Acoustic Curtains Form Noise Barrier for Broken Hill Pipeline Construction

Acoustic curtains help our customer meet construction noise regulations

The project

Jaybro supplied John Holland Murphy Pipe Civil JV with 100 metres of acoustic curtains to reduce noise around the site.

John Holland along with Murphy Pipe Civil is currently constructing the Wentworth to Broken Hill Pipeline. This ambitious project will see the construction of a pipeline that will run for 270 kilometres and as a result, it will provide a long term water supply to the area.

Supplying upwards of 37.4 megalitres of raw water at a peak daily demand, local supplier Essential Water in Broken Hill will have a secure long term supply. Additionally, Essential Water will continue to retain responsibility for water treatment and water distribution to its customers.

The project is valued at $467 million and on top of that, it is estimated that the local economy will benefit up to $50 million during the construction.

John Holland Murphy Pipe Civil JV has been appointed to design, construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2018. Finally, after construction, pipeline testing will take place to ensure everything is working properly and the pipeline is ready to supply water to Broken Hill by April 2019.

Already this project has brought immediate benefits to both Wentworth and Broken Hill. More than $35 million has been spent in local communities. Furthermore, locals expressed a keen interest to work on the project and 150 local jobs have been provided during construction.

The challenges

Amongst other environmental factors that were assessed, the project team initially commissioned a noise and vibration impact assessment in accordance with Australian Standards. Parts of the construction project were deemed to have a negative impact on surrounding suburban areas. For that reason, a series of noise control measures were recommended by an assessor.

High noise-generating plant and equipment were identified, such as graders, loaders, delivery trucks, concrete agitators and rollers. As a result, the predicted construction noise levels needed to be dampened.

As a result, the assessor recommended the use of noise control screening, acoustic barriers or acoustic curtains to reduce the noise by up to approximately 10 dB.

Jaybro's solution

Jaybro supplied John Holland Murphy Pipe Civil JV with 100 linear metres of Fortress Sound Barrier acoustic curtains. These were installed on temporary fencing around the site to reduce noise to the surrounding suburban area whilst trenches were excavated.

The Fortress Sound Barrier acoustic curtains are a cost-effective form of mitigating airborne noise. They are constructed with Velcro joins down either side to ensure maximum strength and protection. Consequently, they form a compliant clip-together kit form barrier.

Furthermore, depending on the installation and environment, these acoustic curtains can offer significant noise reduction - up to 40dB!

Not only do Fortress Sound Barrier acoustic curtains dampen and block sound, they can also help control the spread of dust and fumes.

Flexibility is a huge bonus on these acoustic curtains as they are more versatile and economical than rigid enclosures, allowing for easy access, disassembling and easy transport.

Tough and weatherproof, Fortress Sound Barrier acoustic curtains can be installed in both indoor and outdoor applications and are easily cleaned. Additionally, they can be folded in a concertina style to allow a variety of different configurations. The curtains are supplied individually in panels measuring 1.3 x 2 metres, and 3 metre high panels are also available.

KEY DATA

• System used:  Fortress Sound Barrier Acoustic Curtains
• Time Period: Installed July 2018
• Customer: John Holland Murphy Pipe Civil
• Quantity: 77 Acoustic Curtains
• Install Length: 100m