A new wood sound abatement system made of BC Coastal hem-fir and developed by FPInnovations and Western Forest Products is providing municipalities with a natural, sustainable option to reduce traffic noise.
The environment-friendly and cost-effective wood-concrete hybrid sound-abatement system meets and exceeds code requirements with a smaller environmental footprint than other systems. And it does all this while bringing the warmth and aesthetic appeal of wood to communities adjacent to roads and highways.
The wood barrier is made from sustainably managed hemlock wood products manufactured on Vancouver Island.
“This product plays on the strengths of wood (renewable, lightweight, long lengths and low cost) making it competitive with concrete systems that currently have almost 100% of the sound abatement market in Canada,” said Peter Lister, vice-president Forest Operations and Wood Products, FPInnovations.