Freestanding acoustic barrier that cuts site noise without footings or ground anchors, for contractors on construction, rail and infrastructure projects.
Â
- No footings, excavation or ground anchors
- STC32 and NRC 0.9 acoustic ratings, manufacturer-declared
- Manufacturer wind rating of 31 m/s at full height
- Modular panels for U-shape, L-shape, perimeter and corridor layouts
- Hook-and-loop panel edges with stainless steel eyelets
- Available in multiple sizes (The number is the overall barrier height, e.g. 4m. Custom heights are available on request.)
Â
-
Estimated Delivery: 8 weeksÂ
Hushtec RapidWall Systems - Freestanding Acoustic Barrier
Freestanding acoustic barrier that cuts site noise without footings or ground anchors, for contractors on construction, rail and infrastructure projects.
Â
- No footings, excavation or ground anchors
- STC32 and NRC 0.9 acoustic ratings, manufacturer-declared
- Manufacturer wind rating of 31 m/s at full height
- Modular panels for U-shape, L-shape, perimeter and corridor layouts
- Hook-and-loop panel edges with stainless steel eyelets
- Available in multiple sizes (The number is the overall barrier height, e.g. 4m. Custom heights are available on request.)
Â
-
Estimated Delivery: 8 weeksÂ
Hushtec RapidWall Systems - Freestanding Acoustic Barrier
Freestanding acoustic barrier panels fit to a modular frame that stands on its own base, with nothing fixed into the ground. The panels join along hook-and-loop edges to form a continuous screen between noisy work and the people around it. Contractors use it to screen plant, compounds and work fronts on construction, rail and infrastructure sites.
How a Freestanding Frame Removes the Need for Footings
A standard noise wall needs posts set in concrete footings to stay up in the wind. On site that means excavation, service checks, curing time and reinstatement, plus a wall that cannot move when the work front does. This barrier stands without ground anchors and is wind-engineered for exposed sites, so it goes up on the existing surface and moves as the job changes.
Key Features
- No footings or ground anchors: nothing is dug or drilled, so there is no excavation, no reinstatement and no risk of striking buried services.
- Manufacturer wind rating of 31 m/s: about 69 mph, designed for open, exposed sites as well as sheltered ones.
- Modular kit-set panels: rebuild into U-shape, L-shape, perimeter or corridor layouts as the work front moves.
- Hook-and-loop panel edges: join panels edge to edge into a continuous screen.
- Stainless steel eyelets on all four edges: corrosion-resistant fixing points on every side of each panel.
- Absorptive face rated NRC 0.9: soaks up most of the sound striking it instead of reflecting it back into the work area.
- Weather and UV resistant: built for long outdoor deployments in all seasons.
Who is this for
Trades and roles
- Site managers
- Principal contractors
- Temporary works coordinators
- Environmental and noise consultants
- Rail and civil engineers
- Demolition contractors
- Event site managers
Industries
- Construction
- Demolition
- Rail and transport infrastructure
- Civil engineering
- Utilities and energy
- Oil, gas and mining
- Outdoor events
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product name | Hushtec RapidWall Systems - Freestanding Acoustic Barrier |
| Product code | HUSH-RWS |
| Product type | Freestanding modular acoustic barrier |
| Ground fixing | None, no ground anchors or footings |
| Acoustic rating | STC32 and NRC 0.9, manufacturer-declared (US rating systems) |
| Wind rating | 31 m/s (about 69 mph) at heights up to 8m, manufacturer-declared |
| Panel connection | Hook-and-loop edges, stainless steel eyelets on all four edges |
| Layouts | Straight runs, U-shape, L-shape, perimeter and corridor |
| Weather resistance | Weather and UV resistant (manufacturer description) |
| Standards | No UK or EN test standard stated by the manufacturer |
| Supply basis | Modular kit-set, run length quoted per project |
| Brand | Hushtec |
| Heights | 2m, 4m, 6m, 8m, custom on request |
| Warranty | 20-year structural and coating warranty on the frame |
| Options | Higher-density mass loaded vinyl (8 to 14 kg/m2), custom colours and digital branding, extended warranty, custom dimensions |
Size Selection
| HUSH-RWS-2m | 2m |
| HUSH-RWS-4m | 4m |
| HUSH-RWS-6m | 6m |
| HUSH-RWS-8m | 8m |
| HUSH-RWS-custom | Custom height, on request |
Compatibility
| Base material, tool or condition | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Firm, level hardstanding (concrete, asphalt, compacted hardcore) | Suitable, the system stands without ground fixings |
| No-dig zones and ground over buried services | Suitable, nothing penetrates the ground |
| Soft, uneven or sloping ground | Not recommended until a temporary works designer confirms bearing and level |
| Open, exposed sites | Suitable within the manufacturer wind rating |
| Winds above the manufacturer rating | Not recommended, follow the site high-wind procedure |
| Generator, compressor and pump screening | Suitable, as a U-shape or perimeter layout around the source |
| Rail corridors and highway edges | Suitable, subject to the rail or highway authority’s approvals |
| Mounting on Heras temporary fencing | Not recommended, this is a freestanding system; use fence-mounted acoustic panels |
| Site security or vehicle containment | Not recommended, use site hoarding, temporary fencing or rated vehicle barriers |
Typical Users and Projects
Principal contractors, demolition firms and rail and civil engineering teams use freestanding barriers on projects next to homes, schools and offices. Typical sites are urban demolitions, rail corridors, utility works and plant compounds where digging is restricted. Setting out is usually led by a site manager or temporary works coordinator working from the site noise assessment.
