Acoustic Panels Installed UK Wide

Acoustic panels is a very broad, catch all phrase which refers to sound absorbing materials that are added to a space to reduce reverberation and echo. The selection of products available can be overwhelming at times, and selecting the correct sound absorbing panels to suit your project is our specialty. Generally the most common variants used are acoustic wall panels and ceiling rafts.

Helping You Choose the Right Solution for Your Project

With so many types of material now on the market, choosing the right acoustic panels and products to improve your sound environment can be a minefield.

Whether your focus is aesthetics, functionality or budget, you will find some useful information here in this acoustic panels guide. From decorative acoustic wall art panels that serve as feature pieces, to discreet sound absorbing solutions tucked out of sight, the products displayed are manufactured from the highest quality materials and cover the full spectrum of interior acoustics. We often will recommend Class A acoustic wall panels or rafts, as this is the highest acoustic rating possible and will thus be the most effective. Timber wood slatted panels are also a stunning solution for a natural feel whilst still providing high absorption properties. Any space can benefit from acoustic treatment, and while most of our work is in commercial premises, we can also help improve the comfort of your home with our domestic acoustics solutions.

Our in-house team of highly skilled consultants, designers and installers are then here to help achieve your acoustic goals by specifying the right sound absorbing panels for you. No need to worry about where to install acoustic panels, how many you need or how to install them. We will manage the whole project, start to finish. We have a dedicated project management team that will ensure you are happy with the results before signing off for completion.

Important!…

Sound Absorption vs Soundproofing

All of the products in this guide should be used for controlling high room reverberation time (echo). Acoustic wall panels or sound absorption panels should not be used for reducing the transfer of sound escaping a room or combating ‘noisy neighbours’. An approximate cost to properly soundproof an average sized room in an the average home ranges from £2,000 to £3,000. Be careful not to waste your money on the wrong solution! For more information on domestic soundproofing visit here.

How Much Do Acoustic Panels Cost?

As with any interior finishing material, acoustic systems vary in cost considerably. What is interesting is that the higher performing (Class A absorption) products can be the most cost effective. The more design led architectural finishes tend to have a reduced acoustic performance. The total cost of an acoustic wall panel installation will also vary, depending on complexity of installation, quantity and waste. For the majority of the products on our website allow £120 per m2 to £250m2 (inclusive of materials and labour).

How do you install acoustic panels?

We strongly advise specialist installation of much of the systems in this guide. Our highly skilled fitters are experienced in the installation of every acoustic system we offer on this website. Our fitters have years’ of experience meaning we welcome even the most complex installations.

Some products are easy to install however, and we do offer a supply only option. Visit our online store SONIO.

Our Service Promise

Assessment

Our assessments involve a site visit from one of our specialist noise consultants to assess the space. This is followed by a comprehensive proposal, including a detailed acoustic design and a specification of recommended products. We provide all our clients with a calculated acoustic assessment, showing the existing pre-treated reverberation time and projected reverberation time after suggested treatments.

Supply & Installation

Our highly-skilled fitters are experienced in the installation of all acoustic systems, even the most complex. Some systems are more complicated than others and must be installed to exact manufacturer recommendations. That is why we ensure our fitters have had full installation training with every product we offer on this website. Our company has recently been awarded EPIC contractor status by Saint Gobain Ecophon. Our in-house health and safety programme ensures all of our fixers are fully trained, have the correct PPE equipment and are provided with method and risk assessments for every installation. Our team of asessors and installers include a certified IPAF specialist, all installers hold CSCS cards and we have a member of the team with full Asbestos Awareness Training.

Design & Planning

We work closely with our clients to create a design-led solution that either enhances a room’s aesthetics or blends into the existing decor. On the back of every noise assessment we carry out, we will provide a proposal that will include a high quality CAD drawing showing in detail the quantity and placement of acoustic products. Product images, technical information and acoustic performance ratings are also included in our plans. Our plans ensure that we have proposed the right products for the acoustic problem in your specific space. Our designers have unrivalled knowledge of all of the acoustic product systems in the marketplace. As with all of our preliminary services, our clients do not pay for our designs, it comes as part of the package.

Consultation

We won’t tell you that you have a problem with unwanted sound – we will tell you how to fix your problem in a way that suits your budget and complements your design requirements. We will propose the right solution, using the right products, showing you what it will look like and how much it will cost.

The Main Acoustic Panel Types

Acoustic Wall Panels

Click here for a wide range of fully tested sound absorbing wall panel products, from functional, to high-end, meaning you’ll be able to find a solution that suits your interior and budget. See further information below and advice below. Acoustic wall panels are just about the most commonly used treatment, combined with ceiling panels.

Hanging Acoustic Panels

Hanging acoustic panels provide excellent scope for a variety of design solutions. Typically installed on wires horizontally (rafts) or vertically (baffles), they absorb sound on all sides making them one of the most effective sound absorbing panels that are available.

