New type of noise barrier tested in Brande

DAV NORDIC contributes to the future of noise reduction using Wavebreaker

When traffic noise becomes excessive, but the surroundings do not allow for a traditional high noise barrier, alternative solutions are needed. This is exactly what the Danish Road Directorate has explored in Brande, where it initiated a pilot project aimed at achieving maximum noise reduction without significantly increasing the height of the existing noise barrier.

DAV NORDIC was awarded the project, and in 2025 we completed the installation of a new type of noise-reducing top screen developed by Wavebreaker. Along a 200-metre stretch in Brande, the top screen was installed on the existing 3-metre-high noise barrier.

Effective noise reduction when space is limited

The installed top screen is designed to deflect and absorb noise without requiring major changes to the existing surroundings. This makes the solution particularly relevant in urban areas and other locations where there is neither sufficient space nor permission to install high noise barriers.

At DAV NORDIC, we have extensive experience working with different types of noise barriers and with projects requiring a high degree of precision and technical adaptation. The new top screen was installed directly onto the existing barrier, following its lines and geometry.

This is a technically exciting project because we are working with a solution that has the potential to change the way we reduce noise in locations where space is limited. It is about getting the most out of the existing infrastructure.

Ole Aminak Vadstrup, Project Manager from DAV NORDIC

Documented effect

As part of the project, the Danish Road Directorate commissioned noise measurements to assess the effectiveness of the solution. The conclusions of the report are intended to help the Danish Road Directorate determine whether the use of diffractors on top of a lower noise barrier provides the desired effect and whether the solution could be used in the future in locations where a high barrier is not an option.

The results of the report were very positive. Measurements show a significant reduction in noise levels of up to 4 dB.

This makes the solution particularly relevant in urban areas, where every additional meter of barrier height can present a challenge, while the need for effective noise reduction remains just as important. There may also be situations where improved noise-reducing performance is required, for example because traffic intensity has increased since the existing barrier was constructed. Wavebreaker makes it possible to improve the performance of the existing barrier without replacing it with a new and higher one.

About Wavebreaker
– an intelligent noise-reducing solution

Wavebreaker is a type of top screen designed to improve the performance of noise barriers by deflecting sound waves back towards the road or upwards into the atmosphere. The system can be added to existing barriers and combines documented noise reduction with a discreet, lightweight construction that minimises its visual impact on the surroundings.

An experienced partner in noise reduction

With more than 90 years of experience and a position as a market leader in Denmark within noise-reducing solutions, DAV NORDIC is accustomed to handling complex and technically demanding projects for both public and private clients.

The project in Brande adds to a growing number of innovative solutions in which technical expertise and practical experience go hand in hand to improve everyday life for people living close to busy roads.

Gallery from the project

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