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| Acoustiblok All-Weather Sound Panels  Harald Scherrielies of British Columbia has a noisy heat pump at his house. Well, he had a noisy heat pump at his house; all is quiet now. Scherrielies installed a well known, top brand HVAC unit in his Delta home last year, and on the cusp of another frigid Canadian winter, he says he loves it. His neighbor? Not so much. Few people consider how loud a heat pump can be, and it's always a surprise once the unit is installed and running in the yard. Some units are so loud, the noise can even interfere with indoor peace and quiet.By the time Scherrielies realized how loud the sound from his new heat pump system actually was, it had already been installed. The people who sold him the 3-foot x 3-foot unit never told him it was noisy, he says. "My neighbor didn't complain directly to me, but he implied that the noise was keeping him awake," Scherrielies said. "And, being the good neighbor that I am, I immediately started looking online for a sound abatement material that would work in this setting." This was not as easy as had been anticipated. It turns out that solid barriers (i.e., fences or walls) reflect noise back to the house wall which then reflects the noise over the top of the barrier and into the neighbor's earshot. Concluding that any noise barrier he decided to put up would need to absorb sound, rather than just block it, Scherrielies did his research. When he came across Acoustiblok's "All-Weather Sound Panels" on the Acoustiblok website, he found the solution he needed. The four, 4-foot x 6 foot x 2-inch panels that Scherrielies chose for his home project were easily placed around the noise source, absorbing and blocking virtually all sound waves without obstructing air flow. The Acoustiblok panels not only block sound, but also absorb virtually all noise from chillers, generators, and other industrial noise sources (NRC of 1.00 the highest absorption rating possible). Absorbing sound is a must in reducing noise. Scherrielies said his heat pump noise was at an annoying level since it was installed. He decided to take action before his neighbors had time to complain. Installation of the Acoustiblok hurricane panels can be permanent or temporary, depending on the need. Scherrielies chose to install his himself, a job that took just a few hours. Using the 16 welded eyelets in the tempered aluminum frame, the panels are tied together with stainless steel wire ties (thus becoming self supporting) for temporary placement, or they can be attached to walls or vertical I-beams. No skilled labor or special tools are required. The panels are engineered to specifically withstand the most rigorous outdoor and industrial applications, from residential use in the challenging Canadian winters, to industrial uses such as offshore oil rigs and even military applications. Being all non-rusting tempered aluminum, they are also rodent and vermin proof. The patent pending, washable panels are made in the USA and are UL tested. Impervious to typically damaging influences - salt water, sun, dirt, chlorine air, grease, corrosion, mold, and most chemicals – the all-weather sound panels are built to withstand even the harshest elements. For certain industrial conditions, such as mining or desert applications, an acoustically transparent stainless steel dust filter is available. This panel is the ultimate in noise absorption, and combined with its environment/industrial ruggedness, withstands static wind velocity of more than 270 mph (436 km/h). The panels have successfully reduced noise not only in residential settings, but also at schools, railroad yards, hotels, factories, community and military facilities, and even oil rigs, providing a better quality of life and safety for all. The Acoustiblok All Weather Sound Panels contain an inner layer of the revolutionary Acoustiblok sound isolation material, a ⅛-inch thick proprietary viscoelastic polymer with a high density mineral content, heavy yet extremely flexible. While other manufacturers of sound proofing material attempt to stop or absorb sound, Acoustiblok has resolved the problem in a vastly different way. Through a unique thermodynamic process, the Acoustiblok material is engineered to transform sound energy into inaudible friction energy as the material flexes from sound waves. ⅛-inch layer of Acoustiblok in a standard wall will result in more sound reduction (STC 53) than 12 inches of poured concrete (STC 51); moreover, it can reduce sound transmission by as much as 30 decibels, according to Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories test results. Unfortunately, along with the increasing number of heat pumps being installed in residential neighborhoods, there has been an increase in the number of noise complaints about the units. The noise from a heat pump can be so intrusive it can cause sleep disturbances and degrade the quality of life for those living nearby. No one wants to be feuding with their neighbor over a noise issue, especially in today's litigious environment. Scherrielies decided to appease his neighbor before a problem escalated, and his choice of Acoustiblok is one he is very happy with. He says he is amazed at the difference since installing his panels, and relieved to know that the neighbors won't have to live with noise from his heat pump. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |