The Real Noise Conditions Around Security Checkpoints

Security areas generate continuous, overlapping sound from multiple sources.

Typical Noise Levels:

• Passenger conversations and queues: 65–75 dB
• Equipment and scanning systems: 70–80 dB
• Announcements and peak activity: 75–85 dB

Nearby lounge or waiting areas ideally require:

• 45–55 dB for comfort and relaxation

👉 Without separation, these environments blend together, reducing the quality of both.

How This Impacts Passenger Experience

Noise in airport environments affects more than comfort—it influences how travelers perceive the entire facility.

Key impacts include:

• Reduced relaxation in lounges, especially for long layovers
• Difficulty making phone calls or working, particularly for business travelers
• Increased stress and fatigue, especially in already high-pressure travel situations

When sound is uncontrolled, even premium spaces feel less valuable.

Why Traditional Airport Layouts Don’t Solve the Problem

Airport terminals are designed with:

• Open layouts
• High ceilings
• Hard reflective surfaces

These features allow sound to:

• Travel across large distances
• Reflect and amplify
• Overlap between zones

Basic solutions such as screens or standard accordion room dividers do not provide real acoustic control because they:

• Lack proper sealing
• Have low acoustic accordion partition STC rating
• Do not reduce speech intelligibility

👉 The result is a space that looks separated but remains acoustically connected.

OSHA Compliance – Nevada Airport Environments

OSHA Standard Reference:

• 85 dB(A) – Action Level
• 90 dB(A) – Permissible Exposure Limit

Security checkpoint areas frequently operate within:

• 70–85 dB ranges

👉 Airport staff working long shifts in these environments are exposed to continuous noise, making acoustic management important for OSHA compliance and overall workplace conditions.

The Solution: FoldaSil® ANC-AP40-2 Acoustic Accordion Partition System

FoldaSil® ANC-AP40-2 Acoustic Accordion Partition System provides a practical way to separate high-noise security areas from quieter passenger spaces without affecting flow or accessibility.

It functions as:

• A high-performance acoustic accordion door system
• A movable accordion partition for flexible zoning
• A sound control room divider accordion solution for large public spaces

How ANC-AP40-2 Improves Airport Environments

By introducing controlled acoustic separation, the system allows airports to maintain efficiency while improving comfort.

Key Improvements:

• Reduced noise transfer from security checkpoints
• Improved comfort in lounges and waiting areas
• Better conditions for communication and work
• Flexible space management based on passenger flow

Before vs After: Passenger Area Improvement

Before Installation:

• Noise levels: 70–85 dB from security areas
• Lounge spaces disrupted
• Reduced comfort and usability

After Installing ANC-AP40-2:

• Reduced to approximately 50–60 dB in adjacent zones
• Less intelligible background noise
• Improved passenger experience

👉 The goal is not silence—it is controlled, comfortable environments within busy terminals.

Why Accordion Partition Systems Work for Airports

Airports require solutions that are:

• Flexible
• Non-permanent
• Fast to deploy
• Scalable

With accordion partition systems:

• Spaces can be separated instantly
• Noise can be managed without construction
• Passenger flow remains uninterrupted

Compared to permanent walls, accordion doors provide a more adaptable and cost-effective solution.