Challenge

Southern Salads is a successful family-run business employing 230 staff. It is one of the leading UK suppliers of FMCG goods covering freshly prepared salads, slaws and fruit to the food service, food manufacturing and travel sectors.

Its main processing, packing and distribution facility in Tonbridge, Kent, operates 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, with up to 35 HGV movements taking place daily.

The redevelopment of land across the busy A26 from Southern Salads to residential apartment blocks gave rise to a number of complaints on the issue of noise and light pollution from the site.

As a proactive and responsible member of the community, the company specified 85 metres of Jakoustic® Plus acoustic barrier to help minimise the impact of their operations on local residents, while also presenting an attractive natural timber screen in keeping with their environmental and sustainability policies.

Solution

Following discussions with the specialist Acoustic Team at Jacksons, an independent noise survey was commissioned and an absorptive barrier type recommended as being the most effective solution due to the specific requirements of the site.

The 4.5m-high, 85m run of Jakoustic® Plus specified for the North and East boundaries of the site is supported by base-plated galvanised steel I-beam posts, designed to achieve a 16.4 dB reduction in noise* from the site.

Additionally, the solid nature of the Jakoustic® Plus barrier in combination with its 4.5m height meant greatly reduced light pollution from the site during overnight operations; allowing the local residents to continually enjoy their surroundings.

Key Jakoustic® Plus Absorptive Barrier features include:

  • An absorptive layer, covered with a protective membrane is incorporated on one side of the boards to further reduce noise.
  • Jacksons unique timber ‘tuning-fork’ posts which effectively clamp the boards together to provide up to 32dB reduction in noise under laboratory conditions.

*Rating according to BS EN 1793 - 2; Category = B3