Sound Foam Panels
High Performance Acoustic Foam
The most cost effective method for controlling unwanted sound wave reflections in a room is to apply thick sound foam panels around the room's perimeter. As the sound waves enter the foam, the pores accept the energy and begin to vibrate. This conducts low grade heat, which means the sound energy is converting to kinetic energy, removing the reflection echoes from the room. Foams come in many shapes and sizes, in both class B and class A rated fire codes. Sound Foam Panels for public venues, such as hospitals, schools and churches, should be cut from melamine foam, which is class A fire approved. Industrial, recording, studio and residential treatments will typically target class B rated foams, made from open cell polyurethane foam.
The following line of NetWell foam products are all available for online purchase or by calling 1-800-638-9355. Note that the thicker panels will perform better with low base frequencies like drums, machinery, barking dogs, etc...while thinner panels work just fine for human voice. For questions on product selection, quantities needed, and thickness options, just call our help desk!
NetWell's Top 10 Acoustic Foam Options
Class A: Melamine
These first five foam options are all made from melamine foam, meaning they are ideal for controlling sound wave reflections in public builidngs, schools, churches, hospitals, and also near high heat sources including industrial plants, furnace rooms and more. Heat resistant to 480 degrees F.
Class B: Polyurethane
The next five foam options are cut from open cell polyurethane foam. These panels are rated for class B treatments including private business, kennels, studios, broadcast, recording, rehearsal rooms, and industrial venues where there is no high heat, open flame, or class A rating required.
Foam Reminders:
Foam doesn't block sound, it absorbs echo
Foam doesn't protect room B from room A's noise
"Fire Retardent" foam does not mean Class A and shouldn't be used in restaurants, schools or churches
Foam does not last forever. It has an average shelf life of 7-10 years.
Convoluted foams absorb more sound than flat foam due to more surface pore expsoure.
Thicker foams do not absorb more sound than thinner foams if the sound frequency is at 1000 Hertz.
Thicker foams DO absorb more sound at the low frequency range (drums, base guitars, industrial noise)
Panel placement is regarldess in your room, so long as proper quantities are being introduced.
Foam alone should not be used as an enclosure liner, get composite foam. A foam/barrier/foam material with added density. See the FBF1M Panels.
Do not buy (1) piece of foam, put it near a sound source, and expect any kind of result. Foam attacks the sound reflections spread throughout the room. It does not isolate a noise source.
Foam quantities for your treatment depend on the size, shape and surface textures in your room prior to the application, and the frequency pitch of the noise.
Questions? Call 1-800-638-9355.
See NetWell Noise Control", Minneapolis, MN on MacRae's Blue Book
2 Comments
Reader Comments (2)
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