Tips for DIY Noise Control
In commercial situations, noise can be a big hazard. When you have a lot of equipment, a sound-conducting area, or even just a large amount of people, it is important to keep the noise at a safe level. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) actually has listed ratings for noise compliance to make sure your workplace is safe and healthy for your workers.
Risks of Loud Workplaces
If you don’t have noise blockers in your workplace, there are health risks for your employees. One of the main hazards of noise exposure is hearing loss. While this may not seem too dangerous, hearing loss is very difficult to deal with and is irreversible. Loud noises actually destroy the nerve endings inside a person’s ear. Hearing loss makes it incredibly difficult for people to communicate. It can be disabling in some ways. Noise hazards have also been linked to stress disorders, sleeping disorders, high blood pressure, and lower productivity. A loud workplace is never ideal, but sometimes loud machinery or loud sounds are inevitable in your field. This is why there are products and methods that can help you with noise control.
Tips for DIY Noise Control
There are several ways for you to make your workplace safe through DIY soundproofing measures. Tips for DIY noise control are important to learn even if you feel your workplace is already safe, as there is always something you can do to make it better.
DIY Soundproofing in Lower Noise Levels
If your workplace is relatively louder than the average, but you don’t feel like you need major products to make that change, there are several ways to make your workplace just a little more soundproof. Sound travels through the air in soundwaves, which can be reflected by certain surfaces. When your office is full of glass, metal, plastic, and other nonporous materials, these reflect sound waves and will make it louder. Simple items like rugs, heavier carpets, curtains on the walls or windows, and other fabric items like couches or chairs can really make a difference in muffling sound and acting as noise blockers. When your workspace is noisy but not necessarily damaging to people’s ears, this is a great way to do some DIY soundproofing.
DIY Soundproofing in Moderate Noise Levels
When it’s a little louder in your workplace, you need to focus a little more on products that will absorb sound and protect your employee’s wellbeing. This is where more important products come in that work as noise blockers.
Acoustic Screens
Using these flexible, simple noise barriers is one of the best tips for DIY noise control. Acoustic screens can be used in a variety of ways to block off sound and protect your workers. These can be placed throughout a workspace with frames, so they are very versatile. You can add more or take them away as needed, and they make quite a difference in your workplace even with just a few of them. These are also relatively inexpensive, perfect for DIY soundproofing.
Fiberglass Panels
Fiberglass panels come in double or single-faced options, and these are also very versatile and useful. You can place these on walls or create barriers with them, or you can use them as insulators and as an around-the-door sound blocker. These are very inexpensive and are more flexible than acoustic screens. Acoustic screens are made of metal, but fiberglass is bendy and can be placed around difficult areas, and they are durable as well. However, these can get dirtier than acoustic screens and need to be cleaned over time.
Ceiling Baffles
One of the best tips for DIY noise control is to use ceiling baffles. These are particularly useful in large noisy warehouses or construction sites, because they don’t take up workspace, but they help absorb noise and are easy to put up. They are also durable and come in a variety of colors, sizes, and lengths. Ceiling baffles specifically reduce reverberation and echoing of sounds, which actually helps the clarity of speech in a room as well.
Acoustic Foams
One of the best noise blockers out there is acoustic foam. This is different from all of the other DIY soundproofing products because it is absolutely the most versatile and usable. Acoustic foams absorb a high amount of soundwaves. If you’ve seen soundproof rooms, most of the time they are covered in acoustic foams. However, these don’t work for every workplace, and covering an entire large area can be a little more expensive. Acoustic foams come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. They can be cut to fit any area as well, so they work well for a window, wall, or door sound blocker. They have high structural integrity as well so they don’t fall apart easily. One of the best tips for DIY Noise control is to use acoustic foams strategically. If you can’t afford to cover an 800-square-foot warehouse wall with acoustic foam, use it to cover smaller areas strategically, and get other materials as well. There are so many ways to DIY noise-blocking materials to truly manage your workplace.
DIY Soundproofing in High Noise Levels
Using a combination of products is likely the best way to protect your workers in an extremely loud environment. Additional products like earplugs can be a great way to protect workers in an environment like that as well. Ear protection devices like soundproofing headgear can work also, as earplugs can be difficult to wear every day. Creating soundproof areas where workers can get away from the loud sounds, rest, and speak to others is also a great way to keep your employees happy and safe. There are many ways your soundproofing can change to fit your needs.
Noise Control and You
Every workplace is different, but there are so many options and combinations of products that you can use to fit your space. Remember, keeping your employees safe and protected from loud noise is very important, so learn how to use the best tips for DIY noise control and implement them in your workplace!
