Latest News
How do you test acoustic performance?
Noise control materials are everywhere — vehicles, industrial facilities, construction equipment, hospitals... the list goes on. And while it might sound obvious, it's important to know these materials actually work before they're installed. Which is where acoustic test facilities come in. These purpose-built spaces ensure that noise control measures behave as they should, whether that means reducing echoes or blocking outside noise....
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How to measure vehicle noise
When you drive a new car, you expect it to be quiet and comfortable. And achieving that level of refinement doesn't happen by accident. Before a vehicle ever hits the market, it undergoes extensive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) testing. These tests ensure that every car is comfortable, safe, and enjoyable to drive. But measuring these factors isn’t something you can do...
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Why audiology testing matters
Our ability to hear impacts nearly every aspect of our daily lives, from communicating effectively to staying aware of our surroundings. And in specific settings, hearing tests are essential. For example, workplaces like heavy industrial plants or mines, where noise levels could potentially cause hearing damage. Schools also conduct early hearing screenings. These are crucial for identifying issues that could affect a...
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The unsung heroes of noise control: vent silencers
There are things that most of us wouldn't give a second thought, but are actually hugely important. For instance, think of the insulation in your house, the plumbing behind your walls, or the electricity grid powering your home. You can add vent silencers to that list. Vents play a critical role, particularly in large industrial facilities and power plants. Here, they safely...
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Diesel exhaust purifiers — what are they, and why do...
The world is working hard to reduce emissions, but diesel engines still have their place, especially in heavy industry and transportation. Thanks to their power and efficiency, diesel engines often outperform petrol and electric options for heavy goods vehicles. However, this comes with a big downside—they emit harmful gases that can seriously affect our health and the environment. The health hazards...
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Audiology Booths SALE
Limited time sale of our 350 Series Maxi Sound Shelter and our 250 Series Mini Sound Shelter, both coming with our guaranteed acoustic performance and compliance with all leading industry standards Providing clean, rapid installation and causing minimal mess or disruption READY FOR DELIVERY Booths are in stock and ready for delivery from our Sydney factory Please follow this link for more...
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Exhaust silencers: the unsung heroes of noise reduction
You only need to have stood next to a construction site for a few minutes to realise just how loud heavy machinery can be. The reality is that these mechanical beasts would sound a lot louder if it weren't for exhaust silencers. These often-overlooked devices are key to making our environments more liveable by reducing noise pollution and emissions. In this blog,...
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Noisy Commercial and Industrial HVAC systems? Here’s how to fix...
Where would we be without heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems? They're essential for keeping our homes and workplaces comfortable. But there's a problem: the noise they produce. If left unchecked, it can impact our work, home life, and even well-being. Thankfully, with the right technology, this noise can be effectively managed. At IAC Acoustics Australia, we specialise in two innovative...
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How do you control industrial noise?
Factories manufacture all kinds of different things, but there’s one by-product that nearly all of them have in common: noise. Of course, sound levels vary depending on the industry—some are inherently noisier than others. This can be a serious concern for the health and safety of workers, as well as nearby communities. What are the sources of this noise, and how can...
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Reducing Noise in Sydney’s Tunnel System
Tunnels can be an important part of any transportation infrastructure. But they create a challenging environment of loud traffic noise, corrosive exhaust fumes, unique airflow and high pressure. To combat these factors, Axial fans are installed which can bring with it its own noise challenges. The integration of noise control systems is an important consideration during the initial design phase of any...
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How do you stop aircraft noise?
Where would we be without air travel? It’s revolutionised how we connect with the world, connecting distant places in just a matter of hours – journeys that once would have taken weeks or months. But this incredible leap in transportation comes with a significant challenge – aircraft noise. Standing near a runway during takeoff, you can experience noise levels that soar to...
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Quiet by design: how IAC Acoustics is helping reduce transport...
