Nose limits in Leisure Premises and how to fulfill them
All cities have their leisure activities, which is something necessary as it invites to enjoyment. However, in some situations this leisure crosses the limit of fun and becomes quite a serious problem, even more in summer time. The noise emitted by the music of nightclubs, game rooms, pubs, terraces and the bustle of people, usually causes the discontent of the residents who live in the area, affecting their rest and health. The noise pollution generated by entertainment venues is a problem in today's cities that we cannot ignore, which is why at Metalesa we provide solutions thanks to our acoustic screens.
In addition to complying with the regulations, the installation of anti-noise screens for the acoustic insulation of leisure establishments is also a good way to save yourself from misunderstandings with the neighborhood, improving the image of your business in the area since the neighbors will have no complaints about its operation.
Nose limits in leisure premises
According to Law 7/2002 on protection against noise pollution, these are the maximum noise levels allowed for leisure venues:
- Clubs: 104 dB (A)
- Rooms with a musical setting: 90 dB (A)
- Game rooms: 85 dB (A)
- Bars and restaurants: 80 dB (A)
The problem arises when, despite the fact that these establishments comply with acoustic regulations, it is not enough to avoid that the neighbors who live around them are not affected by the noise pollution that comes from this type of premises.
How to meet the noise limits in leisure premises
At Metalesa we care about protecting what matters most to us: people. All our products and services are intended to guarantee security, and in this case we make sure to protect them from noise excess with the installation of acoustic screens.
The urbanizations or buildings that are close to nightclubs often have to withstand the noise that comes from them. The reverberations of the music as well as the noise caused by the entry and exit of people from a leisure venue are always a problem. For this reason, at Metalesa we design, manufacture and install acoustic screens around entertainment venues.
We are aware that an acoustic screen is not usually a decorative element, therefore we have acoustic screens with an aesthetic finish that will make them fit perfectly with the design of your leisure business.
But what are the steps for the installation of acoustic screens in my entertainment venue?
Conducting an acoustic study
The first step when carrying out an installation of acoustic screens is to carry out an acoustic study to obtain noise maps. Their evaluation allow us to give all the necessary information to decide the optimum product to isolate the noise source. At Metalesa we work with the leading companies in the acoustic studies sector to always offer the best results.
Once we get the data from the study, we will know how and where to put the acoustic screens. Then we carry out the manufacture and installing operations. Finally another acoustic study is carried out in the area to check the effectiveness of the installation and verify that we have eradicated the noise problem.
Acoustic screens for entertainment venues
Urban Acoustic Screen
The urban screens that surround the exteriors of the terraces of the leisure venues fulfill a double function: environmental and aesthetic. They are made up of acoustic panels and a supporting structure that supports them.
They can be made of three types of materials: metal, methacrylate or wood. Each one has advantages that make them optimal for each type of location. For example, metal or wood, in addition to improving acoustic behavior, achieve a privacy effect; If your place is a more intimate place, these will be ideal.
On the other hand, within the urban screens, the transparent methacrylate acoustic screens manage to bounce the noise towards the interior of the premises without giving up the views. If your place has wonderful views of the sea, you can take advantage of the installation of methacrylate acoustic screens to isolate the noise without missing the view. Without a doubt, this type of panel is a very good option for leisure establishments, since it provides a lot of style and, above all, allows it to comply with regulations.
Metagreen Acoustic Screen
The metallic screen with vegetal mesh is not only a very effective acoustic solution, in leisure establishments it fulfills an aesthetic function that adapts to any type of design.
Inside, rock wool and other materials are placed, along with a green plastic mesh that facilitates the growth of vegetation on both sides. They are perfect for creating a vertical garden that, in addition to isolating noise, will help us decorate the walls of the premises.
Acoustic Design Screen
As mentioned above, at Metalesa we take care of offering a quality product that not only meets high expectations in relation to acoustic problems, but also at the level of design and adaptation to the space of our clients. In the case of leisure premises, it is evident that the acoustic screens, in addition to fulfilling their insulating function, must be visually attractive so that they do not clash in the decoration of the premises.
Our design acoustic screens guarantee maximum noise absorption and great durability, in addition, we offer various alternatives such as anti-corrosion, hot-dip galvanized, thermo-lacquered treatments and the combination of both treatments.
Is the acoustic insulation of the leisure venues compulsory?
In Spain, municipalities and autonomous communities are given the power to regulate noise in the areas where leisure venues are located. In this sense, if necessary, it is mandatory in order to comply with the regulations in force in each community and to ensure the well-being of the residents who live in the area.
In any case, in order to ensure that it complies with regulations, it is best to achieve the maximum possible insulation. In this way it will be able to adapt to any regulation, even when it becomes more restrictive, which can happen at any time.
Noise Penalties in entertainment venues
The truth is that in Spain there are numerous sanctions in cases where discotheques and party places exceed the acoustic limit established by law. The communities with the most penalties are Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Andalusia and Valencia.
