The industrial complex has reduced its noise levels below legal limits thanks to the installation of Ecophon Hygiene acoustic systems, designed for environments with high hygiene and frequent cleaning requirements.
Saint Gobain Ecophon optimizes the acoustics of the Unilever Katowice industrial complex, guaranteeing the well-being of its workers by reducing noise levels below legal limits. The intervention was carried out with Ecophon Hygiene acoustic systems, specially designed for environments with high hygiene requirements and frequent cleaning.
Saint-Gobain Ecophon, a company specialized in efficient and sustainable acoustic solutions, has participated in the improvement of the acoustic conditioning of the Unilever Katowice industrial complex, Poland. The implementation of high-absorption acoustic solutions, designed for environments with strict hygiene requirements, has made it possible to reduce noise levels in production areas and offices, reinforcing the safety, productivity and well-being of employees.
The project, developed in collaboration with the Unilever team and experts from the ‘Laboratory Acoustic’ of the Technical University of Wroclaw, has taken into account Polish regulations, aligned with the directives of the European Union, which require hearing protection when average noise levels reach 85 decibels. In this context, the company should explore measures to reduce noise exposure when levels exceed 80 decibels.
After the installation of high-performance acoustic systems, the Katowice plant, with an area of 6.5 hectares and approximately 900 employees, has managed to reduce average noise levels to 78–79 decibels, with occasional peaks of 81 decibels, complying with the established legal limits. To achieve these results, solutions from the Ecophon Hygiene range were used, including Ecophon Hygiene Performance Baffle, an easy-to-clean sound-absorbing system with vertical plates adapted to humid areas, resistant to regular steam and high-pressure washing. The application of this system in the margarine factory made it possible to reduce sound pressure levels by between 40 and 50%.
Additionally, systems such as Ecophon Hygiene Protec were incorporated. A, a modular ceiling designed for areas with extreme hygiene requirements, and Ecophon Combison Duo A, which combines acoustic absorption and insulation, improving sound comfort in spaces where privacy and reverberation reduction are essential. The acoustic improvement was also implemented in two open-plan offices, with 120 employees, creating a quieter work environment and reducing stress, errors and improving general well-being.
This project highlights the need for sound-absorbing solutions in large industrial spaces, high ceilings and noisy machinery, especially in sectors such as the food industry, where there are strict requirements for daily cleaning and room classification.
For noise reduction on production lines, they recommend a five-step strategy: isolate or encapsulate the noise source; cushion the machinery using elastic elements; install sound-absorbing materials as close as possible to the source and on the largest surface area; protect workers with screens, insulation, or hearing protection equipment; and plan the production line incorporating these strategies.
Initiatives like this reinforce Saint Gobain Ecophon’s commitment to research and development of innovative solutions, aimed at meeting acoustic comfort standards in work and industrial environments, in line with the group’s corporate purpose: Making The World A Better Home.
