HVAC Acoustic Screens
Acoustic Screens for Industrial Plant HVAC Systems
Safetylyne designs, manufactures, and installs engineered acoustic screens for industrial environments.
These acoustic barriers are purpose-built for external HVAC plants, cooling towers, chiller plants and roof mounted plant equipment. The acoustic screens reduce noise transmission, and contribute to aesthetic treatment around roof mounted plant areas, and provide a compliant maintenance access zone.
Acoustic Barriers for Commercial and Industrial Sites
Mechanical plant noise requires early design consideration, as rooftop HVAC and cooling plants operate continuously and can impact surrounding environments. Well-engineered acoustic control supports compliance and long-term building performance. Safetylyne designs and manufactures acoustic enclosures and screens for external HVAC systems, integrating noise attenuation with safe, compliant access.
An acoustic enclosure is a purpose-built structure designed to reduce sound transmission from mechanical plant equipment.
Acoustic screens play a crucial role in controlling mechanical plant noise on rooftops and external plant areas by:
- Reducing airborne noise
- Limit sound reflection and reverberation
- Shield surrounding properties from mechanical plant noise
- Assist with compliance with local council and environmental noise requirements
- Maintain ventilation and equipment performance
- Improve building aesthetics to conceal HVAC equipment
- Provide controlled authorised access to plant
- Assist with architectural colour coordination
- Use of hydrophobic materials minimising moisture retention
Safetylyne acoustic screens are engineered with consideration for structural loads and maintenance access requirements.
How Acoustic Screens Improve HVAC Noise Control
Noise from HVAC equipment travels in two main ways:
- Direct airborne transmission
- Reflected and amplified sound from nearby structures
and substrates
An engineered acoustic screen reduces noise by:
- Blocking direct line-of-sight sound paths
- Using absorptive internal linings to reduce reflected noise frequency
- Increasing transmission loss through mass-loaded panels
- Use of solid materials within screen details to provide a solid noise barrier.
What do you have to consider when choosing an acoustic screen for your plant:
Correct height above plant equipment, panel thickness, absorptive material selection, distance from neighbours and roof edges, equipment noise transmition levels, spacing from the plant and acceptable ambient noise levels - are critical factors.
A poorly designed screen can have a negative aesthetic impact, reduced performance or even increased turbulence and vibration. When screens are engineered, correct considerations are given to imposed loads and wind load impact to structure.
This is where engineered design matters.
Engineered Plant Acoustic Panels for Australian Conditions
Safetylyne designs and manufactures acoustic panels specifically for rooftop and plant applications in Australia.
Safetyltne acoustic barriers are:
- Structurally engineered to comply with AS 1170 wind loading requirements
- Designed for coastal and high-wind environments
- Hydrophobic materials minimise moisture retention
- Fabricated from durable, corrosion-resistant materials and coatings
- Manufactured with quality control protocols
- Integrated with compliant height safety access systems
Common recommendations are for the acoustic barrier or screen to extend at least 700 mm higher than the plant and equipment height.
Materials Used in Acoustic Screens
Acoustic screen performance depends on material selection and panel construction.
Safetylyne acoustic panels combine a sound-absorbing inner layer with a solid noise barrier backing. The absorptive layer breaks down incoming sound waves and traps them within the panel.
The barrier layer blocks residual transmission. Together they reduce noise reaching neighbouring buildings or sensitive areas.
UV protection fabric is used in external applications to minimise deterioration from UV exposure.
External cladding is generally powder-coated aluminium, selected for corrosion resistance and long-term rooftop exposure. Finishes match project colour specifications and architectural intent.
All materials have hydrophobic properties and are engineered for durability in commercial and industrial outdoor environments.
Below is the large condenser deck Safetylyne designed, manufactured and installed for one of our recent projects. Our engineers have developed a structural load design system to acheive sufficient load spreading to avoid point loading on the support structure with integration into our raft load spreading technology.
Support posts and braces have been innovated to minimise plant deck floor encroachment to optimise deck capacity and reduce overall deck size requirement.
Have a question?
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