Typical applications
- Screening generators, compressors and pumps in a site compound with a U-shape or perimeter layout.
- Lining a demolition work front that sits next to occupied homes or offices.
- Shielding night-time rail works along a track corridor.
- Screening piling or breaking works where ground anchors cannot go in over buried services.
- Building a corridor layout along utility trenching or highway works.
- Screening plant, generators and stages at outdoor events.
- Enclosing noisy plant at oil, gas and mining sites.
How to use
Step 1: Agree the barrier line, height and layout with your noise consultant or temporary works designer, using the site noise assessment.
Step 2: Check that the ground along the barrier line is firm and level enough to carry the base.
Step 3: Set out and assemble the frame modules following the manufacturer’s installation instructions and lifting method.
Step 4: Fit the acoustic panels and close every joint with the hook-and-loop edges.
Step 5: Inspect the finished barrier and sign it off through your temporary works procedure before work starts.
Step 6: To relocate, unfasten the panels, move the modules and rebuild in the new layout.
Common mistakes
- Placing the barrier midway between the noise source and the neighbours, when it works best close to one or the other.
- Choosing a height that does not break the line of sight between the noise source and the people affected.
- Leaving gaps at joints, ends or the base, where noise escapes.
- Expecting the STC rating to match the noise reduction measured at a neighbouring property.
- Setting the barrier on soft or sloping ground without a temporary works check.
Safety
Treat the barrier as temporary works and have the layout and base checked under your temporary works procedure, following BS 5975 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Plan any lifting with plant under LOLER 1998. Keep within the manufacturer wind rating, follow your site high-wind procedure and inspect the barrier after storms. Keep emergency routes and sightlines at site entrances clear.
Maintenance
Inspect panels, joints and eyelets during routine site checks and after high winds. Refasten any hook-and-loop joint that has opened and replace damaged panels before the gap lets noise through. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance for cleaning and storing panels between projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much noise will a freestanding acoustic barrier reduce on site?
A: It depends on the barrier height, its position and the distance between the noise source and the neighbours. The STC32 rating describes how well the panels block sound in a laboratory, not the reduction you will measure at a neighbouring property. A barrier works best close to the source or the receiver, where it breaks the line of sight between them. Ask your noise consultant to predict the reduction for your layout using BS 5228-1, the UK code of practice for construction noise.
Q: What does 4m mean on a freestanding acoustic barrier?
A: The 4m is the overall height of the barrier. The standard heights are 2m, 4m, 6m and 8m, and custom heights are available on request. Run length is not part of the size, because it is set per project in your quote.
Q: What do STC32 and NRC 0.9 mean on an acoustic barrier?
A: STC is Sound Transmission Class, a rating of how well a panel blocks sound passing through it. A higher STC blocks more sound. NRC is Noise Reduction Coefficient, a 0 to 1 scale of how much sound a surface absorbs, so 0.9 means about 90% across the main speech frequencies. Both are US rating systems, declared by the manufacturer. UK specifications usually quote Rw instead, which is calculated differently, so an STC and an Rw figure are not interchangeable.
Q: What is a freestanding acoustic barrier not suitable for?
A: It is a noise screen, not a security fence, a vehicle barrier or a load-bearing structure. It is not recommended on soft, uneven or sloping ground until a temporary works designer has checked the base. It should not stay up in winds above the manufacturer rating without following your site high-wind procedure. For security, use site hoarding or temporary fencing alongside it.
Q: Why choose a freestanding barrier over acoustic panels fixed to Heras fencing?
A: Fence-mounted acoustic panels are limited to the height of the fence they hang on, usually about 2m. A freestanding barrier reaches greater heights on its own base, which helps when neighbours sit higher, such as on upper floors or embankments. It also needs no fence line, so it can be built around plant or along a corridor. Fence-mounted panels remain the lighter choice where 2m of screening is enough.
Q: Can a freestanding acoustic barrier be used on exposed, windy sites?
A: The manufacturer declares a wind rating of 31 m/s, which is about 69 mph, at heights up to 8m. Treat the barrier as temporary works, so your temporary works designer should confirm the layout and base for your site’s exposure. Inspect the barrier after storms and follow your site high-wind procedure.
Q: Does the barrier need footings, ground anchors or a hoarding licence?
A: It needs no footings or ground anchors, because the system stands on its own base. That does not remove other UK consents. A hoarding licence from the highway authority may still be needed where the barrier stands on or next to the highway. Noise limits agreed with the council, such as a Section 61 consent under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, apply as normal.
Q: Can the barrier be moved as the work front changes?
A: The modular panels unfasten and rebuild, so the barrier can be moved and set up in a new layout as the site changes. It builds into straight runs, U-shapes, L-shapes, perimeters and corridors. Check panels, joints and eyelets each time it is moved, and refasten any hook-and-loop joint that has opened.
Q: Can we manage quotes and approvals for this through one account?
A: The EDGE procurement portal is free and gives each project its own budget, delivery addresses and users. User access control sets who on your team can place orders. Searchable document management keeps project paperwork in one place, and Punchout, EDI or API links connect EDGE to your own procurement system. Set up an account at cmt.co.uk/edge or through the CMT EDGE App with CMT Group.
Q: Can CMT Group supply this on projects that need an approved supplier?
A: CMT holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, CHAS Elite and SSIP accreditations, and Crown Commercial Service Supplier status. These help when a project limits purchasing to accredited or approved suppliers. Contact sales@cmt.co.uk or 020 8311 1144 to discuss your project.
