Noise Management

The most important thing to consider when installing soundproofing and insulation is experience.

Mar

2018

Advice On Insulating Barn Conversions

Insulating a barn conversion is no easy task using conventional insulation methods. Not only do you have a large space with high ceilings, but also it is desirable to retain some of the original features to make the property more appealing. With this in mind here is some advice on approaching the insulation of your barn conversion.

Most barns will have wall made of brick or stone without the cavity you get in a conventional house. This presents the first problem. How do you insulate the wall without spoiling it appearance inside and out? To meet building regulations you will need to fit the required level of insulation. This can be done by fitting internal partitions or cladding.

When it comes to the roof things can get a bit trickier. Barn roofs are often removed so that alterations can be made which can be an expensive and time consuming process.

Fortunately polyurethane foam applied via a spray can provide a cost effective and speedier alternative to other methods of insulation. The foam can simply be sprayed onto the underside of roof tiles and this can even be done without the need for a ventilated airspace.

Feb

2018

Soundproofing for Hospitals and Clinics

Hospitals and clinics have particular requirements when it comes to sound proofing and arguably it is of greater importance than in most other buildings.

Noise can lead to stress related illness and this isn’t something anyone wants in a healthcare setting, yet hospitals are often filled with people and activity day and night and this can make it hard to sleep which is not something a patient is going to appreciate.

Creating quiet, peaceful environments for patients will not only reduce the harmful effects of noise but also potentially speed up recovery which reduces costs.

Another factor to consider is privacy. Consultation rooms must provide the utmost privacy while details are being discussed. A patient is unlikely to want to communicate in an environment where they can be heard by passers-by.

Soundproofing solutions for hospitals and clinics might include insulated ceiling tiles and the installation of other special noise control products such as insulated wall panels that not only reduce the reverberation of sound in rooms but also the transfer of noise between them.

We have several years of experience working on sound insulation for healthcare settings and understand the unique requirements of the sector. If you want to find out more about us and our services, contact us today.

Dec

2017

The Hidden Danger Of Asbestos And How To Deal With It

The number of deaths resulting from exposure to asbestos has peaked according to statistics, however there may still be hidden asbestos dangers lurking in homes as well as commercial building and schools.

A type of lung cancer called mesothelioma can result from even low levels of exposure to asbestos fibres and in 2014 2,567 people died as a result of the disease. While most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos it can be unwittingly disturbed during renovation projects leading to fibres finding their way into the surrounding air.

The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 as a result of the risks, however this doesn’t mean that the risk is eliminated either now or in the future in older properties that have yet to be modernised.

While having asbestos in the home is ok if it is left undisturbed, the risk to health is acute when it is disturbed. The cost of having a professional remove the material safely, however, can be high and there will be significant disruption during removal works.

To avoid this, homeowners can opt for asbestos encapsulation which coats the asbestos preventing fibres from escaping. The process is cheaper and faster than removal and in most cases safer.

Dec

2017

Builders – The Cost Effective Way To Deal With Asbestos

Most builders will have come across asbestos at some point for the simple reason that asbestos was still being used in buildings up until the year 2000, which isn’t that long ago.

Asbestos was used widely in the years prior to 2000 mainly for its flexibility and magical ability to resist heat. Just as importantly it was also a cheap material which is why it remains so abundant in buildings all over the country from industrial buildings, to schools and even residential properties where it can be found in places such as behind boilers.

Asbestos continues to present a major hazard to people in the building trade when it is disturbed. The tiny fibres released can get into the lungs when protective equipment isn’t used at cause deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma.

Discovery of asbestos has often presented builders with a problem; do they arrange to have asbestos removed or find ways to contain it?

Removal requires a specialist team of people wearing the correct safety gear to ensure it is removed safely. This can take a lot of time and lots of safety procedures will need to be adhered to,, otherwise there is a risk of prosecution if people are exposed to the dust.

The solution to this is encapsulation which coats the asbestos and protects it from damage. It also happens to be a cheaper alternative to removal.

Nov

2017

Why Consider Asbestos Encapsulation?

The dangers of asbestos are well known, yet there are still many buildings in the UK that have some of this potentially deadly material which lies hidden in roof spaces in particular. Worse still, the material is often found in schools and other public buildings, particularly those built between the 1950s to 1980s.

While asbestos that remains undamaged and in good condition is often left in place, there is always the outside risk that it could be disturbed and emit particles that can cause all sorts of lung diseases from lung cancer to asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. This is why it was made illegal to use the material in construction in 1999.

If asbestos is present in a building, its removal is governed by strict regulations due to the considerable health risks. If these guidelines are not adhered to and lives are put at risk, this can result in hefty penalties including jail terms for those involved.

One way to avoid damage to asbestos and the associated risks is to use a process called encapsulation, which as the name suggests involves coating the asbestos. This prevents any disturbance which might damage the asbestos.

It is also cost effective in reducing the amount of down time and the associated costs of safe removal of the material.

Nov

2017

Asbestos Encapsulation Methods

If you have a building which contains asbestos and you want to deal with the problem before any damage occurs which might result in fibres escaping into the air, then one method is to use encapsulation.

