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Call 1300 799 969 | Contact Us
Residency by Dillons Age Care is a residential aged care facility located in Tin Can Bay, QLD. Following the installation of a new commercial laundry, noise from dryer exhaust fans and a ground-level air conditioner unit began affecting neighbouring properties.
Site noise testing confirmed the extent of the issue. While the neighbourhood’s ambient noise measured 31dB, with both dryers running, noise levels reached 49dB at the facility’s back fence. This increase above ambient level was sufficient to impact neighbours, and raised questions about compliance with local noise regulations.
An acoustic report was commissioned to assess the site and identify the noise sources that required treatment. The report confirmed two distinct noise sources: the rooftop dryer exhaust fan outlets and the ground-level air conditioner. The report also provided recommendations on panel heights for a ground-level barrier wall.
The aged care facility needed a noise control approach that would reduce fan and air conditioner noise to acceptable levels, allowing the laundry to continue operating within required hours while maintaining access to equipment for routine servicing. The rooftop works would also need to be completed without roof penetration.
An Rw 37dB rated V100 panel enclosure was specified to bring the exhaust fan noise back to a level that would no longer be dominant over the neighbourhood ambient. A V50 barrier wall at ground level addressed the air conditioner, which was identified as a second noise source.
Flexshield designed and supplied a two-part approach using Sonic System acoustic modular panels. Both the rooftop enclosure and ground-level barrier wall were installed in a single site visit.
A four-sided Sonic System acoustic enclosure was constructed around the laundry dryer exhaust fan outlets on the roof. Before installation, the exhaust outlets were rotated to face the opposite direction to create mounting room at the roof edge.
The enclosure measures approximately 1500mm square and 1800mm high, sized to fully contain the exhaust fan noise source. V100 panels were selected for this application, featuring a perforated inner skin to absorb noise and a solid outer skin to block noise transmission, with a high-density Rockwool core. Outer skins were supplied in Colorbond Surfmist colour, and the enclosure is fully capped with 2mm thick galvanised cappings.
The structure is fixed to the roof and waterproofed, with all bracing surface-mounted to the roof structure. No roof penetration was required. The V100 panel carries an independently tested Rw 37dB rating and a fire rating of -/120/-.
All rooftop works were completed by trained and licensed Flexshield installers, with all relevant tools, access equipment and insurances in place.
A three-sided U-shaped Sonic System enclosure was built around the ground-level air conditioner unit using V50 panels. The enclosure is 1500mm high in accordance with the acoustic report recommendations, 1350mm long and 900mm deep, with sufficient clearance maintained to allow airflow to the fan.
A removable end panel was incorporated to allow maintenance access to the unit without requiring the enclosure to be dismantled. Corner posts are concreted into the ground, all steelwork is galvanised, and end panels are attached to the building. The V50 panel carries an independently tested Rw 31dB rating and a fire rating of -/120/-.
Sonic System acoustic modular panels are Australian-manufactured and independently tested in a NATA-accredited laboratory.
With both noise sources identified in the acoustic report now treated, neighbours and aged care residents are no longer affected by laundry equipment noise.
The residency’s commercial laundry can now operate within required hours while maintaining regulatory compliance.
The removable end panel on the ground-level enclosure ensures the air conditioner remains accessible for routine servicing without permanently removing the barrier wall.
For a detailed assessment and consultation, call Flexshield on 1300 799 969 or contact us online.