Noise is all around you, from televisions and radios to lawn mowers and washing machines. Normally, you hear these sounds at safe levels that don’t affect hearing. However, exposure to excessive noise can damage hearing. Harmful or annoying levels of noise are considered noise pollution. Noise is a stressor, and just like any other stressor it ramps up the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” response), and increases levels of adrenaline and the “stress hormone” cortisol.
Sources Of Noise Pollution
Internal Noise
(noise coming through internal walls)
neighbors, such as audible conversation heard through thin apartment walls
installations and appliances within the house (fridge, washing machine, etc.)
impact sound, such as walking on floorboards, knocking on walls, meals eaten on glass tabletops
music and TV
household noise
Outside Noise
construction (industrial-scale or domestic)
transport - busy main roads, local traffic, trains, aircraft
industrial noise
sporting fields and playgrounds
neighborhood noise, such as loud children, music, barking dogs, gardening and DIY machinery
Excessive vibrations and noise are often the same problem, as vibrating surfaces always emit airborne noise. Structure-borne noise and airborne noise are the most important measurements to get the full image of a noise and vibration problem.
Health Effects Of Noise Stress
Lower levels of noise can produce sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects including heart attacks and stroke, learning impairment, weakened immune system, high blood pressure, irritability, psychiatric symptoms and impaired fetal development.
Elevated environmental noise can have the same low level symptoms plus hearing impairment, tinnitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance.
Sound & Vibration Testing
Measure, analyze, and Mitigate
We provide precision measurements and deploy our sophisticated equipment to identify problem spots in existing buildings. We can also help architects and other construction professionals ensure new structures are comfortable and healthy for their occupants.
Why choose us for your sound and vibration testing? We are trained acoustical and electrical engineers, and are Alliance Acoustic Calibrator (HAAC) certified.
Acoustics Analysis
We test for noise level, infrasound, ultrasound, oscillations and vibrations.
Acoustics Report
Receive an in-depth report including measurement values and severity ratings.
(Available upon request)
Sound & Vibration Mitigation
We offer practical noise and vibration control solutions designed to mitigate unwanted noise and vibration.
(Available upon request)