The Problem

BAY CITY, Michigan – Coca-Cola had a serious problem at their Bay City plant because the plant generates a lot of noise. It also has trucks coming and going, delivering supplies and shipping out product. These trucks idle at the plant and the drone of their engines added to the noise problem. The west perimeter of the plant faces a residential neighborhood and the noise issues plagued the neighbors. It was also attracting local news organizations, as the outcry from area residents grew.

The Solution

Architect Jack Zelazny is a consultant working with Kirk Manix, Coca-Cola’s contractor. Zelazny said the initial plan was to construct a 30-foot acoustical metal fence along the perimeter roadway to address the problem. He nixed that idea in favor of something significantly less expensive and more aesthetically pleasing to the community’s residents.

“I didn’t think it was appropriate for the Sound End community. The neighbors shouldn’t have to have to stare at a 30-foot industrial metal fence from their small residential yards,” Zelazny said. “I really wanted to find something more organic and natural.”

After researching sound barrier fencing options, Zelazny contacted Acoustiblok and chose the Acoustifence noise barrier product, a fence mounted solution. They began construction of a grass covered, 300-foot wide berm and incorporated a nine foot high Acoustifence barrier. They added landscaping for an attractive roadside aesthetic after the installation.

The Result

Coca-Cola completed installation of the Acoustifence® noise barrier in the final weeks of December. This brought an abrupt halt to the noise issues that had plagued the neighbors in the surrounding South End community. Both company officials and neighbors rang in the New Year with their new found peace and quiet.

“The Acoustifence went up flawlessly, and it is pleasant to look at,” Zelazny said. “When we covered it with the dark green acoustical fabric covering, it looked natural and organic, as we had hoped.”

“But the real surprise was the immediate impact it had on the noise.”

Additional Info

Zelazny said the plant noise measured at 89 decibels before the Acoustifence installation, but registered at 68 decibels immediately after the Acoustifence went up. His hope was to lower the noise by 20 decibels, and they exceeded that figure at the plant. But the reduction was more than doubled at a neighboring residence. They took a reading at an adjacent residential property as soon as the Acoustifence was put in place. The noise registered in the low to mid 40 decibel range.

Reactions

“It exceeded my expectations, I think it exceeded everyone’s expectations,” he said. “The people at Coca Cola are happy with it, and most importantly, the neighbors are happy with the results. I couldn’t speak more highly of it.”

Lahnie Johnson is the president and founder of Acoustiblok. He said “Respecting the surrounding community’s call for peace and quiet, Acoustifence was the soft drink company’s best choice to significantly reduce the noise.”

“I think Coca Cola acted quickly and responded to the area’s residents as a good corporate neighbor should,” Johnson said. “It’s particularly important that they sought a serious noise blocking option. But they also respected the view of the neighboring residents living with the solution. They have to view it every day – some from their own back yards.”