Factors Influencing the Performance of Commercial Acoustic Panels

Posted on: 28 September 2020

The use of acoustic panels as sound treatment systems for commercial establishments such as open-space offices, restaurants, movie theatres, and conference rooms is commonplace. These panels work by absorbing sound waves in noisy areas to mitigate noise and improve the overall quality of indoor sound. 

If you're currently in the market for acoustic panels for your commercial space, you should understand that not all panels are created equal. As a result, acoustic performance may vary from product to product.

Here are some key aspects that influence the performance of acoustic panelling. 

The composition and structure of acoustic panels.

An acoustic panel typically comprises two main parts: a sound-absorbing material for acoustic purposes and a fabric cover for aesthetics. There is a variety of sound-absorbent materials that can be used to make acoustic panels.

Some common types of materials you can expect to find behind the fabric covers of acoustic panels include fibreglass, mineral fibreboard, mass-loaded vinyl, cotton batts and rock wool. 

Each material has unique soundproofing properties, which impact their treatment of sound. When you're shopping for acoustic panels for your commercial space, it's important to determine the appropriate composition and structure for your panels.

Check the manufacturer's labelling for noise reduction coefficient (NRC) rating to find out how effective an acoustic panelling product is at combatting noise.

The thickness of acoustic panels.

Panel thickness is another important factor that can affect the performance of your commercial acoustic panels. Acoustic panels come in a range of thicknesses to suit different needs. Generally speaking, thicker panels provide superior acoustic performance because they broaden the absorption rate of sound waves, thus mitigating more noise.

The mass or density of acoustic panels.

All acoustic panels have density specifications. The higher the density of a panel, the heavier it is. Higher-density panels typically provide superior noise control than low-density products even when the composition and thickness of acoustic panels are similar.

Low-density panels, which can be quite light and soft, should be used only in applications where disruption from noise is minimal.

The size of acoustic panels.

Acoustic panels aren't just available in multiple thicknesses and densities but multiple sizes as well. Larger panels will deliver superior acoustic performance because they cover a wider area and come into contact with more sound waves compared to smaller panels. 

Before installing any acoustic panelling products in your commercial space, you should have an acoustics engineer or consultant come to your business premises to assess your soundproofing and acoustics needs.

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Hello, my name is Lisa and this is my blog. I live in Perth, Australia and for the past two years, I have been working on my home to improve it. My husband works away a lot, so the upkeep of the family home is completely in my hands. At first, I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Thankfully, my brother works as a contractor and knows about electrical wiring, plumbing and general construction. He gave me some great advice so I decided to start this blog so I could pass on his wisdom to others. I hope you enjoy my blog.

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