Warehouse and distribution center cold storage outdoor noise assessment

Abstract

Although "warehouse" and "distribution center" terms may be used interchangeably by many, cooling load demand for these kinds of storage facilities can vary widely and requires a range of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions. Furthermore, incorporation of on-site cold storage capability can greatly amplify the net cooling load of a facility and its corresponding HVAC system with necessary outdoor-exposed noise-generating sources. This paper presents a sample predictive outdoor noise assessment of a facility that features cold storage, and includes key considerations for modeling setup, outdoor noise level assessment with respect to applicable jurisdictional thresholds, and noise reduction recommendations that may be common to warehouses or unique to cold storage facilities.