Torpedo launch sound testing

Devon based marine engineering firm J+S Ltd requested that South West Noise Consultants Soundguard Acoustics Ltd determine the level of noise risk to employees during their Magazine Torpedo Launch System testing. The torpedos are launched and fired along an internal track within the test bay using compressed air producing peak noise levels as high as 144dBC.

After a noise report of the torpedo system within the development bay was completed the Ministry of Defence requested the test to be repeated on board HMS Northumberland a type 23 Frigate. Sound Level Meters were set up to capture the firing of the torpedo within the weapons room and crew were fitted with DoseBadges and stood at their specific locations to determine their exposure.

It was recognised that in factory and training environments the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 do apply and appropriate control by compressor noise reduction, hearing protection, demarked zones and clear signs was determined to be the most effective approach in reducing the noise exposure of staff and crew. Devon based noise consultants Soundguard Acoustics Ltd continues to work with the company.

CONAWR training at Alberto Culver

Devon acoustic consultancy Soundguard Acoustics Ltd were pleased to learn that Alberto Culver were putting into place their Noise Control action plan and invited us back to provide training to their employees. Noise at Work experts Soundguard Acoustics Ltd spent much of the day and evening providing short 30 minute presentations covering CONAWR, risks associated with noise exposure, employee responsibility, selection and fitting of hearing protection, recognising hearing protection zones and hearing health surveillance. If your company would benefit form similar bite-sized training then please contact us.

"Thanks for a really professional service with both the survey itself and the training sessions and thank you for working so hard to accommodate everyone."
Helen Williams, EHS Manager, Alberto Culver

Targeting gunfire at 'The Tunnel'

The Tunnel is an ambitious project located just outside of Charmouth, Dorset. A disused road tunnel has been converted for use as an indoor shooting range and is due to open in the Spring 2010. The facility hopes to be of value to the 2012 olympics as well as local ballistics testing, the police and shooting enthusisats. Fully qualified staff will welcome all groups to come and participate and demonstrate that Shooting really can provide enormous enjoyment when practised within a controlled enviroment with qualified professionals.

Devon Acoustic consultancy Soundguard Acoustics Ltd were required to deliver expert acoustic advice to ensure that local properties would not be affected by noise break out from the site. With the support of the developers and the local police force a Magnum was used as a noise source from which a BS4142 survey was constructed. Additional internal and external acoustic advice was provided to ensure that the design of the build would meet the requirements of the project whilst avoiding any disturbance to local residents. (picture from alternative source as 'The Tunnel' is not yet complete)

Flying high with Flybe

Flybe is Europe's largest independent regional airline carrier and was named 'Regional Airline of the Year 2009'. The company operate throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. Devon noise consultants Soundguard Acoustics Ltd were invited to undertake noise at work risk assessments for Flybe's groundcrew including their repair and refurbishment operations at the Exeter, Manchester and Birmingham sites. The Devon acoustic consultancy Soundguard Acoustics Ltd spent an interesting time assessing the hangars, operating equipment and ground testing and engine test runs of Embraer 145's.

Soundguard cares for Alberto Culver:

Alberto-Culver UK manufacturers and distributes leading haircare and skincare brands in the UK and Ireland. The company is based in Swansea and employees over 130 people within the manufacturing, blending and dispensing operations. Alberto Culver grew from a single product over 50 years ago to become an innovative leader in a range of hair and skincare products that include Tresemme, VO5, St Ives, Andrew Collinge and Alberto Balsam.

Noise at Work experts Soundguard Acoustics Ltd were invited to undertake workplace noise assessments to CONAWR regulations throughout the site and across the numerous production lines. A range of noise control solutions was determined as well as alteration to the existing mandatory hearing protection zones. Several engineering controls are planned in the near future to further reduce employee noise exposure risks. Devon noise services Soundguard AcousticsLtd  continues to work with the company.

New homes satisfy noise planning

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was asked to assess a 14 home development site in Bideford, Devon for Inox Group to PPG24 standards so that planning conditions for noise could be determined. With some small alterations to layout and upgrading of the windows in some facades using BS8233 a solution was obtained that satisfied the planning conditions for the site.

Keeping the peace at ‘The Sanctuary’

A BS4142 assessment was requested by BlueSky Apartments, Swindon as fan noise was impacting upon parts of ‘The Sanctuary’ a group of high specification apartments in a modern building. The survey was completed by Soundguard Acoustics Ltd and the problem quickly determined as inappropriately externally mounted fan isolation that was creating a vibration pathway and noise transmission into the building.

