How does acoustic insulation work?
Sound travels in waves. To prevent sound from easily passing through surfaces, it needs interrupting, and the best way to do that is with materials that don’t let the sound waves pass through or bounce off them. Some materials are better at that job than others – which is why an empty room echoes (because there’s little to absorb the sound) and a room that’s full of curtains, carpets and other soft furnishings doesn’t.
Acoustic insulation uses acoustic mineral wool to inhibit the transmission or reverberation of sound waves. That means you’ll experience less echo within a room, and less sound will escape it.
How do I install acoustic insulation pads?
Simply place a pad above each tile in your suspended ceiling. It’s quick and easy to do, and as the pads are lightweight they won’t damage the ceiling.
How many insulation pads do I need?
Assuming your tiles are 600mm x 600mm, just count the tiles – you’ll need one for each. Remember that if your ceiling includes ‘double size’ tiles of 1200mm x 600mm, you’ll need two packs per tile.
Know the dimensions of your room? Make ordering even easier with our acoustic insulation pad kits.
Do I need to cover the entire ceiling with insulation pads?
Ideally, yes. Look at it this way: a single pad’s acoustic insulation properties are far higher than, for example, the carpet you fit in the room. But a carpet covers the entire room which is why it appears so effective at dampening sound. Unless you do the same with the ceiling, it can’t deliver optimal insulation.
Will an acoustic insulation pad deliver thermal insulation?
Yes. Almost any material you place on your suspended ceiling will help provide some level of thermal insulation to the area below. And every insulation pad will offer some degree of acoustic dampening. The key question in determining what sort of insulation pads you need is what is the main reason for installing them?
Acoustic mineral wool is specifically designed to address noise transmission. Its thermal capabilities are secondary and, if energy saving is your prime goal, a thermal insulation pad would be the better bet. Conversely, a thermal insulation pad will offer some level of acoustic insulation, but an insulation pad designed specifically for the job will always do it better. So where acoustic performance is your prime concern, choose an acoustic pad.
One reply on “Acoustic Insulation Pads FAQs”
What thickness acoustic insulation pad would be required to achieve a 30dB rating when placed over a Rockfon Artic 15mm ceiling tile please. I have an area of approximately 400m2 that may be required.