Stretched Systems

Stretched Systems are site-manufactured acoustic systems combining high quality sound absorbing materials and a stretched fabric surface for a high quality decorative finish and amazing sound absorption for walls & ceilings.

Textured Wall Panels

Combine aesthetics and performance with Textured Wall Panels. 3D panels combine the best in noise diffusing material and give a textured finished that creates an architectural feature, whilst enhancing the soundscape of any space.

Printed Acoustic Panels

A great way to combine your sound control solutions with pieces of art, graphics and branding. Customise your acoustic wall panels and create a stunning feature whilst solving a problem.

Acoustic Screens

Acoustic screens are a great way to attractively divide work-spaces, whilst having the added benefit of reducing the propagation of sound through an open plan space. Easy to customise and re-locate.

Choosing the Right Acoustic Products for Your Room or Space

Every space is different. The choice of acoustic product or sound absorption panel is critical to ensuring the treatment is fit for purpose and will last.

Some spaces, such as sports halls require acoustic panelling which is impact resistant. Swimming pools must have panels that do not take on moisture and mould. School classrooms should have panels that absorb mid and high frequencies so that the teacher can be heard clearly for optimised learning. The quantity, type and position of the acoustic surfaces should all be taken into account. Below we look at the different types of spaces and what should be considered. You will find some simple information specific to your space and case studies to review.

More…

How Many Panels Do I Need?

The safest way to ensure that you have the correct amount of absorption in a space is to carry out a room acoustic assessment. We offer this service completely free of charge – either remotely, or by visiting site.

Where Should I Position the Panels?

The location of the panelling is very important. But this does not mean you necessarily need to relocate lighting and services. Clever positioning of panelling will mean we can avoid additional costs such as this.

When considering where to position panels try to treat more than one surface. They perform much better when they are spread out on multiple elevations of a room.

Panels should be installed on opposing walls to reduce slap back echo.

We should try and install wall panelling at the same level as the source of the sound. Head height when sitting down / standing up for example.

The corners of room are lively areas for sound reflection; distributing sound waves in many directions. Try and install panelling into the corners of rooms.

What Are Acoustic Panels Made Of?

There are many more materials being used to create acoustic products and sound absorption panels that there has ever been.

Traditional acoustic panels tend to made using a glass fibre or mineral fibre core which is then wrapped or faced with a breathable surface, such as fabric. Remember it is always that core of the product that is doing the work!. In the case of fabric wrapped or stretched panels – the fabric is only really there as the decorative surface – fabrics should be chosen that can allow the sound waves through them, to be absorbed by the ‘core’.

More recently we have seen an influx of ‘PET’ which is essentially polyester fibre created from plastic. The good PET product manufacturers use a high content of recycled plastic (normally from post-consumer plastic bottles).

Other materials include ‘woodwool’ which is a mix of cement and recycled wood chip. There are also felt, cork, paper, wool, PVC and rockwool based products on the market.

Sustainability

If the acoustic quality of an environment is poor, making it stressful and uncomfortable to use then it cannot be called a ‘sustainable space’. Well designed and implemented acoustics positively benefits the health and well-being of every individual. All worthwhile acoustic materials should have a high recyclable content and be 100% recyclable. Always ask the questions, and review the product data sheets to be sure of product environmental credentials. There should never need to be an environmental compromise when selecting acoustic solutions. In contrast, acoustics can form an important part of attaining the very highest interior sustainability criteria – such as BREEAM ‘Excellent’ or ‘Outstanding’.

Offices

Office Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Office Acoustics

Schools

School Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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School Acoustics

Meeting Rooms

Meeting Room Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Meeting Room Acoustics

Classrooms

Classroom Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Classroom Acoustics

Village Halls

Village Hall Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Village Hall Acoustics

Sports Halls

Sports Hall Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Sports Hall Acoustics

Restaurants

Restaurant Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Restaurant Acoustics

Church Halls

Worship Space Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Church Hall Acoustics

Industrial

Industrial Space Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Industrial Acoustics

Swimming Pools

Swimming Pool Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Swimming Pool Acoustics

Libraries

Library Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Library Acoustics

Cinema

Cinema & Auditorium Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Cinema Acoustics

Studio

Studio Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Studio Acoustics

Healthcare

Healthcare Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Healthcare Acoustics

Museums

Museum Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Museum Acoustics

Domestic

Domestic Acoustics Information & Case Studies

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Residential Acoustics

Tips For Choosing Products In Your Space

Top Tips for Choosing Acoustic Products for the Office

Open plan offices with hard surfaces – especially those with exposed concrete soffits can be very uncomfortable. If the type of work is quite noisy, i.e there is a lot of phone activity such as in call centres it can be very difficult to resolve the problem without a full consultation and assessment of the space. Don’t commit to spending money on acoustic treatment until you are 100% satisfied the solution will meet your expectations. Also remember that low level ‘acoustic desk screens’ tend to be highly ineffective and costly. Absolutely the best way of resolving open plan office noise issues is to treat the ceiling with acoustic baffles or rafts. We won’t recommend a specific product here because design will be a key driver. Please visit our ‘ACOUSTIC CEILING BAFFLES’ page for more information.

