Whether you own commercial or industrial property, as the owner it’s your responsibility to ensure that it is not only functional, but that it is also safe and compliant with health and safety laws, rules, and regulations. 

Considering the fact that facilities of this scale often feature extensive HVAC systems consisting of metres upon metres of ductwork, it’s safe to say that they can get noisy from time to time. Because HVAC systems feature equipment such as ventilation fans, rooftop package units, and other mechanical equipment, sound travels through the ductwork. This can not only be distracting and uncomfortable, but more importantly, it can pose significant health and safety risks. 

This is why Galloway Acoustics sound attenuators are in such high demand. Sound attenuators, also known as air duct silencers, or dissipative silencers, are specially constructed tools designed to significantly reduce HVAC system noise levels, while offering a wide range of other benefits in the process. 

Here are just a few of the many benefits associated with Galloway Acoustics sound attenuators in your HVAC systems. 

Noise Reduction

One of the most prominent features of sound attenuators is their ability to significantly reduce noise levels. 

Thanks to their unique design, they feature baffles which help to disperse sound energy as air flows through them with virtually no resistance at all. As air and soundwaves make their way through the HVAC system, these attenuators disrupt and disperse the soundwaves using noise-absorbing materials, without any drops in pressure.

In simple terms, they serve as mufflers for HVAC systems and as air passes through them, they help to reduce noise generated by the systems. This not only helps to reduce noise pollution and create a more relaxed and quieter environment, it also makes the systems less distracting and prevents the risk of hearing damage. 

Dual Purpose Design for Fire Protection

As well as offering high-performance noise reduction in HVAC systems, thanks to their dual-purpose design, sound attenuators also offer a significant amount of protection against fire. 

Because of their superior construction, attenuators act as critical fire barriers in HVAC systems. Each product is fully compliant with BS 476: Part 24 (1987) standards. The purpose of which is to measure and ensure a ductwork system’s ability to not only resist fire, but resist the spread of fire throughout its system, without any loss of integrity or stability to function as a ductwork system.

In the event of a fire, both integrity and insulation are critical factors when it comes to managing a blaze and preventing its spread. This is yet another area in which these products really shine. 

Galloway Acoustics Sound Attenuators are constructed using premium-quality, industry-standard non-combustible infill, along with heavy-duty galvanised steel casings and fire-resistant sealants. This offers superior protection against not only the risk of fire, but the risk of it spreading throughout the system. 

Health and Safety

As well as offering superior protection against the risk of fire, sound attenuators in HVAC systems are also necessary in commercial settings such as plant rooms, protected escape rooms, and smoke extract systems. 

As a result of their construction and design, sound attenuators in HVAC systems are deemed essential when it comes to health and safety in the workplace. As an example, because they’re designed to operate at full capacity in the event of a fire, they play vital roles in smoke extraction systems which means they can, and have, effectively save lives. 

Galloway attenuators are subject to stringent testing and are tested to ISO 7235 in independent UKAs accredited test laboratories. This makes them safe, reliable, and fully compliant.

Also read: Acoustic Louvres: The Unsung Heroes of Architectural Noise Control

Energy Savings

Finally, for organizations looking to save both money, and energy, Galloway HVAC attenuators are ideal. 

Not only do they allow air to flow through the systems with minimal resistance, and thereby reducing the strain and workloads on electrical components like motors, fans, and cooling systems, they also improve HVAC efficiency in general.

During the summer they help to keep conditions nice and cool, whereas during the winter they help keep everything nice and warm for longer periods of time. 

When HVAC systems function efficiently, they don’t need to be used as frequently as older, outdated systems struggling to keep up with demand. This results in less energy being consumed, and lower energy bills so you’re not only doing your part for the planet, you’re also lowering your outgoings in the process.