It’s a noisy old world, isn’t it! While some sounds might be harmonious such as birdsong and music, noise from machinery, motorways, industrial sites and even loud voices is more often than not disturbing, distracting and can have a detrimental effect on everyday living.
Luckily, there are solutions to minimise the sounds we’d prefer not to hear. As specialists in the sound control sector, we’re often asked about these acoustic treatments, especially how to install acoustic panels and how they work.
The primary function of acoustic panels is to act as a noise barrier to control and improve the sound quality within an environment. Most of the time, acoustic panels are used to absorb noise and reverberation generated through hard surfaces and windows commonly found in modern buildings.
Acting as a defence to reduce and dull such noises, acoustic panels can be attached to walls or suspended horizontally or vertically from ceilings via cable systems in a variety of rooms.
Designed to combat reverberation, acoustic panels which are hung vertically are known as acoustic baffles. Acoustic baffles can also take the shape of smaller, individual raft panels, hung horizontally from the ceiling over a specific working area.
Raft-style acoustic baffles are highly versatile – we can easily manufacture them in various shapes, sizes and colours with some systems designed with built-in lighting.
Raft panels are specially designed to offer greater sound absorption over a wide range of frequencies. In all instances, acoustic baffles offer an economical alternative to a full suspended ceiling and can enhance and harmonise with all kinds of interior spaces.
You can use free-hanging raft panels to improve the performance of existing acoustic ceilings in a room. These are often installed as part of an original building, such as in busy restaurants, theatres, shopping centres and workplaces.
In these environments, acoustic panel use results in greater speech and listening comfort, reduced levels of stress, less vocal effort and improved levels of concentration. What’s more, for the best results, you can of course install both acoustic wall panels and ceiling raft panels together to create a near perfect acoustic space!
For busy environments such as offices and call centres, combining acoustic panels and raft panels like this is a very effective antidote to overlapping voices which can have a negative impact on performance, productivity and all round comfort.
Take a look at how Sound Control Services have successfully installed acoustic ceiling rafts and acoustic baffles in teaching and learning environments, including Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and at Falmouth University.
Not only did this reduce reverberation, it improved acoustic comfort for both students and staff. You can see more examples of how we’ve made a real difference to indoor and outdoor environments in our Portfolio.
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Acoustic panels and baffles are made of various materials – depending on the required level of noise reduction and where they’re being used.
The two most common types of acoustic panels are made of foam and high-density glass fibre. Generally, acoustic panels and baffles made of glass fibre have better sound proofing qualities.
In most cases, we can customise acoustic panels by shape, size and colour to complement existing interior designs, even when retrofitted.
Acoustic panels made of glass fibre are usually encapsulated in a durable fabric that has been tested acoustically for its ability to allow sound to pass through it and be absorbed by the panel behind.
Glass fibre panels are available in different densities – the denser the fibre, the better its ability to absorb low frequency noise and reduce reverberation.
Panels made of foam, while less expensive to buy and lighter in weight, are mostly left plain without having a fabric wrap. Some lower cost foam sound baffles are manufactured using cheap furniture foam.
By nature, this foam is far less effective, only capable of absorbing noise around a limited frequency band. It’s also less aesthetically pleasing and is UV sensitive, which means its colour tends to degrade over time. However, when attached to a wall, foam also has a thermal effect, much like foam in cavity wall insulation.
You’ll find a superior range of foam-based acoustic panels at Sound Control Services, ready for any kind of sound-absorption challenge! All our foams are industrial grade and are regularly specified by architects and consultants.
You have a choice of methods for installing these acoustic treatments. For example, if you choose lightweight foam panels, these can be simply stuck to a wall using a powerful contact adhesive, making the installation virtually permanent.
Glass fibre panels, on the other hand, are mounted using ‘z’ clips or Velcro®, allowing them to be easily fixed and removed for cleaning or repositioning as necessary.
This isn’t something you need to tackle yourself. We have our own professional, fully experienced team ready to install acoustic and sound-proofing systems throughout the UK and worldwide. Just get in touch.
As expert manufacturers and suppliers of acoustic panels, Sound Control Services guarantees that all products are fully compliant with Health & Safety, Fire regulations and other industrial standards.
As well as regular acoustic panels, we also design and manufacture a range of specialist products to meet the demands of harder-working environments. In Carlsberg’s new UK Bottling Plant, for instance, we installed over 2500 hygienic baffles to absorb glass-on-glass clattering from the factory. With a wipe-clean, moisture-resistant finish, hygienic baffles are the product of choice for environments where food and beverages are prepared, such as kitchens and restaurants.
If you’re looking to improve the acoustics in your home, office, retail premises, educational establishment, village hall or entertainment venue, contact us today for a free survey and find out how we can help you keep the noise down wherever you study, work or relax.
Sound Control Services Ltd
Scalford Station
Melton Road, Scalford
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire
LE14 4UD
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