Encapsulation acts as a seal to prevent asbestos fibres escaping and can be a cost effective and safer alternative to removing the material altogether.

The encapsulation process involves applying a thick material which resembles paint being sprayed onto the asbestos, which then dries and hardens over the material to prevent any of the harmful fibres escaping.

There are two types of encapsulation, one called ‘bridging’ and the other ‘penetrating’. Bridging acts as a protective coating over the asbestos while penetrating as the name suggests, penetrates into the material before hardening and sealing it.

Encapsulant must be sprayed onto the asbestos with a low pressure spray and care must be taken to remove any damaged or loose asbestos before the chemical is applied. As the process involves working with asbestos, there is still the danger that the person applying the encapsulant material can be exposed to fibres, so it is essential to wear protective clothing including a suit and a respirator.

If you wish to find out more about encapsulation contact one of our experts today.

Oct

2017

What The World’s Noisiest Cities Tell Us About Excessive Noise

Depending on which study you find, the noisiest cities in the world tend to be found in cities that are densely populated with high volumes of traffic with poor planning which exacerbates the effects of noise on their populations.

The worst city in the world for noise pollution is Guangzhou in China and the effects on residents are really quite frightening. The average hearing loss in proportion to age in the city stands at nearly 17 years. In Delhi where noise pollution levels are not too far behind the hearing loss is 20 years.

In Western Europe, however, the effects of noise on the local population is in some cases considerably less at 10 years in proportion to age. Vienna tops the list in Europe followed by Zurich and Hamburg.

However Barcelona and Paris have the misfortune of appearing in the worlds top 10 worst cities for noise pollution at 7th and 9th respectively.

While studies have focused on actual hearing loss, the more subtle underlying effects are still a fertile area of study where links to dementia, cardiovascular disease and depression are only just coming to light.

Of course the best way to deal with noise if you live in a city is to insulate your property to keep it out. If you want to find out more about sound insulation for your home of business then contact us today.

Sep

2017

If You Don’t Like Noise Avoid These Jobs

Sound insulation can be an effective barrier to noise in the workplace, however the nature of some jobs means exposure to excessive noise is inevitable.

Noise exposure can increase the risk of acquiring all sorts of health problems, particularly if noise levels are high in a work environment where most of us spend the majority of our time. Some noise in buildings can be reduced by fitting adequate sound insulation and individuals can wear ear protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs.

Some of the noisiest jobs include:

Teaching
Noisy classrooms are often just a part of the job for most teachers. It is also not possible to wear ear protection for obvious reasons, so it is important to fit effective sound insulation in schools to reduce the effect of being exposed to noise levels of 85dB.

Factory work
Depending on the industry, factories can be exceptionally noisy environments leaving employees at risk of hearing damage from the 105dB they will often be exposed to. An assessment should be carried out to see if noise can be reduced by fitting sound insulation.

Even the above is nothing compared to working as a construction worker or formula one driver. Noise from hammer drills can reach 120dB and if you thought being a race car driver was glamorous, consider how you would cope with 135dB of noise on a regular basis.

Sep

2017

Acoustic insulation against noise from loud machinery

If your office building contains noisy mechanical equipment then there can be a problem not only with internal noise but also complaints from neighbouring properties. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the volume of noise from machinery if you fit the right type of sound insulation measures.

Build an enclosure
This may be one of the more expensive options to insulate against sound from loud machinery but it will be the most effective.

Erect barriers or a partial enclosures
If you fit barriers at double the height of the machinery producing the noise then this can be an effective step towards reducing the amount of sound that escapes.

Fit sound insulation and absorption materials to walls behind the machinery
If fitting barriers and enclosures proves to be difficult or expensive, insulating the wall behind the machinery will help bring a small reduction in sound travelling. The key is to reduce the sound being reflected.
If noise is becoming a problem in your workplace and you need further advice on fitting sound insulation or ways to reduce noise in particular circumstances, then please contact one of our experts who should be able to help.

Aug

2017

3 Ways To Soundproof Your Home Cinema

If you’re planning to introduce a home cinema room into your home then you will naturally want to achieve that real cinema experience. Unfortunately, the challenge with most homes is to insulate a room enough to reduce or ideally eliminate any external noise and also prevent noise escaping and disturbing the people living around or close to you like the neighbours.

Soundproofing is a difficult and complex subject to understand so we’ll just cover the basics of soundproofing a home cinema here.

Building a room within a room
One of the best ways to sound proof a home theatre is to build a room within a room. This is technique is often used when modifying an existing home for the purpose.

The importance of air mass and distance
Air, mass and distance are the 3 important things to consider when you want to block sound waves entering a building. For example, a 6 inch thick concrete wall for example will prevent a lot of sound entering a room due to its mass and weight. An exception to the light materials rule is fibreglass which is effective at absorbing sound when used to fill cavities between walls.

Replace hollow-core doors
One of the biggest challenges with soundproofing is to reduce the level of sound travelling through less well insulated areas. Doors can be a particular problem if they are hollow. Replace the door to your home cinema with a solid wood door and the passage of sound will reduce considerably.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog