Earth embankments and sound barriers of appropriate height are the most important and effective tools for noise control. Since earth embankments along roads (usually shaped by local terrain conditions) take up a lot of space, and their construction costs are very high in unfavorable terrain conditions, sound barriers in the form of acoustic screens are usually preferred in built-up areas. As the space between buildings and roads becomes smaller, acoustic barriers must be aesthetically pleasing while also serving a function.
MAXITO Screens with Transparent Infill Panels
Transparent sections in sound barriers help to avoid the tiring tunnel effect for drivers by showcasing the landscape around the road without casting shadows on the road surface or neighboring properties. Sound barriers made with transparent infills combine functionality and attractiveness with noise protection for residents. At the same time, they avoid the effect of cutting off and enclosing the landscape, which is valuable for both road users and residents of towns or housing estates where the communication route with the screen is located.
When installing sound barriers on engineering structures such as bridges or viaducts, additional requirements arise that the screen must meet due to its special location. It is extremely important that the screen infill and its entire construction ensure the safety of users in the event of screen damage during traffic accidents, when the screen may be destroyed due to impact. In such a case, the materials used in its construction must not create the hazard of falling elements of the destroyed screen. In other words, parts of the destroyed screen must not fall down on other users. Additionally, it is important that the screen infill and construction are resistant to vibrations from traffic, which often occur on engineering structures. Of course, on a bridge or viaduct, there is not a lot of space available, so the screen must utilize the limited space available while retaining all its desired features. It is also worth mentioning that it may be necessary to reduce the loads that constantly burden the engineering structure, so the weight of the screen filled with, for example, solid polycarbonate material and weighing half the weight of glass may be a preferred solution due to the reduction of total loads.
MAXITO Screens with Aluminum Panel Infill
Acoustic screens with aluminum panel infill are one of the most popular forms of sound barriers. They are used in various locations, such as roads, airports, railways, or industrial halls, where there is no need for transparent acoustic screens. It is important that these panels not only have sound reflecting properties but also the ability to absorb sound (single- or double-sided absorbing panels). This type of screen differs from the transparent one not only visually but also in terms of its effectiveness in reducing unwanted sounds. Aluminum panel infill screens are generally more effective at damping low and mid-frequency noise, while transparent infill screens are better at handling high-frequency noise.
Solid aluminum panel screens have a distinct construction. They consist of an aluminum sheet, which, depending on the intended properties of the screen, is perforated (in the case of absorption screens) or solid – non-perforated (in the case of noise-reflecting screens). The aluminum panel infill is a layer of high-density hard rock wool that performs the function of sound absorption. Aluminum panels can be painted in any RAL color and additionally protected against vandalism with an anti-graffiti coating. The protective layer prevents permanent bonding of the paint to the panel surface. Unwanted inscriptions or drawings can be easily removed by wiping with a cloth, and in the case of more resistant graffiti, an appropriate preparation can be used to help remove the unwanted layer of paint, leaving the original coating.
