can be effective in specific scenarios for HVAC noise reduction, they come with potential downsides and considerations.

Here are some of the drawbacks associated with the use of reflective sound barrier walls:

1. Reflective barriers may be less effective in attenuating low-frequency noise. Low-frequency sounds tend to diffract and penetrate barriers more quickly, making it challenging for reflective walls to reduce all frequency ranges comprehensively.
2. Reflective barriers bounce sound waves away from the barrier surface. Not strategically placed can result in redirected noise, potentially causing disturbances in other areas.

Sound Fighter Systems provide revolutionary systems, which are much better than reflective sound walls, giving you better options for HVAC noise control.

Innovative Solutions from Sound Fighter Systems

Our team provides effective sound-absorptive noise barrier walls, which offer several advantages over reflective sound barrier materials. Absorptive barriers tend to absorb and dissipate sound energy rather than reflect it. This helps minimize sound reflections that could create unwanted echoes or increase noise levels in other areas.

Sound Fighter Systems offers unparalleled absorptive sound barrier solutions specifically designed for challenging HVAC noise abatement applications. We provide solutions for various applications, from ground-level installations to rooftop retrofits. Our air conditioner barriers are their class’s most effective and durable noise reduction panels.

These products are engineered to surpass competing solutions and excel in mitigating noise from HVAC units. They provide exceptional acoustic performance, making them a reliable and durable option for demanding noise reduction needs in commercial and residential settings.

We provide acoustic insulation materials with a wide range of applications:

• Flexible Installation: Our absorptive materials can be applied to various surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and floors, offering installation flexibility. This versatility allows for customized solutions based on the specific acoustic needs of the soundproofed space.
• Reduced Maintenance: Our SonaGuard barriers generally require less maintenance over a much longer lifespan than other common sound wall materials.
• Smaller Footprint: Our absorptive barriers are often thinner and can be designed to occupy less space than traditional barriers like concrete. This can be advantageous in areas with limited available space or where a more discreet noise reduction solution is desired.

Effective HVAC Noise Reduction Solutions

Sound Fighter Systems custom-builds effective noise barrier solutions suited to your HVAC system. Please fill out our online contact form and our specialists will happily answer your questions.