Underwater Noise Pollution Prevention
Sound Attenuation Bubble Curtains
Bubble Curtains are used to reduce underwater noise and vibration in marine and freshwater environments to protect aquatic life during construction
Underwater noise from piling and marine construction can exceed safe thresholds for sensitive species such as salmon, eels and marine mammals.
Bubble Curtains, delivered as a Bubble Tubing® application, provide a proven way to reduce sound propagation in water, creating a protective acoustic barrier during works while allowing works to continue and programmes to stay on track.
Systems are designed using multiple layers of Bubble Curtains, in straight runs, arcs or full enclosures.
With site specific, process-driven specification, Bubble Curtains are proven in the field to enable extension of allowable working windows, delivering cost efficiency and greater certainty around regulatory approval and environmental protection.
- We work with contractors, regulators, and acoustic consultants to design and deliver Bubble Curtain systems that meet environmental thresholds and protect aquatic life during marine construction.
- For related needs see our product page about Bubble Curtains for Silt & Debris Control.
- Book our free 1 hour Technology Briefing on Bubble Tubing and OctoAir applications for your project team.
Key Benefits
Award-winning technology proven to reduce sound and vibration by 99%
Demonstrated noise reduction
Independently verified in live projects, including at South Shields on the River Tyne.
Easy to install
Straightforward and rapid deployment.
Environmental is protected
Protects sensitive species, reduces the risk of harm to fish and aquatic life during piling and marine works and UXO management
Meets compliance and regulatory requirements
Enables programme certainty, supports regulatory approval, reducing downtime and tidal working restrictions
Delivers cost and carbon efficiencies
Reusable equipment and reduced delays lower whole-life project costs
Does not obstruct navigation
Bubble Curtains form a permeable barrier, enabling vessel and wildlife movement during operation
Every Bubble Curtain is designed around site conditions. Key design considerations include:
| Scope of project | Curtain length, water depth, flows, tidal range, bathymetry, and access |
| Layout | Geometry (linear, arc, enclosure) |
| Weighted options | Additional anchoring and moorings to suit substrate and flow conditions |
| Compressor | We will provide specification including oil-free, energy-optimised units with low noise options |
| Maintenance | Self-purging perforations minimise fouling |
| Validation | Independent validation for sound attenuation applications |
| Warranty | Supplied with a 5-year manufacturing warranty |
Applications
Construction site runoff management
Surface water management is a complex, technical challenge but our innovative solutions help to reduce environmental and non-compliance risks.
Find out moreWorking in rivers
Our proven techniques to achieve effective pollution control ensure clients can operate responsibly, compliantly, and with confidence in rivers and water courses.
Find out moreReservoir water quality
Our tried and tested benthic aeration technologies offer cost-effective destratification solutions, improving reservoir efficiency and water quality while reducing lifespan costs and carbon footprint.
Find out moreWater treatment
We work with market-leading technology partners to deliver cost-effective solutions for the treatment of water that also minimises carbon impact.
Find out moreGroundworks
We have a strong track record in supporting groundworkers with products and solutions that balance stakeholder interests with time and budget constraints.
Find out moreUnderwater sound attenuation
As the sole UK supplier of Bubble Tubing®, we have made commercial sound attenuation more accessible with our award-winning work using bubble aeration technology.
Find out moreRelated
Working in water products
Well presented webinar. Very thorough discussion of all aspects of silt management and good practice. I was knowledgeable but learnt much more about the latest good practices and what to consider in management – mainly drainage and run-off! Now time to up my game introduced new techniques and practices.
SOCOTEC UK Ltd
I learned a lot about water management that I didn’t know and prevention measures.
Aimee Duffy
Keepmoat Homes Ltd
It’s good to see Frog getting involved with GT at the earliest stages of the project to help with planning out water management in advance of needing it.
Galliford Try
I really enjoyed learning how to identify which measures are best suited to the site conditions.
TACP (UK) Ltd
It was very informative, with good examples of best practice.
Lee Bulman
Galliford Try
The knowledge of the legislative and financial impacts on our business, which I know will get our wider management teams and the workforce focused.
Carl Jones
Walters
It was to the point, factual and covered the required info for the large sites I work on.
Natasha Woest
MacArthur Green
Quite informative and interesting. Really enjoyed learning about the measures to be put in place for silt pollution.
Kier Transportation
I liked the wide breadth of issues covered and the range of examples of best practice techniques that can be employed.
Cormac Construction
It was very informative and good to see the technical side between silt pollution and shown in depth background on the ways it can be reduced.
Feedback from our training session
Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland
Innovative solutions I’d not considered before.
Jacobs
A very informative session, the presentation itself was visually engaging and well put together.
Feedback from our training session
Keepmoat Homes Ltd
The training is necessary in an industry where it’s often overlooked. You get told too many times that “water is water!” If more of these sessions are run, there will slowly be a mindset shift in the right direction. By demonstrating the importance of surface water management on construction sites empowers us ECoW.
The Association of Environmental Clerks of Works
Case Studies
Real solutions, proven results
Knowledge Hub
Sharing good practice
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![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Micro bubble curtains study: impact on sediment dispersal
This study outlines findings of using Bubble Curtains for effective sediment control.
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Influencing river morphodynamics with bubble screens
The reported laboratory experiments demonstrate the potential of the bubble-screen technique to modify the morphology in a variety of applications in shallow rivers and open channels.
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![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Influencing bend morphodynamics with an air bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Silt-control-using-SiltMats-and-Bubble-barrier-Yearl-Weir-800x600.jpg-1]()
Reduction of bend scour with an air-bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Influencing flow patterns and bed morphology with an air bubble screen
The ability of a bubble screen to redistribute the flow field and bed morphology in shallow rivers and open channels has been investigated in laboratory experiments.
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![Curtain-Blasting-Marinette-Credit-BubbleTubingR]()
Mitigating underwater explosion effects with bubble curtains
Mitigation of shocks and noises is made possible by the use of a bubble curtain set around the explosive charge.
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Developing an underwater shock suppression system to mitigate underwater blast effects on marine life
Research findings evaluating the performance of the bubble screens at Roach Cove, an underwater demolition training area.
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![case-study-gallery-5]()
Noise reduction by an air bubble curtain in offshore pile driving
In this paper, a model is proposed for the investigation of the sound reduction during marine piling when an air-bubble curtain is placed around the pile.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Bubble Curtains can be used to inhibit carp
This research covers findings of field testing of a bubble curtain deterrent system for common carp.
Read Article
