Phoenix-E noise source identification survey

We’ve hired yet another consultant to help us identify more sources of sound and noise. The survey attempts to identify specific root causes for specific noises and draw up steps to correct or mitigate them.

-Matt S.

One of BEW’s outside sound counsultants, Hessler Engineering, arrived this afternoon and began setting up to commence baseline operations sound measurement. The goal is to bring the facility to 75% throughput and take an array of samples surrounding the site, fanning outward at set intervals, and in various directions. In order to eliminate any extraneous sound sources not associated with the plant, the testing must be done in the dead of night. The crew scheduled a start time of 4AM, when the plant would be the only thing in the area generating any sounds (other than frogs and crickets!).

Hessler will be particularly focused on identifying any specific components which still produce isolated sounds after the blankets we’ve installed on some of the larger, noisier pieces of equipment. We’ll report back on just what may be causing the other sounds.

-Matt S.

All of the foundations for our large compressors are poured. The pads are all separated from the rest of the building concrete, and are 3ft (!) thick. This was done at the suggestion of our sound engineers to help ensure that as much noise and vibration was damped at the source by providing a large isolated mass directly coupled to the compressors.

-Tom H.

The engineering firm has submitted a full set of draft design schematics for our review and approval. In direct response to King County’s exceedingly conservative sound ordinances, BEW has retained Hessler Associates sound engineers to provide exhaustive predictive sound modeling of the design in order to identify any potential that the facility might have of falling short of these strict standards. Hessler has identified a handful of potential sound sources; we communicated these back to our engineering design firm to address in the planning stage, before the first piece of equipment was even ordered.

– Matt S.