# What is this thing? (huge muffler outside an industrial building?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340 "2025-10-27T20:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340/1 "2025-10-27T20:09:25Z")
Does anybody know what [this thing](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9326232,-77.238817,3a,25.2y,230.3h,91.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1pxT_hvHbZ31XgxQ69BHTA!2e0!6shttps:%252F%252Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%252Fv1%252Fthumbnail%253Fcb_client%253Dmaps_sv.tactile%2526w%253D900%2526h%253D600%2526pitch%253D-1.387570947102418%2526panoid%253D1pxT_hvHbZ31XgxQ69BHTA%2526yaw%253D230.30075289574705!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%253D%253D) is? It looks like a huge vehicle muffler. The building appears to be leased to Verizon, but that could be the suite next door, it’s unclear. There is another unit just like it a few yards down. I would assume that they were auxiliary HVAC units, but they don’t appear to be attached to the building, just next to it in the parking lot. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340/2 "2025-10-27T20:13:40Z")
My guess is that it _is_ a muffler sitting on top of a backup generator. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340/3 "2025-10-27T20:15:21Z")
What Dewey said. > **[Generator Silencers: Types and Sound Ratings - Generator Source](https://generatorsource.com/generator-components/generator-silencers/)** > > Reduce generator noise and emissions with silencers. Explore reactive, absorptive, and catalytic types, and understand EGSA ratings for optimal sound attenuation. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340/4 "2025-10-27T20:31:43Z")
Yep. The gray box the rusty muffler is sitting on contains a diesel engine & generator. The louvers on the end correspond to the front grill on a car. There’s a big intake fan & coolant radiator right behind those louvers. Bog standard istallation at nearly any big building. If you have computers or elevators you need a generator like that. Likewise most buildings big enough to have central fire alarms. That stuff needs power any time the building is occupied. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340/5 "2025-10-28T00:45:13Z")
Thanks, all!