Acoustic Insulation Improvements to Make Before Building Inspections

Noise can be a nuisance, but it’s also unavoidable in most industrial and commercial facilities. The energy required to power machinery can produce all sorts of sounds, which then bounce off walls, floors, and ceilings for an even louder effect. So much noise can become hazardous for occupants, distracting them from their surroundings and even harming their eardrums. For this reason (among others), businesses must adhere to specific occupational noise exposure standards set forth by organizations like OSHA and the International Code Council (ICC).
If your building is due for an inspection, you must ensure it meets or exceeds these noise regulations – if you don’t pass inspection, you may be in for significant fines and other penalties. Updating your facility’s acoustic insulation plays an important role in keeping your business compliant, safe, and productive.
What Is Acoustic Insulation?
As its name suggests, acoustic insulation refers to materials that absorb and muffle sound waves within a particular area. Acoustic insulative properties are often dubbed “soundproofing” or “noise canceling.” Any material that sucks up sound can be considered a type of acoustic insulation, including blankets, gypsum panels, viscoelastic products, mineral fiber acoustic panels, and much more. At Kaloutas, our insulation and fireproofing division primarily uses spray-applied fiberglass thermal-acoustic insulation, for reasons we’ll further explore below.
Why Does Acoustic Insulation Matter?
Excessive noise in your facility can become a major liability on multiple fronts, namely in the categories of health/safety, productivity, privacy, and compliance.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year, which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss. A noisy environment is also a distracting one, making it more difficult to focus on key tasks. Productivity isn’t the only aspect of your operation that suffers from sound, however – if your facility isn’t well-insulated against noise transfer, sensitive information can leak out into other rooms within your building (this is especially problematic if you share a facility with other businesses). Lastly, much like maintaining your facility’s fireproof paint, maintaining proper acoustic insulation in your facility will help keep you compliant by getting your Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) (the level of acoustic absorption) to an acceptable level.
How to Improve Your Facility’s Acoustic Insulation
At this point, you may be wondering, “How can I improve my acoustic insulation?” Doing so starts with a full facility audit of your current acoustic insulation capabilities. Not all acoustic insulative materials are created equal. Even if your facility is fully outfitted with acoustic foam, understand that this material may degrade 5 – 7 years after installation. If it’s been decades since you last thought about your acoustic insulation, odds are it’s time for an update.
Kaloutas recommends, installs, and maintains spray-applied fiberglass thermal-acoustic insulation for more reasons than one. For starters, this material is easy to install – it takes less time to blast surfaces with an insulative spray than it does to install individual panels or paint a surface by hand (the same goes for applying intumescent paint). Additionally, this type of acoustic-thermal insulation is highly effective – not only at reducing noise levels but also at minimizing heat transfer within your building. Spray-applied fiberglass thermal-acoustic insulation also has little to no impact on your facility’s indoor air quality (IAQ), thanks to our rigorous techniques and containment offerings. As an added bonus, this acoustic insulation won’t alter your space’s aesthetics. On the contrary, spray-applied fiberglass thermal-acoustic insulation can easily match whatever color scheme you desire.
What Else Does Kaloutas Offer?
Kaloutas began offering our thermal-acoustic insulation services in 2020, but our industrial and commercial service offerings extend far beyond insulation. We also offer industrial flooring, fireproofing, containment, cleaning, caulking, painting, and more. To learn more about us and all that we do for your facility in MA, RI, or NH, contact us online or give us a call at 978−532−1414 today.