ArtUSA Noise Control Products Inc.
We are noise pollution solution providers. By offering engineering, fabrication and installation of the absolute best noise reduction and noise control products available our company has set the bar in the soundproofing industry. Sound-proofing is our passion. We design, fabricate and install acoustical panels, acoustical insulation, sound barriers, acoustical wall panels, sound-barriers, noise barrier, sound enclosures, acoustic insulation, noise barriers, sound proofing and sound barriers.

     Acoustical Surveys   

• Identification of noise source/s

• Identification of level, frequency, and duration

• Comprehensive Recommendations and Specifications

• Before and after solutions analysis

If you need a professional to conduct a workplace noise survey so you'll know whether or not noise levels are high enough that OSHA requires your workers be provided with a hearing conservation program. You can call the experts at ArtUSA can determine your employees' time-weighted noise exposure for an 8, 10, or 12-hour work shift with a noise dosimeter. This information provides the basis for selecting adequate hearing protectors for your workers and or engineering measures. ArtUSA also conducts noise measurements and octave-band analysis to determine compliance with municipal noise ordinances and the best solutions.

Guessing doesn't count when it comes to knowing how much noise your employees are exposed to at work! Call on the professionals at ArtUSA  to let you know exactly where you stand in terms of workplace noise exposure!

       GENERAL NOISE SURVEYS

There are usually four types of noise surveys. A preliminary survey, a general survey (this is often part of our formal proposal) to assess noise levels in various areas of a plant, an exposure survey (although we do not perform these test we can usually recommend industrial hygienist) to determine employee noise exposures, and an engineering survey to assess the feasibility of engineering noise control.

The equipment used in a general noise survey should meet OSHA and ANSI specifications. In addition, a calibrator must be used to verify the accuracy of the sound level meter. As a minimum, the sound level meter should have ANSI Type II precision. In most cases we use Type I instruments which require an even higher degree of accuracy

The instrument we use contain integration circuitry, which computes the energy average of the noise over a specified monitoring period. This average is called the equivalent level or Leq.

Many companies still use meters with a "moving needle" on a VU display to indicate the sound level. While such a meter is adequate for steady noise, when the noise fluctuates (which is more typical than not), the needle "bounces" making it difficult to read.

Meters that display the Leq provide an objective reading and correlate better with human response to noise than maximum, minimum, or "eyeball" average readings. A general noise survey can be used for variety of purposes. First, a preliminary survey can be performed as a screening to determine which areas of a plant should be examined more thoroughly.

Secondly, an area survey can be used to assess noise levels in specific areas.

      ENGINEERING NOISE SURVEYS

Specifically, the purpose of an engineering survey is to investigate what methods can be implemented to reduce equipment noise emissions. First we examine the equipment operation to familiarize us with the problem and to assess the location of employees relative to the equipment noise sources.

Next, a reasonable noise level criterion is established based applicable regulations and industry standards. A goal which is too stringent can mean high costs.

Once a goal is established, equipment noise levels are sampled using ANSI type I precision rated instruments. In most cases, we use either a digital audio tape (DAT) recorder or a meter with capture capabilities to have complete flexibility in analyzing the noise. In other cases, we use CEL metering or monitoring equipment. In either case, our aim is to obtain specific octave band spectra to identify the frequency content of the noise. This information is important to specify the proper control methods and materials.

      NOISE EXPOSURE SURVEYS

Noise exposure surveys are conducted to:

1) Identify employees with exposures over a time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA who must be included in a hearing conservation program,

2) Establish a representative noise dose for each job category,

3) Classify the risk of noise induced hearing impairment for each job category,

4) Select adequate hearing protection,

5) Identify areas which should be considered for administrative or engineering controls, and

6) Determine the work relatedness of significant shifts in hearing thresholds.

A professional with appropriate training should also do an exposure survey.

There are two methods used to conduct exposure surveys. The first is called personal monitoring. In this method, dosimeters are worn by employees to continuously sample the noise. Dosimeter readings must be performed with caution because disgruntled employees can sabotage measurements. In addition, you must ensure that sample durations are long enough and that the noise exposure is representative. Dosimeter readings are most useful when employees are mobile within a large plant (e.g., refinery, petrochemical or power plants).

The second method is called area monitoring. Here, sound level meters are used to sample noise at representative employee locations. Based on these levels and information on employee movement into different areas or jobs, the long-term noise dose for each job category is calculated.

When conducted by a noise specialist, the area method is preferred because: 1) calibration is more accurate. 2) Infrequently operated plant equipment can be activated for a short time so its effect can be included in the noise exposure analysis, and 3) the resultant noise exposure profile provides diagnostic value and permits "what if" analyses to assess the affect of administrative or engineering controls.

An extensive noise exposure profile shows the sound levels measured in the plant, the partial noise dose of various job tasks, and the total daily noise exposure for each job category, a hearing loss risk assessment, and a recommended minimum rating for hearing protectors.

Community Noise Control

Residents wish to live in peace and quiet. Too often that peace and quiet is disrupted by noises of industrial facilities, cars, planes and other sources.

We have been contracted by neighbors and by the owners of the sites creating the noise to take noise measurements in the community and to assist in resolving any issues.

• NEW FACILITIES - We can take noise measurements in the community prior to the building of a new facility or the addition to an existing facility. That baseline information is important to the neighbors and the company building the facility.

We can make calculations to determine expected noise in the community with the site operating. We can assist to design noise control into the facility if noise is expected to be unacceptable.

• EXISTING FACILITIES - We can take noise measurements to determine noise in the community to see if it meets the community ordinance (if it exists), or if it meets another acceptable criterion.

We can make recommendations to resolve any issues.

We have been resolving community noise issues since 1990.

We look forward to working with you to resolve your community noise issue.

HVAC DESIGN
Noises created by Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems are disturbances in theaters, offices, meeting rooms, classrooms and other public spaces. To make matters worse, manufacturers continue to cut corners to remain cost competitive, creating unacceptable noise levels. Here are just a few questions that you should be asking when determining whether noise has been given enough thought in HVAC design:

• What noise levels are expected in the space? What NC Curve will it meet? Or better still, what NCB Curve or RC Curve will it meet?
• Where will the Roof-Top Unit ( or Make-Up Air Unit, etc ) be located? Above a meeting room or the CEO's office? Will it and its ductwork be designed for low noise generation?
• What are the noise ratings of the air diffusers?
• Is the HVAC Equipment vibration mounted properly?

AFFIRMATIVE NOISE CONTROL ACTION PLAN

Too often noise control is not taken seriously when new facilities are being designed or when industrial hygiene surveys indicate excessively high noise in existing facilities. Noise control falls near the bottom of the priority list, never to get the funding needed for implementation. ArtUSA has an approach that gets attention and noise control actions!!! The Affirmative Noise Control Action Plan.

Managers will spend funds to reduce noise when they can understand the results to be gained for the money to be spent. Our Affirmative Noise Control Action Plan provides the answers most asked when determining the requirements, expected results and costs for noise control.

The Affirmative Noise Control Action Plan includes:

• Noise Control Priority Setting - the priorities in a Department or in a Plant are defined to insure the noise control effort is focused to the most important equipment. A quantitative ranking system is used to prioritize noise control opportunities.
• Noise Control Recommendations - Specific recommendations are made for each significant noise source. Noise control product literature and implementation costs are included with the Noise Control Action Plan.