UIC Innovation Award winning noise barrier with patented features
The year 2009 marks the birth of our innovation. Initially Finnish Rail Administration published a report on the use of low-level noise barriers in combating rail noise. After the release of the report the original innovators started to develop idea how to fulfill the presented requirement for low height noise barrier.
The key features of the product, such as track bed installation, ability to lower the barrier when needed, integrated cable channel, vandalism protection and excellent noise reduction properties root back to the report. Today, these clever details are the ones that make us special in a very demanding market place.
Soundim Ltd was founded 2012, the same year as the first test installation near Helsinki was installed. Due to positive feedback. First landmark project 2,2 km at Helsinki Circle Line was installed in 2014. Soon after that Soundim received to first export order to Russia.
The company has steadily grown from the original innovation to a venture capital funded company. The future focus is not just to become the market leader in low height noise barriers, but to establish a standard railroad noise reduction in surrounding environment without blocking the view.
Special features (click to learn more):
Soundim’s excellent noise reduction capability is based around the fact that noise is both absorbed and blocked already close to the main source noise in railway traffic.
According to field test measurements the barrier reduces high frequency wheel noise significantly and total noise reduction can be over 10 dBA.
Barrier not only prevents noise from spreading to the surrounding environment, but due to its innovative structure it also absorbs noise more effectively than typical hard structure solutions.
Based on laboratory measurements its sound insulation classification is B3 and it also pertains to the best absorption category, A4. The tests were performed at VTT, National testing laboratory Finland, 2014
The base of the barrier acts as the bottom of the cable channel.
The barrier elements act as the top of the channel. When needed, cable channel can be accessed by tilting the elements.
The hinge mechanism allows barrier elements to be individually lowered or even removed.
When needed Soundim patented barrier solution can be lowered to avoid removal.
The hinge mechanism allows barrier elements to be individually lowered or even removed.
Soundim noise barriers require no separate foundation as barrier is fastened directly into track bed with fixing poles. These metal poles can be installed even with light weight drills.
The poles are installed with the same interval as the barriers. When needed, the interval can be adjusted according to the ground conditions.
There are simple steps to install the Soundim noise barrier: Install the fixing poles, connect the pile heads and the base for the barrier to the poles and fix the barrier elements on top of that with bolts.
The structure is based on 2-meter or 4-meter light weight elements which can be used also in curves.
Due to its low weight the barrier can be installed easily to structures like bridges with special fixtures.
Soundim barrier can be furnished with a mesh located to one or both sides of the element.
The mesh will make it more difficult either to damage the actual elements or do graffiti on them.
Noise reduction:
Noise absorption:
Noise insulation:
4 m element:
2 m element:
Materials:
Color:
10 dBA +/- 2 dBA (SFS-EN ISO 3095, 7.5 m / 1.2 m)
13 dBA (class A4)
30 dBA (class B3)
(L) 4040 mm, (H) 1039 mm, (D) 240 mm, (W) 238 kg
(L) 2040 mm, (H) 1039 mm, (D) 240 mm, (W) 150 kg
Aluminum, steel and recycled PET foam
Customized from RAL palette (standard color RAL 7040)
Soundim low height noise barrier can be tailored to meet the local norms and used structure gauges which will have impact on barrier height and installation distance from tracks. In the Finland the following measures are used:
