In this day and age there is so much going on in the world, and noise pollution is at its greatest. Whether you're someone who thrives on a peaceful surrounding or you're someone who is used to living in the city, certain noises can be a nuisance when trying to work, relax and most of all communicate. Have you ever tried to make a phone call when road works have been underway? It's a nightmare! However, there are ways of decreasing the noise pollution and one of these ways is to erect Sound barriers or Acoustic Fencing.
Sound barriers are considered the modern day peacemakers, and an ingenious way to prevent these nuisances getting in the way of our everyday lives, but how do they work?
The physics of sound states that sound moves in longitudinal and transverse waves generated by a source, which is why we can hear things from short and long distances. Sound barriers are used to absorb and reflect the majority of these waves to prevent sound escaping the barrier perimeters. For example when referring to railways, sound barriers are used in areas where there is local housing and offices to protect these properties from the noise pollution the trains give off every time they pass. Acoustic fencing is a different type of sound barrier that performs in a similar way.
Today acoustic barriers are not only used for noise prevention but also for security purposes to protect from intruders such as vehicle safety and security fencing. Other barriers are used to protect the welfare of citizens like custodian guardrails, and others protect from Mother Nature herself when she brings horrific winds and flooding.
Acoustic barriers can be made from a large selection of products in a range of materials including timber, concrete, acrylic, aluminum, steel, recycled plastics and more. All products are manufactured to a very high standard to ensure that they perform throughout their lifespan, and all materials that are used are usually sourced from QA companies where materials can be refurbished. All barriers are industrialized to be sound absorbent, sound reflective and weather resistant, after all you do not want to spend an awful amount of money for the barrier to break down after a year, or not fulfil its purpose.
Should you feel that you need some sound barriers to be installed, I would recommend that you look for companies whose work is backed by the government "Trust Mark Scheme", which identifies reputable firms and tradespeople. It is also vital that the company used, has health and safety regulations in place during construction due to the nature of the materials that will be handled. On top of this it would be ideal to employ the services of a company who can also provide highly trained specialists. Some companies can offer a full service with installation which also includes, drawings, calculations, aip's and check certificates, which means you will be constantly updated from the starting point of the project to the end. It's definitely worth doing some research in the long run.
So as you can see, acoustic barriers really can make a difference, and it's a fair statement to make that the world would not be able to function as well as it does today without them in place.