The law acts and sanctions this excess noise, with different types of fines depending on the case:
- Minor: the fine to pay is 600 euros.
- Serious: the local must pay a fine of between 601 and 12,000 euros.
- Very serious: they must pay between 12,001 and 300,000 euros. In addition, the revocation of the validity of the municipal installation or activity license or the suspension thereof for a period of time between one year and one day and five years. In fact, the authorities could close the establishment for a certain period of time.
If you are the owner of a leisure venue, do not hesitate to contact us. It is not worth risking a possible fine, nor to earn the discontent of your neighborhood. Bet on the safety, health and aesthetics that our acoustic screens guarantee. To request a quote call us at 96 088 99 44 or send us an email to metalesa@metalesa.com
How to protect an urbanization from noise
In general, we associate the term 'noise pollution' with the noise that is generated due to road traffic or industries. Sometimes residential areas are not as far from roads or industrial estates are they should be. It can also occur an excess of noise for various other reasons that can diminish the quality of life, and even the health of the people who live in them. Whatever the focus of the noise is, at Metalesa we have the solution. Depending on the origin of the problem, we can install acoustic screens on the roads or directly surrounding the residential areas. With this aim, it is necessary to carry out an acoustic study to determine the specific area to isolate and therefore where the noise screens should be built. The acoustic study provides crucial information to improve the solution and achieve the planned objectives with an optimised solution.
Beyond noise... an economic problem
Except for very obvious cases, noise pollution and its effects on the population have generally been an ignored factor while urban planning in many cities. In Spain many residential areas have such problems due to the settlement of urbanizations in areas close to transport infrastructure or industries. In response to this problem, and lacking the authorities initiative, it is common for residents to create neighbourhood associations that seek for exert advise to make pressure on the public administration and finally resolve their complaints.
Noise pollution in housing estates therefore affects people's health and the environment in general, fauna and flora. But not only that, it also has economic effects. The price of a home in a residential area with severe noise pollution can affect the price of the property up to 30%, since potential buyers associate noise with a lower quality of life, and therefore are willing to invest less. In case of the appearance of noise after the commissioning of the urbanization, it could be devalued and the investment of the residents very affected.
Urban Noise Screens
Urban noise screens are those that we place as an enclosure for urbanizations and as the main mechanism against noise. The reasons for implanting acoustic screens in housing estates can be diverse: proximity to roads with heavy traffic, proximity to bus or train stops or stations, poorly soundproofed industrial estates, nightlife area...
If the acoustic study shows the convenience of placing screens around the urbanization, our proposal is to place urban screens. These panels for private areas are mainly made up of two pieces:
- Acoustic panels: These panels make up the absorbent and reflective part thanks to a design that has been used for other environments for many years.
- Supporting structure: consisting of HEA/HEB-type uprights with hot-galvanized welded base plate and painted with polyester powder paint.
Regardless of their configuration, all the noise screens have been rigorously evaluated in certificate laboratories by the corresponding standards, guaranteeing maximum sound absorption values. Furthermore, at Metalesa we are concerned with both the functionality and the aesthetics of our products. At the same time that it ensures the elimination of the acoustic problem, it allows an excellent integration with the style of the urbanization, for which we adapt our solution to the client's aesthetic specifications. For example, urban screens can be made of metal, methacrylate, or wood. The metallic ones can be painted depending on the desired colour, by means of a thermo-lacquering process that guarantees a perfect finish of great durability. The supporting structure will be always metallic, so it can be thermolacquered no matter what material has been chosen for the panels.
Description of our noise acoustic screens
As we have already mentioned, if the acoustic study provides this conclusion, we will proceed to install anti-noise screens between the urbanization and the area that acts as the focus of noise pollution. At Metalesa we have various types of acoustic panels:
Metal steel or aluminium screen
We have a wide range of fully effective metal steel and aluminium screen panels to eliminate noise. They are installed and tested on roads across Europe. Its components are the following:
- Absorbing face oriented to the focus of noise: It is a multi-perforated metallic element, which allows the noise wave to penetrate inside the panel and dissipate in the absorbent material.
- Acoustic insulation: The interior of the panels is composed of rockwool of different thicknesses and densities depending on the acoustic parameters to be achieved. This material allows the dissipation of sound wave energy thanks to its fibrous and elastic nature.
- Reflective face: The rear reflective face is unperforated and leaves a gap in between with the rockwool, creating an acoustic chamber that reflects the sound waves back into the absorbent material.
- Supporting structure: It is made up of HEA/HEB type uprights, with hot-dip galvanized welded base plate and painted with polyester powder paint.
This type of acoustic screens allow effective noise isolation for the well-being of the residents of any urbanization, in addition to standing out for its excellent landscape integration and durability.
