What goes into designing a sound wall?
The process and science of designing effective sound walls is more complicated than you may think. For beginners, a sound wall must be high enough and long enough to block the view of a noise source in order to be minimally effective. In addition to the acoustic performance of the barrier, the walls have to be structurally designed to properly withstand the wind and seismic loads of a particular area.
Competent engineering and drafting are required to develop an effective sound wall. In many cases, working with a company like Sound Fighter Systems who has many years of experience designing sound walls can flatten the learning curve, potentially saving the customer time and resources
While sound walls can be designed to look like stone or brick in many cases the acoustic values typically outweigh the aesthetics. Even with absorptive sound walls such as the LSE® Absorptive Noise Barrier System, modifications can be designed into the look or functionality of the wall. Doors, gates, acoustic louvers, lighting and even security features can all be added to the sound walls to accommodate the customer’s needs. Flexibility is key when designing a sound wall for commercial application.