Context

Soundproofing of a Refrigeration Unit of an Elderly Care Home.

The elderly care home is in the province of Vicenza and is one of the most important in the Veneto region for the care of the elderly, also those who are not self-sufficient.

Guest care for this facility is of primary importance. Care that was affected by the noise of the external refrigeration system, necessary for air conditioning of the structure itself: the noise perceptible at 1 meter from the building was of 78 dB(A).

This also caused disturbance to the adjacent home situated at just over 10 meters distance.

Noise that exceeded the limits set by the acoustic zoning plan of the municipality of Vicenza.

The care home structure is situated in CLASS II or areas destined for residential use.

Included in this class are urban areas mainly concerned with local traffic, low population density, limited presence of commercial activities and lack of industrial and handicraft activities.

Output limit values

Territory use destination class Times of reference
Day
(6.00-22.00) 		Night
(22.00-6.00)
Classe III
55dB
40dB

Input Limit Values

Territory use destination class Times of reference
Day
(6.00-22.00) 		Night
(22.00-6.00)
Classe III
55dB
45dB
Solution

After an on site inspection at the residence, 2 Zeta engineers have identified and presented to the customer the most appropriate solutions through a descriptive project of the intervention and a forecast calculation of the economic investment complete with production and installation times.

The soundproofing works carried out and installed are:
- Perimetral panels
- Silencers and dissipative baffles

The silencers were sized on the basis of the air flow rate of the group and the refrigerator unit load losses.

The side panels and the silencers were not clamped to the assembly but placed at a sufficient distance to guarantee the full operation of the unit.

Results

Thanks to the intervention, it was possible to reduce the noise from 78 dB(A) to 45 dB(A) and therefore bringing the system back into compliance with the regulations.

-33dB

Soundproofing has achieved compliance with the limits set by the Class III acoustic zoning.