Noise sources and acoustic properties of workrooms in the plants of food-processing and pharmaceutical industry

The problems related with noise and its reduction in food-processing and pharmaceutical plants necessitate a specific approach when applying sound absorbing systems and materials in view of high hygienic and sanitary requirements. The choice of suitable materials to design systems satisfying such requirements should be preceded by the measurement of noise characteristics and determination of noise-related hazardous factors in representative plants. The present paper demonstrates the results of investigations carried out in selected plants of the food industry (fat-, oil- and meat-processing plants, breweries) and pharmaceutical plants. The objectives of these investigations were: (a) identification and characteristics of predominant noise sources; (b) measurement and calculations of the spatial sound distribution curves, as well as DL2 and DLf sound propagation quantities in workrooms; (c) characterisation of noise and noise-related hazards in food and pharmaceutical plants; (d) formulation of conclusions and assumptions for designing resonance sound absorbing systems, and selection of proper materials for their construction in order to satisfy high sanitary and hygienic requirements.