What are the types of sound-absorbing screens?
We sell a wide variety of different sound absorbing screens and panels, each style effective in its own way. The kind of screen or panel you choose will depend upon your location, requirements and budget. Here are some examples of the different styles of acoustic panels that we sell:
Free Standing Acoustic Screens - sound-absorbing screen dividers in a range of shapes and sizes that stand alone with no wall or desk fixing require
Premium Acoustic Partitions - thicker, more luxurious sound-absorbing screens with a carcass construction for more effective soundproofing
Acoustic Screens For Desk - desktop sound absorption panels which can be fixed securely to a desktop, ideal for minimising noise on busy desk banks
Acoustic Meeting Pods - arranged from a combination of curved sound-absorbing screens, these kits create mini rooms or s-shaped dividers to offer meeting spaces on open-plan rooms
Acoustic Wall Panels - these flat panels can be fixed to walls or ceilings to offer subtle, space-saving sound absorption
What material is used for soundproofing?
Acoustic wall panels and screens are made of board, covered with a layer of insulating, acoustic foam and finished with a choice of fabric. They are typically available in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes. They are designed to prevent sound echoing around a large room, offering a quieter and more peaceful working environment.
How do sound absorption panels work?
Modern sound-absorbing panels and screens are specifically designed to reduce the amount that sound can reverberate* around a space, so they can make a significant impact when it comes to minimising noise in a large room or office.
Home environments typically experience less echoing than office or commercial spaces; this is thanks to the amount of soft furnishings such as carpets, curtains, sofas, cushions etc. Sound absorbing screens and panels can replicate the effect of soft furnishings to create a quieter space.
Contemporary workplaces usually produce multiple sources of distracting sounds which can reverberate around a space. These can vary from human-made sounds such as employees chatting or taking phone calls, to machine noises from printers or coffee makers. Studies have shown that sound absorption screens and panels can slow reverberation time* by up to 70%, helping to dramatically reduce noise pollution in the workplace.
The effectiveness of all modern acoustic panels or partitions is measured using an NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) number. The NRC is an average rating of how much sound an acoustic product can absorb; for example, an NRC of 0 means that the product absorbs no sound, whereas an NRC of 1 means that the product absorbs all sound. The higher the NRC, the better the product is at soaking up the sound. Our sound absorbing wall panels, for example, have an average NRC of 0.43 (based upon test reports 1306-1040 to 1042 and C/23213/T01).
Research suggests that an empty room, measuring 3m x 4m x H2m, will have an average reverberation time of 1.0 second. Covering 60% of the room’s walls in 40mm-thick acoustic wall panels (with a NRC of 0.55) reduces the reverberation time to 0.5 seconds, for a 50% reduction. Installing 64mm-thick acoustic wall panels (with a NRC of 0.90) across 60% of the room’s walls will reduce the reverberation time to 0.3 seconds - this is a 70% reduction.