Residential SoundFence

Acoustical Residential SoundFence for reducing sounds in noisy neighborhoods and residential areas. Acoustic fences will reduce the sound from heat pumps, pool filters, pool pumps, traffic noise and more. Residential sound-proofing in neighborhoods.

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Description

The Residential SoundFence works by the principle of sound absorption.  As with many ASC products, the core of a Residential SoundFence panel is made from medium-density fiberglass which has been sealed to contain loose fibers.  All fabric and adhesives are carefully chosen to ensure acoustic transparency so the sound absorbing material is allowed to do its job.

Common highway sound walls work by blocking sound.  This can be effective when the noise source is a great distance away, the sound wall is a great distance away, and the coverage area is the size of an entire neighborhood.  However, when an individual residence requires protection from noise sources as close as their own backyard or their neighbor’s yard, the Residential SoundFence is a much more sensible and cost-effective solution than a huge poured concrete/cinder block highway sound wall.

“All the panels are up and the fence is slatted. The difference is very apparent! I am now able to open my living room window with traffic going by and hold a conversation. This is something I was never able to do before. I am very impressed with the product.” – Rob Noyer

When the source of the noise is fairly close to the person that it is bothering, the effective (and neighborly) thing to do is to get rid of the noise!  Traditional concrete sound walls reflect noise off of their surfaces, sending it right back where it came from.  This means that your neighbor’s heat pump is now keeping them awake all night, instead of you.  One could imagine the vicious circle this might present, and the escalation of tensions between neighbors.  When you choose ASC’s Residential SoundFence, up to 80% of the noise is fully absorbed by the panel, preventing it from bothering you or your neighbors ever again.

Residential SoundFence – for those who like to be good neighbors.

SoundFence Design

Residential SoundFenceA standard neighborhood Soundfence panel is usually 5′ x 92.25″ in order to fit a traditional 6′ fence with 8′ post centers. However, ASC can tailor your SoundFence panels to most custom fence sizes. The recommended SoundFence design suggests you use 4×4 pressure treated posts and a pressure treated Ground Seal, buried 3” below grade and extending at least a few inches above grade. This Seal prevents unwanted noise from sneaking under the fence. The ground seal can be 2×6, 2×10, or 4×6 for extra strength.

The actual SoundFence Panels rest on 2×4 pressure treated top and bottom rails, strung between the posts. These rails can be used to attach 1×4 cedar slats, or left un-slatted.

To size your Panels, subtract from the finished height the “ground seal”, plus the 2×4 support rails, and any slat reveal above the top rail. Therefore, a 6 foot high fence would likely have SoundFence Panels that are 63.5” high.

SoundFence Panels do not require cedar slats, but do require a weather cap to protect the Panel from direct impact of rain.

The SoundFence is most effective at frequencies above 500Hz which is also the frequency range most perceived by the human ear. SoundFence flattens the perception curve across the sound spectrum while at the same time lowering the overall noise level. SoundFence not only reduces the overall noise level, but reshapes the perceived noise to meet the architectural standards for acceptable levels which is a perceived flat spectrum.


ASC-SoundFence Controls Heat Pump and AC Noise

Compressor noise is usually not as much of a problem as fan noise. Some manufacturers include compressor noise suppression, but that still leaves fan noise to keep you and your neighbors awake at night. By their very design, heat pumps and AC units are simply noisy beasts. Contractors usually place the heat pump where it is most convenient, and away from the bedroom of the homeowners, but this usually means the heat pump is located next to the neighbor’s bedroom.

Heat pumps can be located up to 30 feet away from the house, but this is rare, and no one wants to move it after it is installed. The only option that kills noise at the source is an ASC-SoundFence.

Heat Pump Solutions with ASC SoundFence

Reducing the annoyance of heat pumps is easy with ASC SoundFence. Simply surround the open sides of the heat pump with 2 or 3 SoundFence panels, and reduce noise by 90%.

Follow the examples below, or contact ASC for a custom-designed solution.

You supply:
– (4) 4×4 Posts on 4′ centers
– Bottom rail
– Top rail

ASC Supplies:
– (3) SoundFence Panels
At 4′ height, approximate cost = $1,674 + shipping



You supply:
– (3) 4×4 Posts on 4′ centers
– Bottom rail
– Top rail

ASC Supplies:
– (2) SoundFence Panels
At 4′ height, cost = $1116 + shipping


Note: above rendering uses transparent panels to better visualize the entire situation. Actual panels are fully opaque!

How It Works:

Panels are designed to fit around the noise source, maintaining enough space to allow servicing and maintenance. If required, Panels are suspended on simple “L” post hinges in case they ever need to be removed. If the heat pump is in the open back yard, build the sound absorbing fence all around the pump, leaving at least 2-4 feet of space between the pump and the sound absorbing fence walls. This reduces noise across property lines and into your own back yard.

If the heat pump is along the side of the house, locate the sound absorbing fence alongside the pump about two feet away. Put gates at either end to block sight but let air through. This absorbs noise from the neighbors and keeps what is left on your own property.

Always remove the fiberglass pad from your heat pump: it acts as a resonator. Replace the pad with a gravel bed and concrete block. Dig down 6 inches around the heat pump and backfill with sound absorbing yard material such as crushed volcanic rock or sand.

For “non-standard” applications, we can engineer a custom plan that will give you the peace of mind you deserve. To get started, fill out our Online Info Request Form. We’ll also need you to e-mail photos and a rough site plan. This service entails a small fee which will be applied to your SoundFence order.


Applications

  • reducing heat pump noise levels
  • reducing automobile/truck traffic noise
  • outdoor neighborhood noise control

Details/Specs

  • each panel is 3″ thick
  • robust 2×4 cedar frame for mounting options
  • typical panel size is 4′ wide by 6′ tall
  • typical panel (4’x6′) cost is $670/each
  • noise attenuation from 4-12 dB*       *(results vary depending on external factors)

What do I do?

  1. Identify your maximum fence height (consult local ordinances)
  2. Plan a fence layout — surround the noise source if possible, block all lines of sight at least
  3. Call a local fencing contractor to either build the new fence or install SoundFence panels in an existing fence
  4. Contact ASC with your panel dimensions for example: I need 4 panels sized 46″ wide and 58″ tall)

The problem is not limited to wild parties or garage rock bands. Noise that ordinarily wouldn’t bother anybody, like ringing phones, pool pumps, or a TV, have now become the sound-track of modern living. We try to tune it out, yet the stress it causes is still present, and there’s seemingly no way around it. That’s why ASC developed the SoundFence.

Benefits

With no sound wall present, sound travels freely onto the property and sound reverberates on the property freely. Traffic noise can intrude, even from a relatively great distance.

With the typical highway soundwall , sound is reflected from both sides of the wall. Car noise bounces back onto the roadway, but yard noise bounces back to the house. An echo effect is created. The diffraction effect can also recurve noise back to ground level, causing a horizontal hissing sound coming off the top of the wall. A real headache.

With the ASC SoundFence, sound is absorbed on both sides of the fence. There is no echo chamber effect as sound intensity is greatly reduced. Both street and backyard noise is reduced and a more comfortable ambiance is achieved.

​Installation

The SoundFence goes up in 3 easy steps. Here are the basics for a standard installation:

Step one is building the fence frame with ground seal at the bottom:

Residential SoundFence

Step two is to place the SoundFence Panels into the fence frame:

Residential SoundFence

Step three is installing the slats:

Residential SoundFence

ASC SoundFence Flyer

ASC SoundFence Install Guide

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