Green Panel
Green panel is a type of acoustic screen that integrates perfectly with the landscape and allows generating a greener environment thanks to the possibility of planting vegetation on them. In addition to rockwool, it also has an integrated green plastic mesh that facilitates the growth of vegetation on both sides.
Methacrylate Panel
Methacrylate Panel can be installed both on road and railway infrastructures and in housing estates, and can be both transparent and have drawings as required. Like the other panels, they are easily installed and very resistant, so they hardly require maintenance. They are composed of a polymethacrylate sheet and a supporting structure with a hot-welded base plate and painted with polyester powder paint.
Wood Panel
The wood acoustic panels are also filled with rock wool. They also have the advantage of being able to combine horizontal and vertical tables, achieving different aesthetic effects.
Summing up, the quality of the environment in which we live our lives is increasingly an objective that we must all empower to ensure the well-being of our people. Noise pollution is one of the factors that can most negatively affect this objective, which is why at Metalesa we take care of the process from very beginning to its end, from the acoustic study to the manufacture and installation of the acoustic screens, from the problem analysis to the solution in place.
If you need our acoustic services do not hesitate to contact us by calling 96 088 99 44, sending an email to metalesa@metalesa.com or directly through our contact form.
World Environmental Education Day: noise pollution
Today is a very important day for our planet. January 26th celebrates World Environment Education Day with the aim of raise people’s awareness of protecting nature.
Environment education is oriented to develop strategical models that pivot around sustainability. That’s why the environmental goal must be considered in any business strategy, and in Metalesa, we are well aware of this.
Environment Education Goals
Awareness: promote society’s interest to the problems provoked by ignoring environmental care. Any little action counts.
Knowledge: Once this interest is developed, next step is to educate. ¿How can this be done? Something can always be done both at personal and collective point of view.
Actitudes: this means proactivity. Just saying is not enough, it’s time to take action!
Assesment capability: if we implement measures in environment’s favour, we need to measure its actual impact.
Take part: Encourage people to be part of the solution
In Metalesa, as experts in road safety, there is an environment problem against which we need to prioritize our actions: noise pollution. That’s why from our very beginning, we have worked to reduce this acoustic pollution coming from road and railway traffic.
What is noise pollution?
Noise pollution refers to noises or vibrations present in the environment that could eventually be harmful for people’s or any beings health.
Noise excess in a certain place can affect negatively, even if we don’t feel it.
What are noise consequences for health?
- Audition loss or listen to beeps.
- Psychological problems like anxiety, stress or aggressivity.
- Physical problems like increase of arterial pressure, heart rhythm or breathing alterations.
- Problems related with sleep and rest, that decrease attention and performance, both at work and school
How does noise pollution affect to animals and plants?
Noise pollution produces harmful effects to a number of species, affecting their health and behaviour of animal and plants, as well as their ecosystems
Some of these effects are:
- Birds that depend on their ear to hunt are seriously affected by industrial noise.
- Noise disturbs feeding and nursing patrons of some animals, which has been identified as a factor that contributes to certain species extinction.
- Airplane noise and their sound waves have been identified as cause of decrease of reproduction success with a number of animals.
- Military sonar and the “marine bubble” of petrol explorer boats have been responsible of the death of thousands of dolphins and whales.
In order to acoustically isolate infrastructures and machinery in industries, residential and commercial areas from people and environment, in Metalesa we manufacture and install a wide range of noise barriers.
Range of noise barriers for acoustic pollution
Metallic noise barrier – steel or aluminium
These noise barriers consist of vertical superposed panels that can be adapted to high and wide project requirements. Its absorbing face present holes that allow noise waves to be absorbed by the rock wool in the interior of the panel. The other side is plain and performs as reflecting face.
Both acoustic and mechanical performance of the panels have been tested in accredited laboratories.
The advantages of this type of noise barriers are as follows: optimum isolation, aesthetics oriented to environment integration, easy instalment, thermo-lacquered…
Methacrylate noise barrier
These transparent screens for noise pollution present a wide variety of designs optimized for road and railway infrastructures, for hotels or residential areas that require noise attenuation.
The screen is formed by a of 15-20mm methacrylate panel held by a beam structure. All components are very easy to install.
Metallic noise barrier with mesh / Green panel
Apart from it tested acoustic performance, it’s especially designed to be integrated into the nature environment.
It consists of rock wool supported by green plastic mesh on both sides that facilitates the growth of plants.
Wooden noise barrier
Wooden screen against noise pollution are perfect to satisfy aesthetic requirements in our roads. The absorbing face is formed by wild pine slats.
Wall covering
Manufactured from hot-dip galvanized panels, it is used to reduce noise effects in the interior and exterior of tunnels, as well as in inferior passes.
Its structure is very easy to install and repair in case of accident inside the tunnels.
Because the World Environment Education Day should not only be celebrated one day! Let’s become aware, our planet asks for it. Should you require our services around noise barriers, don’t hesitate to contact us.