The buzz of traffic, the clatter of trains, and the hum of ship engines are familiar sounds in our daily lives. But this constant noise can have a real impact on people – from travellers and transport workers to those living near busy hubs. In fact, prolonged exposure to such noise can lead to stress, disturbed sleep, and other health issues, particularly...
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Our New Equipment
Our Facility Any manufacturing facility is only as good as its staff and its equipment and at IAC Acoustics Australia we pride ourselves on both. Based in Sydney, we support the Australian domestic market and South East Asia from our extensively equipped manufacturing facility of 4,500m² utilising an array of modern manufacturing equipment. We can accommodate volume production and consistent flow of...
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The Growing Demand for Audiology: Why It’s Happening and How...
In our rapidly changing world, the field of audiology is experiencing unprecedented growth. As the demand for hearing solutions rises due to an ageing population and noisy environments, we're also witnessing a revolution in audiology technology. This blog explores why the need for audiology services is growing and how companies like IAC Acoustics Australia are rising to meet the challenge. A surge...
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How IAC Acoustics is improving patient care at Sydney’s Ear...
In healthcare, ensuring optimal patient outcomes is critical — and that's an area where IAC Acoustics has been playing a key role. We recently teamed up with the Sydney Centre for Ear, Nose & Throat (SCENT) to enhance their patient care using the 350 Series Maxi Sound Shelter. Let's see how this partnership is helping them deliver better patient experiences. About...
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Case study: how IAC’s soundproof testing booths are helping protect...
In the mining industry, noise pollution is a significant concern that can affect workers' long-term health. Coal Services, a trusted health and safety organisation in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, recognises the importance of addressing these risks. They've recently partnered with Sonova Australia and IAC Acoustics to provide soundproof testing booths for their workers, and in this article, we'll look at how...
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IAC Acoustic Door projects
It's challenging to meet the specific performance aspects of noise control while delivering the envisaged aesthetic of the building envelope and architectural design intent. Key architectural elements for building envelope finishes include acoustic doors and louvres, and here at IAC we can custom design and manufacture to suit specific applications. Our solutions combat environmental noise problems in industrial or mixed commercial use...
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Mining, power generation and heavy industry news round-up: January 2023
At IAC we provide noise control solutions across a range of sectors, including the mining and power generation industries, and so we like to keep an eye on the latest developments in those areas. Here are some of the news stories that caught our eye over the last month, including positive developments in offshore wind, renewable energy and low emissions transportation… ...
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Why are acoustics so important in hospitals?
Acoustics in hospitals are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in both the well-being of staff and patients. Poor acoustics can lead to increased stress, fatigue, and even errors in medical treatment. On the other hand, good acoustics can improve communication, reduce stress, and promote healing. One of the most significant issues with acoustics in hospitals is noise pollution. Hospitals...
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Tunnel Ventilation Attenuation Designs
Tunnel ventilation attenuation is an essential part of any tunnel system and absolutely crucial for operational performance, safety and environmental concerns. Incorporating this critical element within the initial design prevents increases in project cost and time versus retro-fitting a solution for the inevitable problems. Tunnels produce a unique and challenging environment of high pressure, unique airflow and contain corrosive vehicle exhaust which...
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5 mind-blowingly massive engines
When it comes to engines, bigger is definitely better. These beasts of machinery are responsible for powering some of the world's most impressive vehicles, power plants, and mining equipment. Want to know just how big we’re talking? Read on to find out about five of the world’s largest engines — and the ear-splitting noise they produce… Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C The Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C is a...
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Noise control solutions for all forms of transportation
Transportation noise control is an issue to be considered across all forms of transport, from road and rail to marine and aviation. During the initial design phase of any major transportation project the impact and implementation of noise control solutions is an essential part of the planning stages. Noise generated from traffic on new roads will lead to the use of road...
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Why sound booths are essential for hearing tests
At IAC Acoustics Australia, we make a number of audiometric or sound booths for a whole range of different industries including healthcare facilities, manufacturing companies, and construction firms. What are sound booths used for? In the healthcare industry, sound booths are used by audiology clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities to conduct hearing tests and assess the hearing abilities of their...
