Heating and ventilation systems usually rely on some kind of ductwork to move air around. Unfortunately, this can create problems with noise and vibration that can prove annoying and distracting in the work environment. However, there are ways that you can tackle noise from your ducting in order to make your environment more pleasant.
Why are ducts noisy?
There are several things that can lead to noise from ducted ventilation systems. It is often because the ventilation doesn’t have enough space, which leads to sounds being amplified and sounding worse than they actually are.
Noise in ducts can also be caused by loose or missing fittings that can lead to ducting vibrating and rattling. In places like factory environments, ducting can pick up and resonate noises from other equipment, such as machinery or conveyor belts.
As an employer, you have a duty to reduce noise in the workplace To get rid of a noise, you need to identify what is causing it. A survey of your system is the first step toward understanding what is causing the noise so you can then take appropriate steps to tackle it.
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Cutting the noise
If your survey identifies damaged or missing parts or badly installed components, the first step is to fix those problems and see what difference it makes before you start to look at other solutions.
If you still have a problem, you may need to look at duct silencers from a supplier of ductwork parts such as https://www.dustspares.co.uk/ductwork-parts/. These can be sourced in cylindrical or rectangular form, depending on the shape of your ducting. Ideally, silencers need to be designed into the system at an early stage rather than retro fitted.
Duct silencers work by using a technique similar to that used in a car exhaust. The silencer contains baffles that create air pockets which trap the sound waves and slow them down. The design of the silencer will depend on the frequency of the sound you need to control. Silencers can be designed for specific environments depending on the level of noise as well as other requirements, such as cleanliness. Silencers aren’t usually filled with anything, making them easy to clean where hygiene is a factor or where hazardous particles may be present in the air.