Acoustic Buildings

Facility-Level Noise Control for Power Generation and Oil and gas

Description
Technical Data

An acoustic building addresses noise control at the facility level, integrating acoustic treatment into the complete building envelope to manage multiple simultaneous noise sources. Unlike single-machine enclosures, the scope covers all major contributors within a single integrated design: mechanical equipment, ventilation systems, auxiliary machinery and process air paths. This approach is typically applied where environmental noise reduction is the primary project requirement.

Burgess-Manning designs and engineers acoustic buildings for the power generation and midstream sectors. The process begins with a full acoustic survey of the site, including process silencers, airflow systems and all operational noise contributors, to develop building solutions with quantifiable attenuation targets for both occupational and environmental noise.

Acoustic buildings are available in two primary configurations. Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB) designs offer a standardized panel system for projects where standard performance levels are sufficient. Custom-engineered panel systems are specified for the highest performance requirements, with panels designed and tested to meet project-specific attenuation targets.

Acoustic Principles:

Acoustic performance is achieved through a combination of sound absorption and transmission loss. Panel and building envelope design is optimized for each application based on the frequency spectrum of the noise sources present.

Panel Construction:

Standard: Standardised sandwich panel systems
High-performance: Custom-engineered panels for maximum attenuation

Design Codes:

AISC / ASCE / AWS
EN1993 / EN1090

Certifications:

CE certification available
PE stamp can be included

Options:

Acoustic doors
Acoustic windows
Pipe and cable penetrations
Protective finishes up to C5-M corrosion category
Ventilation and filtration systems

Minimum Information Required for a Quote:

Sound power levels (PWL) for each noise source, by octave band (63 Hz to 8 kHz)
Required noise limit at site boundary (dB(A)) and distance to nearest receptor
Equipment list with dimensions, weights and ventilation requirements
Site location and applicable design codes
Access and maintenance requirements

Holistic Acoustic Design

Burgess-Manning integrates all major noise sources within a single building envelope design, covering mechanical equipment, ventilation systems and process air paths. Acoustic performance targets are set and confirmed for both occupational and environmental noise limits.

Tested and confirmed performance

Acoustic performance values are tested and confirmed, not estimated. Panel systems are selected or engineered to meet project-specific attenuation requirements based on measured sound power levels across the full octave band spectrum.

Configurable to Project Requirements

From standardised PEMB systems to fully custom-engineered panel configurations, Burgess-Manning acoustic buildings are designed to meet the specific structural, acoustic and regulatory requirements of each site, including options for acoustic doors, windows, penetrations and corrosion protection up to C5-M.

Relevant Industries

Power plants generate both energy and significant acoustic energy. Excessive noise can endanger employees, affect equipment longevity and violate local and international regulations. Burgess-Manning custom-engineers silencers for turbines, compressors, blowers, generators and transformers.

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Industrial applications generate considerable noise as a result of high-capacity machinery, continuous operations and complex infrastructure. Without proper noise control, these environments can pose risks to employee health, disrupt surrounding communities and violate environmental and occupational noise regulations. Implementing tailored noise mitigation solutions of acoustic walls, noise barriers and silencers while utilizing acoustic modeling, CFD, FEA and noise measurements to design solutions not only supports safety, but also enhances operational efficiency and community relations.

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Acoustic Buildings FAQ

An acoustic enclosure is typically designed to enclose a single machine or piece of equipment. An acoustic building addresses noise control at the facility level, integrating acoustic treatment into the complete building envelope to manage multiple simultaneous noise sources including mechanical equipment, ventilation systems, auxiliary machinery and process air paths. This approach is applied where environmental noise reduction across an entire site is the primary project requirement.

To develop an accurate proposal, Burgess-Manning requires sound power levels (PWL) for each noise source by octave band (63 Hz to 8 kHz), the required noise limit at the site boundary in dB(A) and the distance to the nearest receptor, an equipment list with dimensions, weights and ventilation requirements, the site location and applicable design codes and access and maintenance requirements. If a full acoustic analysis is not yet available, Burgess-Manning can assist with the noise study as part of the project scope.

Acoustic buildings are designed in accordance with AISC, ASCE and AWS standards for North American projects and EN1993 and EN1090 for projects requiring European structural compliance. CE certification is available and a PE stamp can be included where required. Corrosion protection is available up to C5-M category for installations in harsh or coastal environments.

Acoustic buildings are most commonly specified in the power generation and oil and gas sectors where multiple high-noise sources operate simultaneously within a single facility. Typical applications include gas turbine plants, combined cycle power stations, compressor stations and processing facilities where site boundary noise limits must be met.

Yes. Burgess-Manning acoustic buildings are engineered to suit the specific dimensions, equipment configuration and access requirements of each site. Both standardized panel systems and fully custom-engineered panel configurations are available depending on the performance requirements and spatial constraints of the project. Options including acoustic doors, windows, pipe and cable penetrations and ventilation systems can be incorporated into the design.

Acoustic performance values are tested and confirmed at the design stage. The building envelope and panel systems are selected or engineered based on measured sound power levels across the full octave band spectrum, with attenuation targets set for both occupational and environmental noise limits at the outset of the design process.

Yes. If sound power level data or a site noise assessment is not yet available, Burgess-Manning can conduct or assist with the acoustic survey as part of the project scope. The process begins with a full acoustic survey of the site covering all operational noise contributors to establish the basis for the building design.