Acoustic walls help quieten a noisy compressor station
The APA Group
Project Summary
Noisy gas compressor station
Utilities – Power Generation
The APA Group
Brightview
Initial project requirements
The APA Group one of Australia’s leading energy infrastructure businesses, owns, manages, and operates a portfolio of energy assets worth $20 billion.
APA Group began to have an issue with a noisy gas compressor station which was beginning to affect the rural residential homes that were appearing around their facility. When APA began receiving noise disturbance complaints from a residential neighbour, they were very keen to address the complaints and avoid unwanted attention from the authorities or negative coverage in the media.
APA Group sought a contractor to design and install acoustic walls around the fixed plant and equipment to mitigate noise, satisfy EPA requirements, and stop residential complaints. The supplier would be expected to complete the works safely, with no risk, and to provide complete noise compliance.
Flexshield was selected thanks to our ability to customise a solution and use an acoustic infill – around five times heavier than normal acoustic absorption materials – that was pre-approved and requested by the client.
The solution
With know-how, some hard work, and plenty of passion, the Flexshield team created a customised product that APA Group is very happy with. Initially, the project was very much an experience-based response; but as Flexshield got further into the project fresh challenges arose. These included the need for extensive earthworks, and even the issue of the site’s base material being crusher dust and not virgin ground.
Flexshield fabricated a custom acoustic wall panel that was not reflective, so as to not potentially reflect sound to the opposite neighbour. The design and manufacture phase took approximately five weeks, followed by installation in two stages over three weeks. One week was required for curing time for the foundation.
The results
APA Group could not be happier with Flexshield’s solution. In fact, they report that they now cannot even hear the compressor unit and have to check it is still running!
APA Group was continually kept in the loop and updated at every stage, visiting Flexshield’s office and being visited three times. APA Group also had a site manager based on-site for the complete duration of the project.
The project’s successful completion demonstrated Flexshield’s capability to deliver an end-to-end solution with nil environmental and safety impact, and no downtime – all well within the client’s budget. APA Group now has a happy neighbour, and has demonstrated its commitment to being a caring corporate citizen. The successful project has opened the door for Flexshield, with the team now engaged in three more projects for APA Group at the same location.
For more information about acoustic control for utilities, contact Flexshield on 1300 799 969.
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