Most people associate noise control in manufacturing environments with adhering to OSHA criteria and regulations. While this is certainly a concern, it should be recognized that OSHA is concerned with hearing conservation. Their rules are designed to assure that those working in noisy facilities do suffer hearing loss.

There is a huge window of discomfort between these OSHA levels and levels that would be comfortable and stress free. In addition, controlling noise levels in manufacturing space will lower the level of perceived noise that finds its way into adjacent space such as offices. Comfortable office space will have a background sound level of about 48 dBa. That would be perceived as being about 1/8th as loud as an 85 dBa manufacturing space.

It is sometimes easier to lower the noise level in manufacturing space than to create a 37 STC barrier between it and the adjacent office. If, collaterally, a more comfortable work environment can be achieved in the manufacturing area the decision should be to lower the noise in manufacturing.

It may also be that just certain particularly noisy operations or machines need be isolated.

Other treatments such as liners for the housings of equipment, vibration isolation mounts and damping treatments are also considerations in addressing industrial noise.

Products and systems to accomplish this are presented in INDUSTRIAL NOISE CONTROL section of this site.