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News round-up: our top stories to end 2022
At IAC we provide noise control solutions across a range of sectors, including the mining and power generation industries, and so we like to keep an eye on the latest developments in those areas — as well as all things sound-related. Here are some of our favourite stories to end the year with — including positive developments in clean energy, the legendary audio that’s...
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How to improve acoustic conditions in schools
Classrooms can be noisy places. Studies have shown that the average sound level in preschools often exceeds 70 decibels and can reach hazardous levels of up to 85 decibels. And that’s problematic for a number of reasons. First, noise affects a child’s ability to learn — particularly when they’re younger. Not only is it harder to concentrate when there’s a lot of background...
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5 of the biggest, loudest mining mega machines
If you had a penchant for Tonka trucks as a youngster, the chances are that you'll feel a child-like excitement at the sight of a giant, earth-shaking, mining vehicle roaring around an open pit. Of course, these mega machines make quite some racket when they're in operation. And at IAC we specialise in noise control solutions for mining vehicles, ranging from attenuators,...
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Mining, Data Centre and Power Generation — News Round-Up, November...
Here are some of the stories that caught our attention across the mining, power generation and data centre industries over the past month, including how a major investment could boost power grids, a forecast that's good news for data centre providers, and a green breakthrough for mining vehicles… Airtrunk’s sustainable plan for Microsoft data centres Airtrunk, the company that designs and...
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The 10 Most Ear-Splittingly Noisy Professions: Part Two
There are some obvious drawbacks to working in a noisy profession. There’s the fact that excessive noise can be harmful to your health, causing hearing damage, stress and sleep deprivation. It can be also challenging if you need to focus and it can put a real dampener on your motivation. That said, if you don’t get on that well with your colleagues,...
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The 10 Most Ear-Splittingly Noisy Professions: Part One
If you’ve ever been disturbed by office chit-chat, the whirring of the photocopier or the choice of music broadcast over your workplace sound system, look on the bright side — at least your hearing’s not at risk. Unlike in these incredibly noisy professions, where the background racket could actually be a health hazard… 10: Teacher Children may be small, but they tend to...
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Tunnel Ventilation
Tunnel ventilation attenuation is a crucial element of any tunnel system and essential for operational performance, safety and environmental conditions. Tunnel systems need effective acoustic attenuation in order to manage noise internally, and to mitigate external environmental impact. The integration of tunnel ventilation attenuator systems is an important consideration during the initial design phase of any tunnel project - errors and omissions...
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Mining News, November 2022
Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories from the mining industry over the past month, including developments in industrial vehicle power supply, progress at a multi-billion dollar mine in Canada, and the incredible tale of two trapped miners who survived for nine days on coffee powder… From boxy cars to boxy batteries Volvo Penta generated a buzz at bauma...
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Decentralised Energy Expertise
The global energy crisis has emphasised the fact that the world's over-reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable. Meanwhile countries that rely heavily on fossil fuel imports are also at the mercy of rising market prices, as well as global events such as the war in Ukraine. Reducing use, improving efficiency and getting greater energy output from resources, including fossil fuel use during...
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5 reasons why your employees need a hearing test
In Australia, it is mandatory for businesses to arrange hearing tests for staff whose health is at risk because of exposure to continuous noise over 85 decibels. Clearly, that means that if your workplace is a particularly loud environment — for example, if there's heavy industrial machinery in operation — you should regularly monitor noise levels. But even if you're under the...
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5 World Records For Sound
The record books are filled with earth-shatteringly loud, eerily quiet or just plain weird sounds. While some are the result of noble scientific research, others are peculiar talents discovered by people who possibly have a little bit too much time on their hands. In this article, we reveal five record-breaking noises — some a little more left-field than others. You may want to cover...