Brewing solutions with Clipper teas

Clipper Teas, Beaminster, Dorset required Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to undertake a BS4142 environmental assessment due to a proposed factory extension. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd provided advice on external construction, loading operations and the internal layout of machinery and determined that the noise levels resulting from a factory extension and operations would not impact upon neighbouring properties.

Building a future with Tru Homes

Tru homes ltd, Exeter, Devon manufacture bespoke timber frame housing. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments of their nail gun and wood cutting workshops. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

A calm environment for Children’s Hospice

The architects David Wilson Partnership contracted Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to assist in the sound separation design for a Childrens Hospice. The hospice is being built in an AONB in St Austell, Cornwall and it was important to ensure that the internal environment is maintained for children and their families and that bedrooms and therapy areas were not subjected to noise from other parts of the building. This was a particular challenge as the building was of multiuse and included kitchens, lifts, TV rooms, swimming pool and extensive heating and cooling plant. A solution was obtained using a variety of mass and lightweight construction for the walls and separated screed floors to ensure that noise control occurred throughout the building. Health Technical Memorandum HTM08-01 for hospitals was used alongside ADE 2003 and BS8233 to design the noise separating elements.

Soundguard saves Kernow Coatings £ Thousands!

Kernow Coatings, Falmouth, Cornwall is a specialist coater and laminator of film, special papers and fabrics. The company has 5 coating machines and a dedicated thermostabilising unit and other associated mixing areas. The company approached Soundguard Acoustics Ltd about noise control following a previous noise assessment by another consultancy. Once onsite our feeling was that the previous reported levels were too high and Soundguard Acoustics Ltd requested to repeated the survey. Our findings resulted in levels significantly lower levels then those reported and as a result the approaches to noise control and management was changed and Kernow Coatings significantly reduced the cost of its noise control.

Toddlers are now much quieter!

The Honey Pot Nursery, Yeovil, Somerset, requested noise assessments to determine the daily noise exposure of its staff at this nursery. The nature of the building resulted in high reverberant levels of sound which became at times uncomfortable for staff and interrupted the sleep of its younger children during their mid morning nap. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd designed a suitable suspended ceiling design and sound separating doors between the areas to reduce the reverberation and noise levels.

Sleeping soundly at Kingsley School

The Kingsley School, Bideford asked Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to suggest improvements to its former dormitory building which had been used as classrooms for a number of years. The school wished to return the use of the building to dorm accommodation and invited Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to design separating wall improvements, hallway absorption and floor upgrades to ensure that their pupils could obtain uninterrupted sleep and were not disturbed by noise from other parts of the building.

Filtering out sound for Pall

Pall Corporation, Ilfracombe, Devon has been helping clients to solve their most critical and difficult fluid management challenges. The company manufactures a range of filters in a diverse field of industrial and commercial sectors. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was asked to undertake hearing screening assessments for 200 of their employees. Each report is supported with questionnaires, hearing protection training and advice. If Soundguard Acoustics Ltd can help your company with its hearing screening requirements then please contact us.

A positive approach for Kimball electronics

Kimball Electronics, Bridgend, Wales offers contract electronics manufacturing services. Today, Kimball Electronics Group is a leading contract manufacturer of durable goods electronics serving a variety of industries on a global scale. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments and risk assess parts of their manufacturing areas. A full report was provided and included noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Growing a solution with Riverford Organic

Riverford Organic, Buckfastleigh, Devon is a grower and distributer of organic foods. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their sorting and packaging area which had a range of operations, sorters and conveyors. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

On track with Brecknell Willis

Brecknell Willis have specialised in the field of electrification & traction for all types of transportation systems including tramways, metros and railways. The company has been operating from Chard, Somerset, since 1938 and has developed to incorporate the most advanced manufacturing facilities required for this industry. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments across the entire site from the rail shop, engineering areas, welding to cleaning. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

CONAWR for Wignalls Ltd

Wignalls Ltd, Newton Abbott, Devon offers bespoke laminated products. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their manufacturing areas. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Tweeting about noise control

Ernest Charles Parnell Lang Ltd, Copplestone, Devon is a bird seed and feed distributor. The company invited Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to undertake CONAWR noise assessments within its milling, blending, packaging and warehouse operations and hearing health surveillance for its employees. Soundguard Acoustics determined noise control advice on site, set hearing protection zones and continues to work with Parnell Lang in reducing and controlling noise for its employees.

Box clever with Smurfit kappa

Smurfit Kappa UK is one of the country's leading corrugated packaging manufacturers, also operating a recycling division complete with paper mills. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to the Barnstaple site in Devon to undertake dosimetry noise at work assessments within their box making facility.

