Acoustic Walls - Absorption or Insultation?

Acoustic Absorption

Echoes and reverberation cause interference with the sound waves in your interior space, which if left unchecked will severely impact on the enjoyment of the occupants. This can be controlled by the use of acoustic walls and acoustic panels which are designed to absorb sound.

Acoustic walls can be highly decorative and contribute to many superb interiors. They can consist of inherently sound absorbent material, or utilise solid materials such as veneered timber-based boards manufactured with perforations. The proportion of perforation and the addition of further sound-absorbent insulation behind the panel will also contribute to the capacity of the acoustic wall to absorb sound, thus reducing reflected sound.

This provides greater auditory clarity, which benefits the users and occupants through better perception of the sound, e.g. speech and music. The intended use of the space will influence both the level of absorption required and where in the spectrum of frequencies it is desired, depending on the usage of the space.

Appropriate levels of acoustic absorption are recognised to be vital to the enjoyment of the working environment and are also instrumental in helping to contribute to better productivity, reduced staff fatigue and enhanced well-being.

Acoustic Insulation

This is primarily about limiting or preventing the transmission of noise into or out of the interior space, which can be intrusive and distracting for users.

Typically, the design of the building will include consideration of any potential noise sources, e.g. machinery that needs control both External (e.g. proximity of roads, railways etc), but also Internal (e.g. Music Venues, Recording Studios) where sound may cause a nuisance to neighbouring locations.

Is there a need for both Acoustic Absorption and Insulation?

Yes! A room could potentially be superbly isolated to reduce or eradicate the passage of sound into or out from it, yet, without effective control of internal reverberation the user experience will still be unsatisfactory at best and possibly even unpleasant.

Alternatively, the acoustic experience of a room with good control of echoes will also suffer if there is intrusive from noise of machinery from elsewhere.

Therefore, when selecting the right products for acoustic walls it is important to understand both the difference and the connection between these two separate elements of sound control and to get the right advice.

Vtec is an expert in providing modular and customisable acoustic walls and walling systems that provide effective reverberation control to suit your project's needs.

Please contact us on 03307 00 00 30. Our knowledgeable team will help you to:

• Achieve effective reverberation control
• Select the right system – that best suits your design and application
• Incorporate the right details into your specification
• incorporate complex integration requirements
• Achieve innovative solutions to design and installation challenges