3 Bespoke Acoustic Enclosures for Swiss Infrastructure Backup

ADE were contracted by a major Swiss energy solutions provider to design and manufacture 3 bespoke acoustic enclosures to house 670 kVA Volvo diesel generators, forming complete emergency standby power systems to support critical infrastructure within a major city in Switzerland. Delivering resilient standby power in a dense urban environment demanded a careful balance of acoustic performance, footprint constraints, and maintainability.

With stringent planning requirements dictating a noise level of just 65 dB(A) at 1 metre, and limited space available on the city centre site, ADE engineered a compact yet highly effective attenuation solution. Each enclosure was fitted with a removable penthouse attenuator, providing a dedicated air inlet and outlet. These structures incorporated weather louvres and galvanised bird mesh, ensuring both acoustic performance and environmental protection without increasing the overall footprint.

The main enclosures were designed with practicality in mind, featuring removable end panels to facilitate generator installation, alongside 2 sets of double maintenance doors and additional single access doors for routine servicing. Integrated gravity and motorised dampers allowed controlled airflow management, while floor cable entry points and fuel ducts supported seamless system integration.

All the acoustic housings and penthouse attenuators were finished to a C4 paint specification, providing enhanced durability in demanding environments. ADE also managed delivery to the client’s factory in Switzerland, allowing them to install and integrate the generator sets ahead of delivery to site, final installation, and commissioning.

The result was a robust, space-efficient acoustic enclosure solution, engineered to meet strict performance criteria in one of Europe’s most challenging operating environments.