Case study: Evaluation of noise reduction in frequencies and sound reduction index of construction with variable noise isolation

Abstract

Intense sound levels produced by engineering equipment have become an acute issue. As most of engineering equipment require air supply, exhaust and good ventilation, it is not possible to control the noise by covering them with tight hoods. Louver with blades covered with acoustic materials and gaps that enable free circulation of air are used to this end. Three louver configurations were tested in the semi-anechoic chamber: bare metal louver blades, louver with blades covered with 20-mm-thick polystyrene foam slabs on both sides, and louver with blades covered with 15-mm-thick glass wool slab. According to the test results, louver with blades covered with glass wool slab demonstrated the best noise attenuation characteristics. The reduction of equivalent sound pressure level subject to blade inclination angle was from 10.8 to 12.5 dB. Sound pressure level reduction by louver with blades covered with polystyrene foam slabs was weaker: the reduction of equivalent sound pressure level was from 5.4 to 8.4 dB. Louver with blades not covered with any acoustic material demonstrated the least noise attenuation result from 1.9 to 3.9 dB. © 2020 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.