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The five loudest stadiums in the world
Sydney’s new 45,000-capacity Allianz Stadium (otherwise known as the Sydney Football Stadium) opened at the end of August, at a cost of $828 million. A key consideration for the brains behind the build was how to enhance crowd noise. The stadium’s wrap-around design means that sound is largely kept within the arena, with little escaping out into the surrounding areas. And the...
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Mining Industry Noise Control
Mining is a dangerous industry. Fire, flood, explosion and collapse are just a few of the daily risks faced by workers. But there's a danger that's often overlooked — one that can cause lasting damage to people operating mining equipment — and that's the risk of hearing damage caused by noise levels on site. Here’s everything you need to know about the...
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The Noisiest Cities In The World
Cities can be noisy places. Road traffic, aircraft and construction sites are just three common causes of cacophony. Given that two-thirds of people will live in cities by 2050 (according to the UN), the urban racket will only get louder. But not all metropolises are equal in the noise stakes. While Oslo, Helsinki and Reykjavík are ranked as some of the most...
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5 Loudest Sounds Ever Recorded In Nature
At IAC Acoustics, our noise control solutions normally focus on managing man-made sounds generated by industrial machinery, musical instruments or jet engines. But that’s not to say that humans are the only ones causing a racket on this planet. Some of the loudest noises ever recorded have been generated by natural phenomena. This article lists five of the most ear-splitting sounds ever...
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5 Buildings With Incredible Natural Acoustics
The Sydney Opera House may be the most iconic building in Australia, but for decades it looked much better than it sounded. Performers have often grumbled about the sound inside the arts centre, with a notable bassoonist once saying that listening to a concert there was like watching it on a 1980s TV set. The actor John Malkovich even said that the...
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Acoustic Enclosures for Industrial Equipment
There are many essential factors to consider when designing noise control solutions and controlling the noise that is generated by industrial plants and their equipment is a huge challenge. Reflections, reverberation and resonances all need to be dealt with and often the large open plan environments of a manufacturing plant work against noise control solutions - they can actively increase the actual and perceived noise...
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Factory Noise Control Solutions
Reducing noise in an inherently noisy factory environment is a complicated problem to solve. Loud machinery requires access for operation by employees and for ongoing essential maintenance, which prevents complete isolation. The starting point to resolve any existing noise issue, or while addressing during the initial design stage, is to identify the dominant noise sources and rank them in order of significance....
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Acoustic Enclosures
The control of industrial noise in the workplace is essential to protect employees and the wider environment. Acoustic enclosures and acoustic canopies provide a range of versatile solutions for our customer - allowing full customisation and design configuration to solve a wide range of noise control challenges. Designed and constructed with matched acoustic panels, doors, access panels, hatches and viewing windows, ensures...
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Anechoic Chambers Recalibration
ISO 3745 recommends that Anechoic Chambers are recalibrated every 5 years. Are you confident your test facility still complies with current standards? The last two decades have seen an explosion in acoustic testing by automotive manufacturers, component suppliers, engineering institutions and educational organisations together with a rapid growth in the construction of new acoustic test facilities. Many older facilities have become tired...
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Automotive Acoustic Testing
Human beings are strongly affected by sound - a dozen or so notes elicit feelings of joy or sadness, excitement or tranquility. In the wrong context, however, our reactions can be irritation and exhaustion. The roar of a Ferrari sounds exhilarating to some, but will enrage others - automotive acoustic testing is therefore a vital part of vehicle development. Generally, engines that...
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New Continuline Acoustic Louvres Meet Market Needs
IAC Acoustics continues to innovate and develop its product lines through feedback from acousticians, specifiers, architects and contractors, across multiple market sectors. The newest edition to our product range is the Continuline Acoustic Louvres - this is a complementary product to our well established and market leading acoustic louvre brands, Noishield and Slimshield. The new design offers an enhanced aesthetic with a...
