diff --git a/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/init.lua b/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dcad735d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+lzr_effects_limiter = {}
+
+local active_effects = {}
+
+local registered_effects = {}
+
+lzr_effects_limiter.register_effect = function(effect_id, def)
+	registered_effects[effect_id] = {
+		duration = math.ceil(def.duration * 1000000),
+		max_count = def.max_count,
+	}
+	active_effects[effect_id] = {}
+end
+
+lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect = function(effect_id)
+	local time = minetest.get_us_time()
+	table.insert(active_effects[effect_id], time)
+end
+
+local remove_expired_effects = function(effect_id)
+	local time = minetest.get_us_time()
+	local effects = active_effects[effect_id]
+	if #effects == 0 then
+		return
+	end
+	local duration = registered_effects[effect_id].duration
+	local remove = {}
+	for e=1, #effects do
+		local effect_time = effects[e]
+		if time >= effect_time + duration then
+			table.insert(remove, e)
+		end
+	end
+	for r=1, #remove do
+		table.remove(active_effects[effect_id], r)
+	end
+end
+
+lzr_effects_limiter.can_add_effect = function(effect_id)
+	remove_expired_effects(effect_id)
+	if #active_effects[effect_id] > registered_effects[effect_id].max_count then
+		return false
+	else
+		return true
+	end
+end
+
+lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect_if_possible = function(effect_id)
+	if lzr_effects_limiter.can_add_effect(effect_id) then
+		lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect(effect_id)
+		return true
+	else
+		return false
+	end
+end
diff --git a/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/mod.conf b/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/mod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..24bf0dc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/lzr_effects_limiter/mod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+name = lzr_effects_limiter
+description = Functions to limit the number of simultaneous sounds and particles for better performance
diff --git a/mods/lzr_laser/blocks_util.lua b/mods/lzr_laser/blocks_util.lua
index 9b36705b..7d194ca3 100644
--- a/mods/lzr_laser/blocks_util.lua
+++ b/mods/lzr_laser/blocks_util.lua
@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ local pick_n_of_m = function(n, m)
 	return ret
 end
 
+lzr_effects_limiter.register_effect("barricade_burn_or_break", { duration = 0.8, max_count = 20 })
+lzr_effects_limiter.register_effect("bomb_explode", { duration = 0.3, max_count = 16 })
+
 lzr_laser.burn_and_destroy = function(nodes_to_remove)
 
 	minetest.bulk_set_node(nodes_to_remove.barricades, {name="air"})
@@ -340,10 +343,6 @@ lzr_laser.burn_and_destroy = function(nodes_to_remove)
 		vector.new(0,0,1),
 	}
 
-	-- Limit number of burn sounds to play at once to prevent
-	-- the sound library to run out of memory
-	local burn_sounds = 0
-
 	-- Burn up barricades. A burned-up barricade does:
 	-- * get destroyed
 	-- * create an audiovisual effect (fire and break sound)
@@ -379,8 +378,10 @@ lzr_laser.burn_and_destroy = function(nodes_to_remove)
 
 		-- Play randomly-pitched break sound
 		if play_sounds_at == true or play_sounds_at[r] then
-			local pitch = 1.0+math.random(-100, 100)*0.001 -- 0.9..1.1
-			minetest.sound_play({name="lzr_laser_barricade_break", gain=1.0}, {gain=1.0, pitch=pitch, pos=rpos}, true)
+			if lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect_if_possible("barricade_burn_or_break") then
+				local pitch = 1.0+math.random(-100, 100)*0.001 -- 0.9..1.1
+				minetest.sound_play({name="lzr_laser_barricade_break", gain=1.0}, {gain=1.0, pitch=pitch, pos=rpos}, true)
+			end
 		end
 
 		-- propagate fire to neighbors
@@ -393,9 +394,10 @@ lzr_laser.burn_and_destroy = function(nodes_to_remove)
 				if minetest.get_item_group(node.name, "flammable") == 1 then
 					minetest.set_node(ppos, {name=def._lzr_active, param2=node.param2})
 					if def._lzr_active == "lzr_laser:barricade_on" then
-						if (play_sounds_at == true or play_sounds_at[r]) and burn_sounds < lzr_globals.MAX_DESTROY_SOUNDS_AT_ONCE then
-							minetest.sound_play({name="lzr_laser_quickburn", gain=1.0}, {pos=ppos}, true)
-							burn_sounds = burn_sounds + 1
+						if (play_sounds_at == true or play_sounds_at[r]) then
+							if lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect_if_possible("barricade_burn_or_break") then
+								minetest.sound_play({name="lzr_laser_quickburn", gain=1.0}, {pos=ppos}, true)
+							end
 						end
 						table.insert(ignited_barricades, ppos)
 					end
@@ -434,9 +436,11 @@ lzr_laser.burn_and_destroy = function(nodes_to_remove)
 
 		-- explosion effect (but not too many at once)
 		if bomb_effects_at == true or bomb_effects_at[r] then
-			-- node table for particle
-			local bomb_node = { name = "lzr_laser:bomb_takable" }
-			lzr_laser.bomb_explosion_audiovisuals(rpos, bomb_node)
+			if lzr_effects_limiter.add_effect_if_possible("bomb_explode") then
+				-- node table for particle
+				local bomb_node = { name = "lzr_laser:bomb_takable" }
+				lzr_laser.bomb_explosion_audiovisuals(rpos, bomb_node)
+			end
 		end
 
 		-- destroy nodes and deal player damage
diff --git a/mods/lzr_laser/mod.conf b/mods/lzr_laser/mod.conf
index 99552d97..b4bc9fd5 100644
--- a/mods/lzr_laser/mod.conf
+++ b/mods/lzr_laser/mod.conf
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 name = lzr_laser
-depends = lzr_globals, lzr_gamestate, lzr_sounds, lzr_util, lzr_triggers, lzr_slowdown, lzr_damage
+depends = lzr_globals, lzr_gamestate, lzr_sounds, lzr_util, lzr_triggers, lzr_slowdown, lzr_damage, lzr_effects_limiter