Certain hand dryer models can be a bit like marmite, you either love the exhilarating power and rippling skin effect of the latest technology or you find them too loud and stressful to use. Your reaction is quite likely to be affected by your age. Younger children are often more sensitive to loud noises, which as any parent will know is quite ironic given the amount of noise they are capable of creating! Some people on the autistic spectrum and those using hearing aids may also struggle with louder machines.
So, the obvious thing to do is to replicate Dyson’s silent hair dryer technology and create silent hand dryers. Unfortunately, this has not yet happened but noise cancellation technology and an airflow that emits at a frequency beyond the audible level of humans is attainable, so the technology will emerge soon.
Until then, there are many effective hand dryers that operate at low noises. This is achieved by restricting vibrations within the machines and providing broader airflows and airflow patterns that limit the concentrated force on one area.
Noise measurement is such a nuanced subject, hence the emergence of organisations like the noise abatement society and the birth of the Quiet Mark to recognise products. The Quiet mark appreciates that products need to be effective, being quiet does not make a good product. However, noise isn’t just decibel db(A) levels, it relates to the quality of the sound, its consistency and pitch. Many products that may have a higher decibel rating may well absorb the sound better which restricts how far it travels and also be more pleasant to the user. One thing with hand dryers, is how quickly they start. Soft start motors start more gradually which provides a warning for those uncomfortable with sudden noise.
Check out our top 5 Quietest Hand Dryers in 2020 and we will be sure to update our blog when silent hand dryers do exist. Please contact us for specialist advise.
