Track construction, switch renewal and permanent-way work are mostly carried out at night and at weekends – precisely when residents are most sensitive to noise. Tamping machines, ballast regulators, rail grinding trains and road-rail excavators generate levels well above 100 dB(A). Mobile noise control solutions along the track help you meet the strict night-time limit values and avoid complaints.
Limit values for night-time construction sites
The following refers to regulations in Germany; other countries apply their own limit values. Under the AVV Baulärm (the German administrative regulation on construction noise), the night-time immission guide values (8 p.m. to 7 a.m.) are considerably lower than during the day: 35 dB(A) in spa areas, near hospitals and in purely residential areas, 40 dB(A) in general residential areas, 45 dB(A) in core, village and mixed-use areas and 50 dB(A) in commercial areas. In practice, an exemption permit for night work is often tied to verifiable noise reduction measures. The FGSV documentation on mobile noise barriers used by DB AG shows how such systems are deployed in railway construction.
Recommended solution for railway construction sites
- Noise barrier mats on the construction site fence along the site access road and around storage and transfer areas – quick to install and remove, reusable many times over.
- Mobile steel noise barrier at stationary noise sources such as ballast handling, welding stations or generators.
- Inflatable noise barrier for temporary, tall screening towards residential buildings – no foundation required, ready for use in a short time.
- Acoustic scaffold sheeting for work on bridges, platform canopies and noise barrier walls.
Installation close to the track
Mats and barriers are set up outside the track area and the structure gauge; clearance is given by the local site supervision. Because the mats can be fitted with cable ties by a single person, the screening can be moved along with the work during the possession. Additional guidance on occupational noise protection is provided by the BAuA (German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).
Frequently asked questions about noise control in rail construction
Which limit values apply at night?
Under the German AVV Baulärm, between 35 dB(A) (spa areas, hospitals, purely residential areas) and 50 dB(A) (commercial areas); 40 dB(A) in general residential areas. Exceeding these values by more than 5 dB(A) can lead to conditions being imposed.
How quickly can it be set up?
Noise barrier mats are fixed to the construction site fence with cable ties – depending on the format, one person can cover 30 to 50 linear metres per hour. Inflatable barriers are ready for use within a few hours; mobile steel barriers are repositioned with an excavator or forklift.
Can the mats be attached to fences owned by the railway?
This must be agreed with the infrastructure manager. As a rule, separate construction site fences are set up outside the danger zone and the mats are attached to those.
Which mat is suitable for ballast work?
For ballast handling and tamping work we recommend the Premium version with a sound reduction index of 23 dB, supplemented by a mobile steel noise barrier at stationary sources.
Are rental mats available for short possessions?
Yes, for deployments of a few days to a few weeks we can arrange mats from our rental pool. For recurring deployments, buying is usually the more economical option.