Environmental

Environmental Noise

Acoustic issues don’t just crop up indoors. Outside, the complex interplay of structures and environmental noise poses its own challenges for architects and facility owners.

Loading docks, rooftop air conditioners, construction equipment and noisy land uses like shooting ranges or industrial processes – all hold the potential for regulatory challenges, neighborhood disputes and unforeseen design complications. At Phoenix Noise & Vibration, we’re experienced in the science of measuring and forecasting the impact of exterior noise on building users and their neighbors.

Meeting Standards

Many communities enforce outdoor noise standards, both in the permitting stage and through code enforcement efforts directed at existing structures. We’ve helped hundreds of clients ensure their designs meet or exceed those requirements. We fully understand the terminology of noise regulation and how it applies to a given project. Absent specific legal requirements restricting environmental noise, our engineers can also recommend limits that align with best practices and ensure the comfort of end users.

The design stage represents the most cost-effective time to address environmental noise. We know how to analyze the technical specifications provided by manufactures to ensure equipment meets a project’s design parameters. We can also make recommendations for mitigation products, architectural changes and equipment operating conditions to minimize the impact of outdoor noise before it becomes a problem.

Detailed Modeling

To further quantify the way sound interacts with the surrounding environment, we use industry-leading techniques to create 3D models that trace the extent and severity of noise impacts. Our team has the professionally calibrated equipment and the skills to conduct site surveys and interpret the data using DataKustik’s powerful CadnaA software and other programs. They allow us to provide an objective look at existing or potential noise impacts on neighboring properties. We can also use our analytical tools to forecast the effect of proposed mitigation features, like sound walls or earthen berms.