There’s nothing quite like the peace and quiet of a neighbourhood. The sound of children laughing as they play, people chatting on their porches, and the occasional dog barking in the distance- it’s all part of what makes a community feel like home.
However, when a new development or traffic increase threatens to drown out these sounds, something must be done to preserve the character and vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. That’s where noise barriers come in.
Noise barriers are an essential part of any community. They help to protect residents from the noise pollution that can be so detrimental to their quality of life.
Here are a few reasons why sound barriers are vital in community structures:
1. They help improve a better learning environment.
When children feel overwhelmed and overstimulated, it’s important to give them a designated space where they can calm down. This will allow the sensory input from their immediate environment become less intense so that emotions are more easily managed again without being influenced by other things.
Children learn not only in the classroom, but also in their outdoor surroundings. When a school is exposed to outdoor noise on almost a daily basis, it would be difficult for kids to manage their emotions and this impedes their ability to perceive and learn from both their teachers and their environment.
Noise barriers are thus recommended to be installed in schools to help mitigate outdoor sounds that affect a child’s learning environment-and at the same time provide kids a safe space to enjoy the functions of their sensory abilities, including their hearing.
2. Quiet environments are essential in places of worship.
Religion has been a major part of any culture, and it is celebrated through dedicated places of worship. While not all people practice a particular religion, those who do celebrate their faith in churches, shrines, and temples. These places are also situated in areas that are accessible to the public, meaning they are exposed to outdoor noise.
Sound barriers can help maintain a peaceful environment wherein people can concentrate on their prayers and rituals inside places of worship. They can also mitigate the flow of soundwaves coming from near areas that generate noise, such as construction sites and public utility work.
At the same time, noise control barriers can be used to contain the sound made in these places of worship, which may also affect neighbouring areas too.
3. Mitigated noise levels in parks allow for a healthier outdoor setting.
People go to parks to enjoy their free time, and engage in physical exercises. It is because the air is fresh and the surroundings provide a peaceful ambience throughout the day. However, this can be easily disrupted when noise is present nearby.
Sound barriers are thus being installed not only to prevent outdoor noise from penetrating into these places; they are also set up to contain soundwaves coming from machinery and equipment present in parks and open grounds, such as generators, to maintain a relaxing environment for those who go there.
In a nutshell
Community structures have to be safe in all aspects, including in terms of sound perception. Through the use of sound barriers, people are able to live a better quality of life outdoors without putting their wellbeing at risk because of unwanted, discomforting noise.