Echo Barrier is the construction noise solution; a portable noise barrier that soaks up sound rather than just eflecting it like some other products.
It has already proven popular on large scale overseas projects including the 2012 London Olympics. “Our local customers include companies like John Holland Group, Regional Rail Link and Aggreko,” said Echo Barrier’s Ray Lee. “These barriers can significantly reduce noise impacts on people living and working near construction projects.

Construction companies often have to spend time dealing with noise complaints, liaising with councils, local businesses and residents to keep work moving on site.
Noise complaints can cause work to stop, potentially delaying projects. Equally important, they can cause friction between the construction company and the local community. “From residents’ and local businesses’ perspective, excessive noise from construction projects can cause significant impacts including loss of sleep or an inability to work or study for residents, as well as the potential loss of revenue for local businesses.
So keeping noise levels to a minimum is also about enhancing a company’s reputation as a member of a community.”

Ray says that, before the introduction of Echo Barrier, mitigating the noise from construction projects meant building heavy duty noise walls, which can be expensive, time consuming and sometimes impractical. “With Echo Barrier, you can create a noise wall where one couldn't previously have been made and it’s even feasible to set up and take down the noise walls on a daily basis, making them an incredibly versatile, affordable and easy to use solution to construction noise,”
Ray said. Although construction noise is not addressed by national building code legislation, the Association of Australian Acoustical Consultants says there is a desire in the industry to implement best practice noise management strategies. “We work with a lot of construction companies providing advice on best practice acoustic control during the construction phase and in the building design itself.

Noise is an increasing issue as Australia’s urban population grows,” said Association Chairman Martti Warpenius. “There is no national legislation governing noise, with acceptable levels determined on a project by project basis, but we do see that companies are generally striving for best practice noise protection approaches.”
What ‘best practice’ looks like can be difficult to gauge in the absence of national guidelines, but Martti says looking to the specific needs of a community can provide guidance. “Options can range from the use of noise barriers to using equipment which emits lower noise levels, or even temporarily relocating affected communities during peak construction periods. “In our experience, the most effective approaches to noise management are those which consider the unique needs of the surrounding community.
For example, a construction company looking to work near a suburb where there are a lot of young families might consider ceasing operations for a period during the afternoon, when young children are likely to be sleeping.”

Echo Barrier noise barriers have a unique design that means they're not only effective but easy to use. They are engineered from a patented lightweight material which is highly sound absorbent, but does not absorb water. That means they stay light and maneuverable even on wet days so one person can easily move the barriers around sites as required.