Extracting noise for SFL

SFL, Barnstaple, Devon are a Flue, Chimney and exhaust system manufacturer. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments across the site. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Precision testing at Parker Hannifin

Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to the Barsnatple, Devon site to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their manufacturing areas. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

A breath of fresh air for Powrmatic

Powrmatic, Illminster, Somerset is Europe's foremost manufacturer of commercial & industrial heating and air handling equipment and a specialist in natural, powered and smoke ventilation. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their manufacturing areas. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

A clean approach to noise control at CLS

CLS is a large laundry service in Newton Abbott, Devon. CLS invited Soundguard Acoustics Ltd to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their sorting, washing, drying and folding areas. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Engineering solutions with ALCO

ALCO, Torrington, Devon is an engineering company with a punch press noise problem. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to provide noise control advice and introduce approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Precision testing at Adaero

ADAERO, Crediton, Devon was founded in 1988 and is a specialist manufacturer of high precision components. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake control of noise at work assessments within their production areas. A full report was provided with noise control advice and approaches to ensure the protection of their employees under the CONAWR.

Cowshed ready for holiday guests

The Local Planning Authority required clarification to the sound reduction of a party wall and internal floors for the development of a shippen into two separate holiday cottages. The owners had the option of preserving the existing cob and stone wall or building a new internal separating wall. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd raised concern as the design included a cavity wall with ties that had risk of failing the required Approved Document E pre-completion testing. It was also determined that maintaining the existing stone wall would require significant attention to ensure that it met the required sound insulation.

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd suggested a revised single block interior wall design using an ADE type 1 wall built of 215mm Celcon block faced with Lafarge Thermalcheck K plasterboard to ensure that ADE Building regulations could be by providing an airborne sound insulation value of 43dB DnT,w+Ctr. The approach was more cost effective, met thermal qualities, reduced build time, and the absence of the cavity reduced the required foundation depth. Other suggestions included improvements to ensure that noise transmission via floor beams did not occur between the cottages.

Assessing motorway noise on development site

A site in Almondsbury, Bristol identified for residential development required a Planning Policy Guidance 24 (PPG24) survey to satisfy the Local Planning Authority as concern was raised that the close proximity of the M5 and the M4 Motorways would create a noise impact upon the site.

Overnight and daytime PPG24 noise assessment revealed that, due to landscaping, neither motorway produced significant noise to warrant the reversal of planning permission. The main noise source was produced by the adjacent A38 but this traffic noise did not create any significant problem.

Using the classification system set out in PPG24 it was determined that the site was rated as ‘A’ – and that noise need not be considered as a determining factor in granting planning permission. A full PPG24 report was supplied to the clients and submitted to the Local Planning Department as part of the planning

Making schools quieter

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was asked to provide solution to reduce the reverberation time of a newly built sports hall at Clawton Primary School. The school had found that after the construction of the sports hall to the architect’s specification it was particularly loud during activity and testing and mathematical calculation determined that the school hall had a reverberation time of 7 seconds. Building Bulleting 93 (BB93 Acoustic Design of School) suggests a reverberation time of under 1.5s to meet optimal teaching and comfort standards for a gymnasium.

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd specified a ceiling design that would meet the reverberation requirements of BB93, would provide an improved finished detail to the building, would reduce rain impact noise but was also robust enough to sustain occasional impact from sports equipment. The ceiling design consisted of Rigitone 12-20/66 with a plenum depth of 200mm plus 75mm Isover TS48, these materials had the required absorption coefficient to meet the target reverberation time and was deemed robust enough for the environment and provided an aesthetic solution that met the requirements of BB93 and the local needs of the school.

Sound 'treatment' for North Devon Hospital

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust planned to build a medical school within a gymnasium area. A plant room directly above the solid concrete ceiling slab was producing a strong tonal sound within the gym below. Acoustics design had to meet both Building Bulletin 93 for the teaching areas and Health Technical Memorandum (acoustics) for hospitals.

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was contracted to identify the noise source and provide a solution to the problem. Octave Band testing determined that a tonal element to the noise was occurring at 25 - 31Hz, given the solid construction of the building and the heavy concrete ceiling slab the sound transmission was identified as structural vibration. In addition, the room volume and dimensions was enhancing this particular tone and forcing the whole room into reverberation.

Assessment in the plant room identified a centrifugal pump used to supply forced air to the main Surgical Theatre as being the problem. The weight and rotation speed of the pump correlated exactly with the noise breakout below and predicted a dominant frequency of 24Hz. Although the pump was mounted on an isolated frame, the isolators had collapsed and bridging of the frame with later installations had occurred. Suitable isolators were specified, couplings were replaced, bridging paths were removed and the fan was balanced and serviced.

The result was an effective solution that eliminated all transmitted noise and enabled the gymnasium area to be free of any tonal or reverberation noise.