Commercial Construction and Acoustic Engineering
Toronto’s construction projects are noisy environments by their very nature. A certain amount of unwanted noise is unavoidable and expected, whether it be from a ground-up new project, an addition to an existing building, or the rebuilding/repurposing of a facility. This noise can be detrimental to the public in close proximity to the project, the staff of the facility, and the construction team itself. It can also lead to decreased productivity. An acoustic design company can help diminish the unwanted effects of construction noise and vibration.
Toronto’s Vibration Control Bylaw 514-2008, Chapter 363, “Building Construction and Demolition,” directly addresses this topic. This law requires anyone applying for permits for construction or demolition to evaluate and monitor the potential vibration impact of construction activity.
Common sense might suggest that one should simply select quieter methods and equipment, which can produce the same results at a lower level of disturbance. This is not always possible, as certain construction tasks can only be executed with high-noise methods. But through scientific monitoring methods and digital modeling, employed by an acoustic design company, acoustic engineers are able to provide modern solutions that address the noise and vibration generated by traditional construction methods.
As your acoustic design company, we will want you to present a stated goal, regarding the construction vibration noise. It can start off as simply as, “We want to cut the vibration noise by half,” and specific details will be filled in as your project plan is comprehensively evaluated. As the project progresses and the noise concerns continually evolve, monitoring by acoustic engineers will provide a continuous source of data. This data can then be used to correspondingly evolve the noise mitigation methods. We provide comprehensive documentation of all monitoring data, plan details, and results.
Rather than be blindsided by an unexpected vibration issue, vibration monitoring can help provide solutions in advance. When certain construction methods are scheduled to be used at a certain phase of the project, an advance plan can dictate exactly when the appropriate noise and vibration mitigation methods will be employed. Your noise mitigation plan will be created with enough flexibility to address any issues that might result from last minute alterations in the project.
The proper monitoring of construction noise is a complex and detailed task. If accurate and meaningful data is to be collected and correctly interpreted, many practical considerations must be taken into account. As an acoustic design company with Toronto’s most highly qualified acoustic engineers and state of the art equipment, we can collect and evaluate this data, and form a noise reduction plan that addresses your particular needs and concerns. Once armed with this detailed information, you can then supply it to all interested parties, and present a clear path forward.
President Biden Delivers Remarks and Signs Into Law S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
