10 July 2009
CMS Acoustics Keeps the Noise Down at Sea for RBG
CMS Acoustic Solutions has provided its ISO Enclosure Panel System to reduce noise contamination generated by operating cranes and machinery, on an offshore platform in the North Sea. CMS Acoustics recommended the high performance industrial acoustic system after RBG Limited identified critical noise levels as part of a wider heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance and upgrade contract.
The ISO Enclosure Panel is a prefabricated sound reduction system, designed to create noise-protected structures in industrial environments. A self-supporting and robust construction, it offers the additional benefit of a short assembly time, facilitated by the panels being lightweight and easy to handle.
Ambient noise on the platform exceeded a specified minimum of 55dB (A) throughout the electrical workshop, store room, hydraulic workshop, subsea office and mechanical workshop, reaching its highest levels of 88-96dB (A) in the mud pit room. Factoring in the additional noise that would be generated by operating pumps, cranes and machinery, CMS Acoustics calculated that a combination of 50mm and 100mm thick ISO Enclosure Panels would be required to achieve the specified noise reduction in the different areas.
Steven Ord, project engineer, RBG Ltd, comments: "Controlling noise levels on offshore operations is always a challenge as the ambient noise level starts at a higher point than onshore, and the acoustic performance of a product has to be balanced with robustness and fire protection. We were extremely impressed with the technical team at CMS Acoustics, who assessed our criteria and responded with the ISO Enclosure Panel system - an effective solution that far exceeded the specified acoustic performance."
To increase system robustness, ISO Enclosure Panels can also be integrated with acoustic doors and vision panels. This design was incorporated at the North Sea platform, helping to achieve an overall acoustic performance of 35dB.
For RBG, CMS Acoustics manufactured the panels in white and supplied them in ready to assemble kits clearly labelled according to area for installation. This played an important factor in simplifying site construction as some panels were manufactured to allow removal for maintenance, while others had been designed to be stud welded to external walls.
ISO Enclosure Panels are available in standard widths of 580mm and 1180mm, and thicknesses of 25mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm. Depending on panel thickness, fire resistance ranging from 30 minutes to two hours can be achieved.
Paul Absolon, technical director, CMS Acoustics, concludes: "The ISO Enclosure Panel System will continue to perform in even the most demanding of environments. For this particular project, speed of build was also critical as the platform being out of operation had commercial implications for the client, so the efficient installation of our ISO Enclosure Panel System helped to keep the maintenance programme on track."