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Industrial Noise Control
Commercial and industrial organisations must utilise a wide range of products and noise control solutions to comply with health and safety legislation and eliminate noise pollution from their manufacturing and industrial facilities. This requires analysis and interpretation across multiple noise sources - both internally around the noise source components themselves to protect staff and maintenance crews, and externally to reduce the noise...
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Office and Workplace Acoustics
The modern office presents challenges to architects and designers as they try to create a light, open and welcoming space whilst allowing for everyday functionality. The aesthetically pleasing clean modern architecture consisting of hard surfaces, glass panels and open spaces, unfortunately has acoustic consequences if not effectively treated - reverberation occurs as sound reflects between hard surfaces. Reverberation is the measure...
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What are the differences between Paediatric and Adult Audiology Testing?
Acoustic audiology testing facilities with high levels of soundproofing and acoustic isolation are incredibly important when attempting to diagnose and treat patients with potential hearing problems. This controlled space prevents test results being affected by undesirable sounds and allows full control of audible stimuli by the medical testing staff. Guidelines provide the background noise levels required in line with ISO...
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Audiology – Modular Audiology Room Animation
With over 70 years of experience IAC provides audiology rooms and booths of exceptional quality, enabling staff and patients a comfortable and relaxed testing environment. IAC provides the options to fully update and improve previous acoustic facilities or convert a standard room to a fully equipped audiology testing room. Through the use of acoustic panels, doors and windows as well as further...
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Draken Europe – Bournemouth Airport UK
IAC Aviation recently completed a recommissioning project for Draken Europe, located at Bournemouth Airport in the UK. IAC originally built and commissioned the CF700 Engine Test Facility in 1990, but the lack of use in more recent years and coastal corrosive environment had lead to heavy decay to the point of the facility being completely unusable. A new revenue stream necessitated the...
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Solutions for Managing Aircraft Jet Blast Protection
Aircraft noise is one of the most significant causes of adverse community reaction related to the operation of airports. It is also a major concern for the health and safety of airfield and ground crew working in and around the aircraft and facilities. For obvious reasons this is not an issue that can ever be completely eliminated, however there are many options...
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Thermowrap Blankets
Thermowrap or Thermal Insulation Blankets can be utilised across a wide variety of markets and industries from power generation and industrial facilities to marine transport and mining equipment. Areas or rooms containing engine components or exhaust systems produce significant heat - variable changes in temperature create safety risks for operators and personnel. Engines and exhaust systems are invariably found in small, confined...
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Vent Silencers
During the early design stage of power generation, gasification or process plants and facilities, the challenges of noise control can often be left as future issues to resolve post completion - in the belief that cost and the problem could be dealt with by retrofitting solutions such as acoustic barriers to counter any complaints from nearby residents. Whilst this approach lowers the...
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Mining Noise Control
Mining can be a hazardous business; entire landscapes are altered to extract resources which requires a huge amount of investment, preparation and regulation. Monitoring and reducing mining noise is essential to ensure worker safety and to meet regulatory planning measures, while effectively helping protect and manage investment risk. Actively reducing noise levels to manage prolonged exposure ensures mining worker safety for those...
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Acoustic Window Designs
Modern institutions and industries require acoustic control that most buildings were never designed to provide. Multi-use buildings, lightweight materials and the vogue for large areas of glass present a challenge. Almost all challenges can be overcome but two key points of sensitivity are the windows and doors. Doors being the most critical access and touch point, while windows being the visual stimulus...
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Increasing Demand of Data Centres
There has been strong, steady growth in the use of computers and networks for 30 years and consequently, ever-growing demand for data centres. The COVID-19 lockdown accelerated the trend sharply; in September 2020 Communications Minister, Paul Fletcher, announced that the National Broadband Network was seeing the highest ever demand. With many people working from home, downloads during work hours were up 70%...
