Collection: Acoustic Wall Panels - Some Guidance

Acoustic wall panels come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, thicknesses and are made from a variety of materials.

We work with all the leading acoustic panel manufacturers offering a selection which can improve the acoustics of any loud or reverberant space.

Acoustic panels work by allowing sound into their porous interior converting some of the sound into heat. Some of the remaining sound waves are reflected from the back wall which are absorbed by the panel. Some waves will likely travel through the wall into an adjacent space.

Acoustic panels are light and are generally made from either foam, glass/rock wool or recycled plastic bottles (PET).

There are a range of options when it comes to sustainability credentials. Autex Acoustics offer a Carbon Neutral acoustic solution. As a company they utilise their own bottle recycling facility, taking thousands of bottles out of landfill on a daily basis

BAUX, a Swedish based manufacturer, have their own forest from which they make their wood wool acoustic panels. As they work towards Carbon Neutrality, they are popular choice for the environmentally conscious.

Autex Groove Acoustic Wall Panel made from recycled plastic bottles

How to choose the right acoustic panel

With so many options, it can be difficult to know which panel is best for your needs.

As a rule of thumb, thicker panels will absorb more sound and offer a high NRC (this means noise reduction coefficient. A number between 0 and 1 where 1 is 100% absorption). Panels range from 0.20 to around an NRC of 1.

We can help you determine how many panels you’ll need for each type. Just get in touch and let us know the dimensions and use of the space and we will happily recommend some products for you

Where to put acoustic panels

We always recommend treating two non-parallel surfaces (so the ceiling and a wall, an end wall and a side wall etc.). Sound waves travelling between surfaces are absorbed more effectively this way. By treating a third surface you can also increase the efficacy of the treatment

Do acoustic panels help with noise 

Although acoustic panels will do next to nothing to stop sound leaving a room, they can be used to reduce the dB level within a particularly noisy room. For every doubling of acoustic absorption in m2, you will achieve a reduction of 3dB in the space. 3dB is certainly noticeable. It is worth noting that if you wish to achieve a large dB reduction, this is not a practical method; to make a 15 dB reduction would you require 40 times the amount of absorption you started with.