Sustainable noise protection

100 % ecologically minded

Quick assembly

Stable, flexible, economical

Low-maintenance systems

Without constant irrigation

Innovative solutions

Can also be combined with photovoltaics

Innsbruck is located in the Inn Valley funnel between the Karwendel and Tux Alps – a topography that wedges the city between mountain ranges and creates special acoustic properties. Sound is retained for longer in this valley location and can spread far along the valley axis. Added to this is the acoustically dominant location on the Brenner corridor: the A12 Inntal highway runs through the city area, the A13 Brenner highway begins in the south and is the central transit axis between northern Europe and Italy. Anyone living in Pradl, Reichenau or Hötting is familiar with the mixture of highway, railroad and inner-city traffic noise. In the higher districts such as Igls, Aldrans or Mutters, the direct traffic noise from the valley predominates. At RAU.bayern, we supply noise barriers from the Allgäu to Innsbruck and the surrounding Tyrolean region – to private developers, residential developers, commercial enterprises, hotels and municipal clients. Our focus is on green noise protection systems that do more than just absorb noise: they blend in better with the Alpine landscape and bring vegetation into the city. We advise you personally on site, check the topography and noise situation and develop a proposal that really suits the location.

Your advantages at a glance.
  • Up to 12 m height
  • Without deep foundation
  • Quick assembly
  • Economic implementation
  • Greenable
  • Flexible lines
  • Suitable for tight spaces
  • Durable and robust

Brenner transit and Inn Valley topography - Innsbruck's acoustic peculiarity

Few cities in Europe have a similar noise situation to Innsbruck. The city lies in a basin that traps noise; the A13 Brenner highway is one of the most important north-south axes in Europe, with a particularly high proportion of heavy traffic during the peak season. The A12 Inntalautobahn runs north parallel to the Inn through the city area, and the Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof railroad junction is a central point in transalpine rail traffic.

The valley location has two acoustic consequences. Firstly, in inversion weather conditions – which are frequent in the Inn Valley – sound is not dissipated upwards but remains at the bottom of the valley. Secondly, the valley slopes become natural reflectors that reflect the noise back into lower-lying residential areas. Both mean that a purely standard solution in Innsbruck is often not sufficient.

Our RAU systems are designed to absorb a broad frequency spectrum – not to reflect it. This is particularly important in Innsbruck because reflective walls can inadvertently direct sound into other residential areas. For locations in the direct vicinity of the A13 or A12 – for example in Wilten, Pradl or along the Inn – we are typically talking about wall heights of between 4 and 5 meters. For inner-city locations along the main traffic axes, two to three meters are often sufficient, provided the wall is strategically positioned.

For higher locations on the valley slope – Hötting, Mühlau, Arzl – the specific topography is an additional factor. Here, lower but strategically placed walls in combination with structural measures on the building itself often help. We examine the situation on site, talk about the expected effects and also honestly state the limits. Sometimes the wall alone is not enough, but must be combined with additional measures.

Gallery:

Getting to Innsbruck - the direct Allgäu route over the Fernpass

It is around 140 kilometers from Kaufbeuren to Innsbruck. The direct route leads via the B16 and B17 to Füssen, then via Reutte and the Fernpass to Imst and onto the A12 Inntalautobahn. Alternatively, there is a longer route via Munich and the A95/A93 via Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Both routes take around one and a half to two hours by truck, making Innsbruck one of the closest major Austrian cities to us. Deliveries can be planned at short notice and on a daily basis.

In Innsbruck itself, the A12 junctions Innsbruck-Mitte, Innsbruck-Ost and Innsbruck-West are the most important access points to the city area. For addresses on the southern outskirts of the city or in the low mountain range, we use the A13 junctions. We reach inner-city addresses, for example in the old town or in the narrow streets around the Golden Roof, with smaller vehicles and, if necessary, with deliveries outside peak traffic times. In the Olympic grounds and in the sports venue areas at Bergisel, we coordinate the logistics with the respective responsible parties.

For installation, we have partner companies in Tyrol who are familiar with the alpine conditions, the Tyrolean building regulations and the often limited accessibility of mining sites. For smaller projects, we bring our own fitters from the Allgäu – the short journey time often allows us to do this on the same day. For larger projects, such as noise protection structures along the A13 or in Tyrolean industrial estates, we coordinate with local construction companies. You always have a contact person at RAU.bayern who knows the system and accompanies the project from planning to commissioning. The proximity between Kaufbeuren and Innsbruck is a practical advantage that also pays off if service is required at a later date.

FAQs:

Heavy traffic over the Brenner Pass mainly generates low-frequency noise, often with additional impulses from uphill and downhill driving. A correctly dimensioned noise barrier between 4 and 5 meters high, with an absorbent surface, can reduce the level at the point of immission by 10 to 15 decibels. With permanent exposure – and this is the case at Brenner – this makes a significant difference to everyday life. We check on site whether ASFINAG protective structures are already effective at your location or whether a separate wall is necessary.

The Tyrolean building regulations apply in Tyrol. Walls up to a height of around 2 meters are in many cases subject to registration, higher constructions require approval. In addition, there are often requirements from the local development plan and – in the case of visible locations – from Tyrolean nature conservation law and the Tyrolean building regulations with regard to the landscape. In Innsbruck’s city center, there are additional design requirements. We recommend early coordination with the responsible building authority and provide you with the technical documentation.

Innsbruck itself is located on the valley floor, where avalanche loads are generally not relevant. For locations at higher altitudes – for example in Igls, Mutters or the surrounding ski resorts – we take into account the locally applicable snow loads in accordance with Austrian standards. If there is a risk of avalanches, a noise barrier alone is not sufficient protection; in such cases, we will talk to you about combined solutions with avalanche barriers or other supplementary measures. Our walls are statically calculated for the loads relevant to the respective location.

Yes, Innsbruck’s sunlight is intense – especially in summer and with clear mountain air – which is a challenge for planting. We choose dry and sun-loving plants for Tyrolean locations, supplemented by shade-tolerant species for the areas near the walls. Integrated irrigation is usually a good idea because it cushions dry phases. In the first two years, the maintenance requirements are somewhat higher, after which the plants level out. We discuss the choice of plants in relation to your specific location – slope, direction, shade.

In principle, yes, as long as the weather permits foundation and installation work. In snowy winters, there are practical reasons for postponing the main work until spring or fall. In the case of industrial orders or deadline pressure, we can also work in winter with heated foundations or pre-assembled elements. We usually plant green elements in spring or fall, as this is when plants grow best. We plan the stages together with you to ensure that the wall takes effect at the right time.

Sloping sites are somewhat more expensive than flat sites because the foundation has to be staggered or designed with additional support elements. As a rough guide: depending on the height and length, a green absorbent wall on a slope costs in the mid to high three-digit euro range per running meter, plus foundation and installation. In the case of particularly steep sites or difficult accessibility, logistics costs are added. After an on-site appointment, we will provide you with a concrete offer in which all items are listed transparently.