If you, or your staff are complaining of being distracted at work – please consider that this could be because the noise levels in your office are too low!. Acoustic panels alone will not resolve the issue of low ambient noise levels. If ambient noise levels are too low, this often means that employees can be distracted by noise that has been created from far away. Conversations can be heard clearly and there is a lack of speech privacy. It may be counter intuitive, but very quiet offices can be extremely distracting and unproductive. Distraction distances need to be reduced. Consider a consultation and the implementation of a ‘SOUND MASKING‘ system.

Top Tips for Choosing Acoustic Products for the Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms, particularly those which use audio visual equipment quite often suffer from poor acoustics. For more information on this, please visit this post > ‘AV Room Acoustics‘. Our favourite products for meeting rooms are stretched fabric systems by ‘FABRIC WALL‘, with thousands of fabric choices, this specialist site built system is ideal for cellular office and all types of meeting room. For ceiling, we recommend acoustic baffles by Autex called ‘FRONTIER‘. Both offer that extra level of design and quality.

Tip!: Remember that if you are having issues with sound ‘leakage’ (unwanted sound that is transferring between rooms), then sound absorption products are not the best solution to the problem. Consider having site sound testing done – which will show you where the problem is. ‘SOUND MASKING‘, will always resolve the problem of a lack of privacy between rooms.

Top Tips for Choosing Acoustic Products for Schools

School classrooms need wall space for displaying the work of the children. A brilliant acoustic panel product by Autex called ‘COMPOSITION‘ is perfect for displaying work because it is pinnable. We have used this product in many schools. It is relatively low cost and it is durable. Available in lots of vibrant colours, it is a great alternative to simply painting the classroom walls. The product is only 12mm thick so we recommend full wall covering. It is likely further acoustic treatment will be required to the ceiling to achieve the recommended reverberation times as set out in BB93. This product is now commonly specified by architects for new school projects.

No school classroom should have poor acoustics. If the class is too noisy and this is causing the teacher difficulty in managing the class – then there is an acoustic problem that needs resolving. The most cost effective way to deaden sound in an existing classroom with poor acoustics is to install sound absorbing acoustic ceiling rafts suspended from the ceiling. We recommend the product range ‘SOLO‘ by Ecophon. The right amount of panels installed makes an incredible difference to the noise levels in the room.

If the ceiling level is too low to install suspended acoustic panels and the walls are ‘too busy’ to install products there – then we suggest installing Class A acoustic wall panelling on the walls at high level, or, if there is an existing ceiling grid with tiles – get these replaced with Class A acoustic ceiling tiles. Ecophon ‘ADVANTAGE‘ tiles are a great solution and this can be done by school maintenance teams.

Some of the noisiest spaces in schools are the sports halls, assembly halls, school dining and circulation areas. Because of the size of these areas a lot of treatment is required, so it can be important to choose a product which is cost effective but also is highly effective. Impact resistance, especially in halls with hard ball sport is critical. Don’t use fabric wrapped products in these areas!. We find that the most effective and affordable solution is the impact resistant wall panelling system called ‘SUPER G‘, manufactured by Ecophon. The panelling surface is made from woven glass fibre and is very strong. The system absorbs over 90% of sound.

Top Tips for Choosing Acoustic Products for Village & Church Halls

We have completed over 100 village and worship hall acoustic treatments. The reality is that these premises tend to be used by older people on average; and we know that older people often have issues with their hearing. Large empty halls without acoustic treatment are highly reverberant and this can play havoc with the ability for somebody with impaired hearing to clearly hear normal conversations. Added to that, village halls are often used for noisy children’s parties or classes such as the ever popular Zumba!. These events can be uncomfortable to the adults and in many cases mean they won’t book again. Village halls now rely on this income – so acoustics are so important. The good news is that the problem can ALWAYS be resolved and it does not need to be too expensive. The average cost for a full village hall acoustic treatment is typically between £3,000 – £6,000. We have used may products – but most often we use ‘SOLO‘ ceiling panels by Ecophon for their effectiveness and discreet design.

Tip!: Never go ahead with a hall acoustic treatment if the products being proposed are not properly tested and have laboratory test data to prove it (Class A ideally).

Top Tips for Choosing Acoustic Products for Swimming Pools

The key word here is ‘non-hygrosopic’, which means ‘having little or no tendency to absorb moisture’. Swimming pools can be noisy spaces and benefit greatly from acoustic treatment, dramatically improving the comfort of these much loved leisure spaces. Upholstery fabric wrapped panels will eventually de-laminate and are susceptible to mould. UPVC stretched ceilings with micro-perforated surfaces are ideal for swimming pools. Consider a ‘CLIPSO’ stretched ceiling. Alternatively PET (polyester fibre) panels by ‘AUTEX‘ are a great option.

Tip!: Swimming pools require a specialist installation – any metal components for fixing must meet a strict criteria as they will, in time, corrode in chlorinated environments. Seek specialist advice.