Larger sound enclosures can be formed using these curtains, including complete rooms or separating walls. Noisy machines can be wrapped in flexible sound curtains, like a “blanket.” They can also be attached to a close quarters support frame around the equipment. These fabric curtains can be effectively used for noise source insulation, as well as for noise path insulation.

A new approachįlexible acoustic curtain walls offer a relatively new approach to providing employee safety and comfort when it comes to noise levels in a commercial or industrial facility. In a completed installation, the wall acts to trap the sound in a specific area and limit the migration of the sound to the ambient employee areas. Typically, the loaded vinyl side of the core is positioned facing the offending noise source, between the source and the desired ambient sound area.

This core is captured between two outer layers of 18-ounce flame-retardant vinyl, available in a number of colors for aesthetics. The interior core of a typical sound curtain will consist of a layer of sound-dampening, loaded vinyl and a layer of antimicrobial polyester batting as an additional sound buffer that also serves to fill out and maintain the body of the panel. Fiber batting is effective in reducing sound at mid to higher range frequencies. The mass loaded vinyl sheet in a sound curtain is more effective in reducing lower frequency noise than the other components (low frequency sound is best absorbed or deflected with high-density solid materials). These materials might include fiber batting (polymer or glass), open cell foam, or densified “loaded” vinyl or other flexible polymer sheet material.Įach component plays an important role in reducing sound levels encroaching on the curtain surface. If source sound levels increase for any reason, it is very simple to add a second layer of flexible sound curtain to an existing one, or even to augment an existing rigid wall (a fairly common application).Īcoustic curtain walls normally consist of two layers of a woven, coated fabric surrounding one or more layers of various insulating materials. It’s easy to add to or enlarge an initial curtain wall installation. Individual fabric panels of virtually any length are interconnected with Velcro to form each continuous wall.Ĭurtain walls also can be easily re-configured to adapt to changing production demands and floor layouts. Curtain walls can be configured to fit virtually any interior space and require significantly less time to set up than it takes to build permanent walls. A flexible way to control facility noiseĪnother option that is similar to rigid, permanent walls is sound-attenuating curtain walls. These benefits can be realized after the downtime of construction. Typically, these barriers are rigid, insulated walls or partitions that are strategically placed to block the path of transmitted sound waves, and absorb and scatter them, reducing the perceived sound that reaches the affected employees. Yet another possibility is to implement noise-reduction barriers. Encasing machines in sound-absorbing enclosures or materials is another option. Some noisy machines can be modified with isolation pads or vibration dampeners to reduce or vanquish excessive sound. This option is not always possible due to the cost or availability of quieter equipment. There are alternatives to personal protection in loud industrial environments, like redesigning or replacing loud equipment with new, quieter models. Employers are required to take action to reduce employee exposure to levels below that threshold. Due to the dangers of extreme sound levels, OSHA requires employers to limit employee noise exposure to 90 dB or less on an eight-hour time-weighted average basis.

Mass loaded vinyl curtains