Noise Barrier Walls
Noise barrier walls (or sound barrier walls) are engineered structures designed to block and absorb high decibel levels from heavy-duty machinery, equipment, and industrial facilities. They can be deployed indoors to manage plant floor environments or outdoors to protect surrounding communities from commercial disruption. Both indoor and outdoor noise sources can severely impact those around them, but noise barrier walls provide an immediate, structurally sound acoustic solution.
What are noise barrier walls?
Noise barrier walls are specialized acoustic enclosures built to intercept and mitigate airborne sound waves before they travel into surrounding environments.
Indoors, sound barrier walls isolate high-decibel equipment like air compressors, turret presses, and punch presses to protect workforce hearing and meet OSHA compliance. Outdoors, these perimeter systems act as sound buffers for severe environmental noise sources – such as electrical transformers, dust collectors, cooling towers, and chiller units – effectively eliminating community noise complaints.
Key Features of Noise Barrier Walls
Our advanced engineering ensures maximum acoustic mitigation paired with structural versatility. Key features of our noise barrier systems include:
- Acoustic Versatility – Sound absorptive capabilities on one or both sides.
- Premium Materials – Heavy-duty, non-welded galvanized steel or aluminum panels offer superior weather and corrosion resistance alongside maximum sound insulation.
- Streamlined Installation – Modular systems designed for easy assembly. Modular panels can be stacked vertically or horizontally between columns and span up to 16 feet.
- Adaptive Engineering – Lightweight, free-draining, easily relocatable, and simple to replace if individual modules are ever damaged.
- Retrofit Ready – Freestanding units or add-on cladding panels can be applied to new or existing wood, concrete, or steel barriers to eliminate reflected noise.
- Verified Sound Performance – Laboratory-rated sound absorption coefficients built to solve specific acoustic weaknesses.
Benefits of Choosing Our Acoustic Sound Barriers
Investing in an O’Neill engineered noise barrier system delivers long-term peace of mind, community goodwill, and proven acoustic protection.
Industry-Leading Acoustic Performance
Our sound barrier walls exhibit excellent field and laboratory-tested noise absorption and transmission loss. Built for a 125 Hz insertion loss up to 10 dB, with STC-30 to STC-33 and NRC 1.00 to NRC 1.05 ratings, these panels drastically lower ambient environmental decibels.
Architectural & Aesthetic Customization
We can design noise barrier walls that match your building’s original architecture. Panels are finished with a tough, thermosetting polyester powder coating available in a wide variety of standard colors, allowing for complementary decorative schemes that reduce the apparent wall height as perceived by the public.
Unrivaled Weatherproof Durability
Every 5-inch thick modular noise barrier wall is dual-coated and engineered to withstand wind loads up to 110 mph, making them ideal for both ground-level and roof-mounted outdoor applications. The exterior coating resists spray-paint graffiti and harsh cleaning chemicals, meeting the harsh environmental rating requirements:
- ASTM G 23 – Accelerated weathering testing for 2,400 hours.
- ASTM D 659 – Chalking testing for 2,400 hours (minimum No. 8 rating).
- ASTM D 2244 – Color testing for 2,400 hours (less than 5 NBS units).
- ASTM B 117 – Salt spray tested for more than 4,000 hours with zero blistering, corrosion, or loss of adhesion.
Popular Noise Reduction Barrier Applications
Our noise barrier walls are widely utilized across a diverse range of applications, including:
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Building Systems
- Restaurants, Hotels, & Convention Centers
- School HVAC Systems
Related Applications
Learn more about noise control applications that O’Neill Engineered Systems offers
Manufacturing & Industrial Noise Control Products
Noise control problems in industrial & manufacturing sectors are solved with equipment noise isolation via machine noise enclosures, modular in-plant offices or a combination of both.
Schools & Places of Worship
Noise control product design and installation help improve student performance within schools and provide quieter, more peaceful environments for worship spaces.
Product Testing & Development
Acoustically-treated enclosures designed to provide consistent testing environments for precise measurements while providing sound isolation from external environments.
Radio, TV & Post Production Noise Control
Studio soundproofing solutions allow for crisp, clear editing and production in recording studios, control rooms, and editing rooms for radio, TV, music & movie environments.