Rob Stevens MASc, PEng Principal Acoustical Engineer
Rob has thirty years’ experience in measuring, assessing, and mitigating environmental noise impact and workplace noise exposure in all types of industry throughout North America and abroad.
He has conducted acoustical assessments and noise/vibration studies for hundreds of industrial sites, developing noise control recommendations to meet local regulatory requirements and environmental criteria of sovereign financing institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. A particular specialty is large scale industrial sites including combined cycle gas turbine power plants, petrochemical facilities, oil and gas refineries, and steel & metal mills. Recent projects of note include Braskem-Idesa’s massive new Ethylene XXI plant in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, the 1000 MW Greenfield Energy Centre, an on-demand combined cycle power plant in Ontario, Canada, and the 1500 MW Porto de Sergipe combined cycle power plant in Brazil.
He has conducted research into novel methods of low frequency noise attenuation in ducts, effects of high temperatures on absorptive silencers, resonant dissipative silencers, measurements of acoustical properties of materials, and the use of sound intensity measurement methods in special applications. Rob routinely delivers courses and presentations including fundamentals of noise and acoustics, environmental and noise assessment, and best practices for industrial noise management.
- Areas of Acoustical Expertise
- Professional Accreditations & Committees
- Select Publications & Presentations
- Patents
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
Middle East Acoustic Society (MEAS)
Canadian Acoustical Association (CAA)
Designated Consulting Engineer, Province of Ontario (PEO)
Association of Professional Engineers and Geo-scientists of Manitoba (APEGM)
Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA)
Audio Engineering Society (AES), 1998/99 Chairman, Toronto Section
Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA), Board of Directors, Ontario Section, 2010 to present
“Application of IFC Noise Limits, Noise Control and Remediation”, presented to the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (Inter-American Development Bank), December, 2017.
“Environmental Noise Risk”, presented to the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (Inter-American Development Bank), September, 2017.
“Predicting Exhaust Sound Power Levels of General Purpose Boilers”, Canadian Acoustics, September, 2016.
“Toward a Realistic Estimate of Octave Band Sound Levels for Electric Transformers”, Canadian Acoustics, March, 2010.
“A Novel Method to Measure the Absorption Coefficient of Outdoor Plane Surfaces Using Sound Pressure Levels at Two Positions”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 2007 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Low Frequency Noise Case Study – Identification and Mitigation of a Severe Infrasonic Tone from a Mine Shaft Ventilation Fan”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 2007 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Tougher Legislation in Ontario for Workplace Noise Exposure – Greater Protection for Workers, Greater Responsibility for Engineers”, in Engineering Dimensions (periodical published by Professional Engineers Ontario), May/June, 2007 (pp. 62-64).
“Acoustics and Noise Control of Emergency Generators”, a tutorial presented to the Streamlined Review Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Assessment and Approvals Branch, June, 2006.
“Alternatives for Noise Source Identification in Complex Industrial Settings”, presentation to the Air & Waste Management Association conference in Toronto, May, 2005.
“Case Study Investigation of Acoustical Qualities that May Not Be Adequately Addressed by a dBA Sound Level Limit”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 2005 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Estimating Exhaust Stack Outlet Sound Power Levels from Stack Wall Vibration Measurements”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 2005 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Monitoring and Modeling of Environmental Noise”, presentation at the joint Ministry of Environment and Air & Waste Management Association seminar in Toronto, December, 2004.
“Case Study: The Use of ‘High-Solidity’ Low Noise Axial Fans to Reduce Noise from a Rooftop Air-Handling Unit. ” Presentation at the 2001 Canadian Acoustic Association Conference, October, 2001.
“Acoustics and Noise Control in Educational Spaces”, a presentation to the Ontario school boards at the “Indoor Air Quality in Schools” seminar, held December 1, 1999.
“A Survey of Analytical Prediction Models for the Acoustical Performance of Pipe Lagging Systems”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 1998 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Applying Sound Intensity Methods In-Situ to Measure Exhaust Sound Power Levels and Estimate Silencer Performance”, presented at the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board 1996 Spring Environmental Noise Conference.
“Environmental Noise Impact from Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Equipment”, presented to the ASHRAE Hamilton Chapter in September 1995 and to the ASHRAE Toronto Chapter in February 1996.
“Improving the Accuracy of Duct Silencer Insertion Loss Predictions”, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol 169, No 3, 1994.
“High Temperature Effects on the Insertion Loss of Absorptive Duct Silencers”, Canadian Acoustics, September 1993, Vol.21, No 3.
“Comparison of Computational Methods for Rectangular Silencer Insertion Loss Prediction”, Canadian Acoustics, September 1991, Vol.19, No 4