Noise Control in Construction & Demolition

Noise control is a central topic in construction, concrete demolition, special deconstruction, as well as in rock excavation and tunnel construction. Noise affects health, permitability, and public acceptance of projects. Those who purposefully select methods, equipment, and workflows can effectively reduce airborne and structure-borne sound. Mechanical, non-impact methods—such as the use of concrete crushers or stone and concrete splitters—make a significant contribution to noise reduction in many applications without losing sight of the requirements for safety, precision, and construction time.

Definition: What is meant by noise control

Noise control refers to the totality of technical, organizational, and structural measures to reduce noise emissions and noise immission. A distinction is made between airborne sound (sound propagation in air, perceived as sound level in decibels) and structure-borne sound (vibrations in solid building components, often perceived as droning or vibration). In addition to sound pressure level, the frequency spectrum, duration, repetition rate, and timing of the noise are relevant. In the context of concrete demolition, strip-out, rock excavation, and tunnel construction, noise control is both an aspect of occupational safety (hearing protection, exposure times) and a matter of environmental compatibility in the vicinity of residents, businesses, and sensitive facilities. The aim is to avoid or reduce the generation of noise through suitable methods, equipment selection, and process control, to damp or shield sound, and to carefully manage unavoidable residual levels.

Noise control in demolition and deconstruction: requirements, objectives, and strategies

In concrete demolition and special deconstruction, during strip-out work, as well as in rock excavation and tunnel construction, productivity, structural safety, and noise protection intersect. Noise typically arises from percussive tools, from friction, tearing and breaking noises, from drives, power units, and from material impact. A prevention-oriented approach is strategically effective: methods that do not rely on impact energy reduce peak levels and shift the spectrum to less disturbing frequency ranges. These include in particular the use of concrete crushers, stone and concrete splitters, stone splitting cylinders, combination shears, steel shears, Multi Cutters, and tank cutters from Darda GmbH. As a result, noise can be reduced at the source, vibration inputs into the existing structure are lowered, and the controllability of the noise behavior increases.

Importance in concrete demolition and special deconstruction

In densely built-up areas or during ongoing operations in existing buildings, low noise and vibration levels determine permitability and construction sequencing. Concrete crushers rely on controlled crushing rather than impact energy. This reduces Lmax peaks, diminishes structure-borne sound, and limits sound radiation into adjacent rooms. Stone and concrete splitters operate volumetrically in drilled holes: the crack forms inside, surface emissions remain low, and material is released in a controlled manner. Such methods are particularly advantageous in strip-out and selective deconstruction of load-bearing elements when adjacent components and uses must be protected.

Understanding noise sources: airborne sound, structure-borne sound, frequencies

Mechanical processes generate broadband noise. Percussive methods often produce high peak levels and pronounced mid- to high-frequency content. Crushing and splitting processes typically feature lower impulsiveness; subjective annoyance decreases even if the energetic average may be comparable. Structure-borne sound transmitted via supports and machine frames can be significantly reduced through decoupled setups, rubber buffers, and adapted clamping points. The frequency profile of hydraulic power packs is shaped by speed, load, and radiating surfaces; smart positioning and shielding reduce immission at the site perimeter.

Catalog of measures for noise reduction on the construction site

Effective noise control arises from a combination of technical and organizational steps:

Method selection: preferably use non-impact methods such as concrete crushers, stone and concrete splitters, combination shears, steel shears, Multi Cutters, and tank cutters wherever technically feasible.
Process control: continuous, steady operation instead of short, loud impulses; do not drop material, set it down.
Drilling strategy for splitting: fewer, strategically placed boreholes with suitable diameter/spacing planning reduce drilling noise and processing time.
Hydraulic power packs: use quiet operating modes, shield the units, apply vibration decoupling, and choose suitable setup locations (backsides, courtyards).
Shielding: mobile acoustic barriers along critical immission paths; use existing building components as shields.
Machine coupling: soft interlayers at supports, reduced contact areas, targeted force introduction to damp structure-borne sound.
Maintenance: well-maintained blades and crusher jaws, correctly adjusted hydraulics; worn components increase friction and squeal noise.
Logistics: quiet undercarriages (track pads), low-noise material handling, clear routing, avoidance of empty runs.
Organization: schedule noise-intensive activities into time windows with higher tolerance, bundle trimming works, communicate with neighbors.
Occupational safety: suitable hearing protection, rotation schedules, rest periods; training in low-noise operation.

Concrete crushers: low-noise demolition technology in detail

Concrete crushers combine cutting and crushing forces to reduce concrete and separate reinforcement. They operate without impact pulses and thus prevent high peak levels. Noise-control-oriented application includes:

Pre-notching and controlled biting along crack lines to avoid bang noises from sudden fracture.
Separating reinforcement with steel shears or Multi Cutters when tearing through would be acoustically unfavorable.
Close guidance, short travel paths, and metered hydraulic pressures to minimize squeal and resonances.
Setting down instead of dropping fragments; sequencing into smaller bites to reduce noise and dust.

Factors influencing noise generation

Concrete strength, component thickness, degree of reinforcement, and support conditions affect noise characteristics. Prestress, bonding agents, and connected components can radiate sound. Careful selection of attack points and decoupling of supports significantly reduce structure-borne sound.