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Growth in Construction post-COVID
9% of all jobs in Australia are construction-related, but no industrial sector experiences booms and contractions quite like construction. It has the misfortune of being the thermometer of government fiscal policy. The industry is more than used to this and factors this into future planning, however the downturn caused by COVID-19 was on another level. Projects were mothballed or cancelled overnight...
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Rehearsal Rooms
“Practice makes perfect” and without somewhere to practice, many of today's musical celebrities would never have made it onto the world stage. Acoustically engineered rooms provide several essential benefits to budding musicians and recording studios alike; to keep the sound in, keep other sounds out, and provide an acoustically clean environment that doesn't colour the sound in unnatural ways or misrepresent...
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Audiology Test Facilities
It is believed that one sixth of all Australians have noise related ear damage, and 3.6 million have significant hearing loss. The total economic impact to the country is estimated to be many millions of dollars per annum and the numbers are expected to increase over the next 30 years. Testing and treating people with hearing issues can be beset by noise...
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What is a Jet Blast Barrier or Deflector?
Airline operators face a perpetual quandary. They need to maintain a safe distance from buildings and homes but also need to be close enough to serve them. Airfields far from people make no sense, especially commercially, but operating as close to customers as possible is a delicate balancing act. The jets of a typical large aircraft at just 40% power generate...
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Reverberation Time
Work spaces, rooms or general commercial building designs can quickly be perceived as having poor quality acoustic environments if resonances and reverberations occur in them. Meeting rooms and performance spaces can suffer greatly from poor speech intelligibility levels through reflected sound, while reverberation in a factory can create a potential health hazard for workers. Reverberation is the measure of time that an...
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How Does a Duct Silencer Work?
We have all experienced the duct noise dilemma - do you switch off the air-con and swelter or turn it up and be deafened all night? Ducts can be noisy, but it can be much more than irritating. Duct noise in larger unattenuated systems can impact employee welfare, potentially damaging hearing. Planning applications can be turned down due to incorrect system...
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Architectural Acoustics
In designing any kind of architectural structure - homes, offices, hospitals, restaurants, airport lounges or leisure complexes - both architects and operators have to make sure they are creating an acoustically comfortable environment. Forgetting to pay attention to sound is a recipe for commercial disaster. In different types of buildings we want to minimise or maximise different types of sound. Concert halls...
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Applications of Anechoic and Hemi Anechoic Chambers
Our society is far more environmentally aware than it was a generation or two back. While that is largely a good thing, it does present industry with a lot of problems. In most areas of Australia, development and expansion plans are now subjected to ever more rigorous noise-control assessments. The success of many proposals depends on being able to provide both...
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Five years of growth ahead for the noise control market
Noise is an inevitable by-product of human activity, but when it reaches levels harmful to human or animal life it is internationally recognised as pollution. Airports and mining companies often face stiff resistance because of the noise pollution they might cause to residential areas. Sometimes the problem can be solved by locating facilities away from residential areas, but the harm done...
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What Makes a High Performance Acoustic Doorset?
Product Range There are a lot of technical considerations in the design, manufacture and installation of high performance acoustic doorsets with the acoustic range of Rw50dB to Rw63dB. This begins with material selection for doorset fabrication, both internally and externally, relative to the performance target. IAC Acoustics designs and manufactures steel acoustic doorset assemblies of various constructions. To achieve the high...
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Acoustic Enclosures & Barriers for Industrial Equipment
Introduction Australia has many blessings and one is space. Thanks to this space, noise-producing industries such as mining and manufacturing rarely contend with the same levels of protest and planning objections they would face in more densely populated parts of the world, such as Europe. Most controversies here revolve around highways and traffic schemes rather than mining, industrial or service industries. ...
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Acoustic Barriers for Data Centres
Australia’s dependency on data has long been on an upward curve. Thanks to driverless cars, 5G, the IoT, the Cloud, IP telephony and now the boom in e-commerce and remote working driven by COVID-19 restrictions, our data centre industry is about to enjoy another dramatic expansion. We already have some of the largest data centres in the world and there are major...
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