Enclosure lets neighbours hear the birds sing

Enclosure reduces noise at engine test facility where engines up to 750kW are dyno tested following complaints from neighbouring factories.

Sound Dead Steel designed an enclosure to reduce noise at an engine test facility where engines up to 750kW are dyno tested.

Before the SDS installation, conversation in the entire factory and offices was impossible, neighbouring factories were complaining about the noise and had even bought there own noise meters to monitor the noise from this location.

After the installation, normal conversation could take place beside the enclosure, while outside all that can be heard is a gentle hum and the birds singing.

The enclosure needed observation windows which were 10mm thick polycarbonate and access doors for a forklift to drop the massive engines in place.

The steel used was 2mm SDS Sonphonon, which controlled the radiated noise and lined with 50mm SDS acoustic foam, which absorbed the airborne noise.

An extraction system was included to ventilate the enclosure to remove fumes and heat from the test bed.

A 1dB reduction represents a 27% reduction in the power level, 3dB is equivalent to 50% reduction and 10dB to 1000% reduction.

A motor on full revs without any enclosure in place has noise readings peaking at 110dB(A); with the enclosure in place with the doors open, this drops to 99dB(A) and with the doors closed to 79dB(A).

This reduction has removed more than 99% of the original power level.

With the motor on tickover with the doors open, the noise is 94dB(A) reducing to 69dB(A) with the doors closed.

Again this is a power reduction of more than 99%.

Back to top