Wall panels
Fabric-wrapped acoustical wall panels are ideal for areas that require noise reduction, such as schools, gymnasiums, corridors, churches, airports, restaurants, and offices. The choice of proper wall panels depends on the specifications for the project. There are wall panel options for everything from economical multi-purpose absorber panels to models featuring impact resistance for absorption and durability, along with composite options including both superior absorption and noise-blocking performance.
To achieve a custom look, there are also wood wall panels available in various finishes. These systems feature veneered acoustical treatments with perforations or grooves able to achieve a variety of NRC levels.
Ceiling tiles
Ceiling tiles are designed to acoustically treat and soundproof interior wall and ceiling spaces with reverberation problems. In cases where aesthetics are important, ceiling tiles can deliver customized options for satisfying both acoustical and design requirements, including cloth and wood finishes.
Acoustic ceiling tiles are available in many different facing and edge details—with standard or custom sizes—backed by barriers meeting high STC and NRC requirements. Standard and custom wood ceiling panels feature a genuine wood veneer on a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) substrate with a generic balancing veneer on the back side to help achieve a custom look without the custom price tag.
Floor underlayments
Acoustical floor underlayments are designed to mitigate foot fall or foot step noise between the floor and ceiling assembly. The higher-quality underlayments are typically designed and marketed by application as different floorcoverings require different underlayment needs. There are glue-down and floating floor options, and the composition of these product ranges from rubber to cork to substrates made up of recycled content. Acoustical floor underlayment’s can have the added value of insulation and can typically carry an R value.
Sound diffusers
Sound diffusers are perfect for projects requiring a high degree of sound diffusion, such as music rooms, band rooms, or concert halls. They are finely tuned to reflect sound and commonly come in barrel- or pyramid-shaped options. One should choose a diffuser constructed of high-strength, reinforced fiberglass molded into either a one-piece barrel or pyramid shape. When selecting among diffusers, it is important to look for lightweight options that are easy to install and available in different finishes, such as fabric coverings or gel-coat finishes.
Noise barriers
Noise barriers are designed to stop the passage of sound through walls, ceilings, and floors, making them suitable for construction projects involving hotels, classrooms, multi-unit residential buildings, or home theaters. While noise barriers come in a variety of forms, flexible solutions are the most versatile and cost-effective for reducing noise transmission, as they come in an easy to carry and customizable roll.
Before selecting a noise barrier, acoustical testing must be performed to ensure it meets the optimal sound requirements, an important first step when choosing any type of noise barrier—for walls, ceilings, and floors. Solutions with STC ratings up to 31 are available.
