When sound becomes excessive or intrusive, we call it “noise”. Often underestimated, too much noise can lead to irritability, inability to concentrate, loss of productivity, and even hearing loss.

Hearing loss may occur at 85 decibels, sometimes even as low as 75 dB if noise exposure is long enough. A noisy restaurant is about 80 dB; a lawn mower is about 90 dB. A noise level of 140 dB will cause pain in the ear. Even very short exposure to extremely loud noise can cause permanent and irreparable hearing loss.

Sound Barriers Inc. manufactures custom-designed metal acoustic enclosures, sound booths, noise absorption panels, noise reduction louvers, and spring rail vibration isolation systems, for applications such as punch presses, factory enclosures, test rooms, barrier walls, web press enclosures, audio metric rooms, HVAC and many more.

Our on-site acoustic engineering and manufacturing team enables us to design and build almost any type of sound solution required to block and absorb your unwanted noise.

Be it renovation or new construction, we can engineer an effective noise control solution for acoustic problems such as: noisy industrial and manufacturing equipment, HVAC vibration, excessive acoustic reverberation in gymnasiums, indoor swimming pools, auditoriums, and noise and vibration transmission problems such as common wall construction and floor to ceiling design.

At Sound Barriers Inc., we know noise and vibration control. Our experienced team of acoustic engineers and consultants are standing by to offer your Sound Solution today!

Custom-Engineered Metal Noise Control Enclosures

Rigid metal noise control enclosures metal noise control enclosures Rigid metal noise control enclosures, as manufactured by Sound Barriers Inc, are designed to both contain and absorb noise, and to act as a barrier between noisy and quiet areas.

We manufacture our metal noise control enclosures with an 18 GA solid exterior, and an 18 GA perforated interior metal skin.
A 4 lb/cu.ft. density acoustic core fills the area between the two skins to absorb noise.

These highly durable metal enclosures are high performance, with a STC up to 41, and are Class 1 fire rated.

Rigid metal noise control enclosures metal noise control enclosures All our metal enclosures are custom manufactured for your specific noise application. Available features include: windows to view machinery in operation, roof systems, vents, louvers, specialty cutouts and access panels, gasket sealed doors. Our unique panel clamp connector provides a continuous structural connection between panels, and allows for easier assembly and disassembly anywhere along the system.

Model WMA (Wall Mounted Absorber) ~ Wall Panels

Wall Mounted Absorber Panels Wall Panels Sound Absorption Wall PanelsModel WMA, wall mounted absorbers, are a highly efficient solution for ambient and reverberant noise issues and can significantly enhance the comfort level in both commercial and residential buildings. The perforated metal shell contains a semi-rigid mineral wool core and offers high performance noise absorption while withstanding even the harshest environments.

Wall Mounted Absorber panels are durable, high performance, easily installed and are available plain, or painted in a selection of colors.

Suitable applications for wall mounted absorbers include: indoor pools, theaters, churches, convention centers, gymnasiums, auditoriums, or anywhere maximum durability is required.

Custom-Engineered Acoustical Louvers

Custom engineered acoustical louvers are designed for applications requiring acoustical attenuation as well as air flow to minimize heat build up.

When heat buildup is a concern, acoustical louvers can be incorporated into an enclosure.

Acoustical louvers are generally used in pairs, allowing the inflow of cool air through one, and outflow of hot air through the other, while maintaining the enclosure's acoustical integrity.

Acoustical louvers are fire safe, durable and are available in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses, and are available painted or galvanized.

How to Prevent Hearing Loss:  
What You Need to Know About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Let's face it, we live in a noisy world.

Frequently underestimated, exposure to too much noise often leads to irritability, loss of productivity and inability to concentrate. In addition, exposure to very loud noise, or prolonged exposure to lower levels of noise, can damage your hearing. An estimated 1/3 of Americans, older than age 60, have some degree of irreversible hearing loss. And with today's portable music players and other high tech gadgets, the onset of hearing loss often begins in childhood.

How does hearing loss occur?

Sound travels in waves. Sound waves enter your outer ear and travel to the inner ear, where they vibrate tiny hair cells (small sensory cells, not actual hairs), and convert the sound energy into electrical nerve impulses. The nerve impulses are then carried from the hair cells to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) occurs when the hair cells are damaged, either through a one-time exposure to very loud noise, or by repeated exposure to noise at various loudness levels over an extended period of time. Once damaged, hair cells cannot grow back. Often, noise induced healing loss (NIHL) occurs gradually over time, and a person with NIHL may not even be aware of it. Sounds may become increasingly distorted or muffled and speech may become difficult to understand. A person with NIHL will often turn the TV volume up, speak in a loud voice, and ask you to repeat yourself.

Preventing Hearing Loss:  How loud is too loud?

We measure noise in decibels (dB). A decibel level of zero is total silence. A whisper, about 30 dB. Every step up of 10 dB reflects a tenfold increase in sound. So, 100 decibels is 10 times noisier than 90 decibels. Noise that is 120 dB is painful to the ear.

Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels can damage your hearing; in some people, even as low as 75 dB. The louder the sound, the shorter the time before damage may occur. Sound at 100 dB can cause damage after 15 minutes of exposure. Sounds at 110 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss after just one minute of exposure. A vacuum cleaner, at 3 ft. away, is about 80 dB; lawn mowers, tractors and hand drills are in the 90 to 98 decibel range; a jet engine, 100 ft. away is about 130 dB. Today's iPods and MP3 players, on high volume, average about 105 dB, sometimes even as loud as a whopping 130 dB!

How Can You Prevent Hearing Loss?

The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is 100 percent preventable.

If you have difficulty hearing or being heard by someone within 3 feet, the noise is too loud.

The best way to reduce noise exposure is to either walk away, or to simply stop the noise at the source. Turn off, or at least down, the volume.

While this is possible with such things as the television, MP3 player or iPod, it is often very difficult or even impossible to do elsewhere.

Wearing personal hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, is an economical and effective method of blocking noise. When using this option, look for something that offers an airtight seal. Wear hearing protection around loud sounds, even while doing everyday tasks such as mowing the lawn.

But, while suitable for many situations, it is important to remember that personal hearing protection blocks all types of noise, including people's voices, and necessary warning signals. Therefore, they may not be suitable for all noise applications. In these situations, it may be necessary to call in a noise remediation expert.

At Sound Barriers, Inc., we manufacture custom sound blocking and sound absorbing products. Our acoustical enclosures and barrier walls are designed to contain noise, and to act as a barrier between noisy and quiet areas.

Because of the effects of reverberation (an echo caused when a sound wave encounters a solid object and bounces back) however, an acoustic barrier alone, may not be enough. In these instances, the addition of an absorber material is imperative to sound proofing and controlling noise. And, in many noise control applications, the use of an absorber alone, such as our Wall Mounted Absorber (WMA) panels, offers an effective solution.

Although this approach may sound costly, it usually proves to be the most economical and effective.

What approach is best for your noise application? If you have an existing noise problem, an acoustic expert from Sound Barriers, Inc. can offer the best sound proofing solution. If you are getting ready to construct a new home or building, consulting with our acoustic engineers and consultants prior to construction can help you prevent a noise problem and save you the cost of fixing it later.

At Sound Barriers Inc., we know noise and vibration control. Our experienced team of acoustic engineers and consultants are standing by to offer your Sound Solution today