Stone and concrete splitters: quiet crack formation instead of impact

Stone and concrete splitters as well as stone splitting cylinders generate high splitting forces in the drilled hole and drive cracks purposefully through rock or concrete. Because the energy acts in the component and is not introduced by impact, airborne sound peaks remain low. Noise-control-relevant points include:

Plan drilling technique for low noise (appropriate speed, feed, sharp tools), position extraction units acoustically decoupled.
Guide crack direction deliberately to avoid sudden, large-area failures.
Operate hydraulic power packs at appropriate speed; shield sound sources (fans, exhaust).
Split material incrementally rather than overloading: controlled cracks are acoustically more favorable than abrupt failure.

Combination shears, Multi Cutters, steel shears, and tank cutters in the noise control concept

These tools complement concrete crushers and splitters: they cut steel and composite materials precisely, often with a lower acoustic signature than thermal or percussive methods. Tank cutters enable opening of vessels and pipes without sparks and without the typical high-frequency noise of rotating cut-off wheels. Overall, the demolition process can be methodically decoupled: quietly crush or split the concrete body, cut reinforcement and inserts separately—this reduces noise, vibration, and uncontrolled sounds.

Hydraulic power packs: operation and positioning

Hydraulic power packs supply the energy required for crushers and splitters. Their acoustic behavior is influenced by the drive, load, fans, and surroundings. For practice:

Select a setup location with maximum distance to sensitive areas, avoid line of sight to the receiver location.
Mitigate resonances on hard surfaces via rubberized pads and mass coupling.
Smooth load peaks (calm motion profiles), control speed to match demand.
Use sound-attenuating enclosures or mobile screens; guide cooling airflow acoustically.

Strip-out and cutting in existing buildings

In strip-out, neighborhood protection, dust, and noise reduction are central. Concrete crushers allow selective separation of components close to occupied areas without the typical impact noise. Multi Cutters and steel shears cut lines, beams, and fixtures in a controlled manner. For cutting work—such as opening slab fields—pre-splitting can reduce cutting length and thus the overall noise duration. Structure-borne sound can be minimized by decoupled bearings, interlayers, and use of existing movement or separation joints.

Rock excavation and tunnel construction: sound in enclosed and rock-adjacent spaces

In tunnel construction and near rock faces, hard surfaces reflect sound strongly. Non-explosive, mechanical methods such as stone and concrete splitters and stone splitting cylinders limit peak levels and avoid impulse sequences. Hydraulic power packs can be positioned outside acoustically sensitive zones, while the actual splitting work in the crown or bench area proceeds comparatively quietly. Coordinated fan airflow management within site logistics prevents power-pack and fan noise from adding up.

Natural stone extraction: low-noise alternative

In quarries, noise levels significantly impact the surroundings. Targeted splitting of natural stone blocks markedly reduces emissions compared to percussive or blasting methods. Guiding cracks along bedding and natural joints reduces energy demand and noise generation, improves block quality, and increases the controllability of extraction.

Special operations: sensitive areas and urban environments

In hospitals, laboratories, production facilities, or inner-city locations, low noise levels are often mandatory. A methodically structured process—splitting, downsizing, separating—enables work during ongoing operations. Tank cutters and steel shears reduce sparks, dust, and high-frequency noises; concrete crushers and stone and concrete splitters avoid impact peaks. Complementary measures include time-window planning, short transport routes, and low-noise auxiliary equipment.

Measurement, assessment, and documentation

For managing noise control, simple, traceable measurements are helpful. Practical is the determination of equivalent continuous sound levels and maximum values at defined points in the surroundings. Important are reproducible distances, comparable operating states, and recording of the background level. Clear documentation of the methods (e.g., use of concrete crushers instead of percussive tools) as well as shielding and operating measures strengthens traceability for site management and stakeholders.

Planning and tendering: noise control as a quality criterion

Noise control requirements should be incorporated early in specifications. Requirements for maximum permissible levels, allowable time windows, and preferred methods create clarity. Bidders can present methodological alternatives, such as the use of stone and concrete splitters instead of percussive removal methods. Consistent consideration of noise protection in schedules, logistics, and equipment deployment reduces risks during the project.

Practical tips for low-noise work with concrete crushers

Relieve components before biting to avoid sudden crack formation.
Cut reinforcement deliberately with steel shears; do not tear it.
Close crushers evenly, meter hydraulic pressure, minimize squeal by keeping contact surfaces clean and intact.
Decouple props to avoid introducing structure-borne sound into neighboring components.

Practical tips for low-noise splitting

Optimize borehole planning (diameter, spacing, depth) to reduce the number of holes and thus drilling noise.
Run splitting cycles evenly; avoid pressure spikes.
Place and shield hydraulic power packs for favorable acoustics.
Split material purposefully in follow-up steps rather than breaking large volumes at once.

Occupational safety and communication

Protecting workers includes suitable hearing protection, training, rest schedules, and rotating task profiles. In the surroundings, early information to those affected about the type, duration, and timing of noise-intensive work is de-escalating. This builds understanding for unavoidable noise, while the choice of quieter methods—such as concrete crushers and stone and concrete splitters—audibly lowers overall noise input.