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Excess noise can be a major problem in many places like libraries, offices, etc. However, the same can also impact the overall user experience in restaurants, auditoriums, gyms, etc. To ensure effective results, investing in quality Noise Cancelling Panels is important. These panels are often designed from sound absorbing cores like foam, mineral wool , etc. These can easily absorb sound waves and control reverberations. Hence, when sound waves hit these panels, these are either absorbed or quickly dissipated – to manage the excess noise.

What do Noise Cancelling Panels actually do?

The Noise Cancelling Panels can manage the background noise through any of the following ways –

• Absorption – These help to reduce echo and reverberations inside the room. These can be placed on walls or ceilings for effective results. Such solutions can have a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.0-1.0. This averages absorption at mid frequencies.
• Isolation – These Noise Cancelling Panels may also block sound between the rooms. This is measured as Sound Transmission Class (STC). Such sound isolation needs mass like drywall to offer results. These are less effective than the absorption panels.

The material matters

The materials chosen for the Noise Cancelling Panels play a pivotal role in sound absorption and aesthetics. These use synthetic foams, fiberglass, wood, fabric, etc. Although the panels can also be designed from a single material, others can have a foam layer or rigid core covered by fabric or other materials. The combination of materials can impact the level of sound absorbency and reflectiveness. As a result, acoustic foams like Polyurethane and melamine are affordable but can be more fragile. These are also less effective at absorbing lower frequencies than denser materials. This is why such panels are often coupled with other materials in the acoustic panels. On the other hand, fiberglass has a high level of sound absorbency and heat resistance. This is often tough to recycle. Mineral wool can contain a high percentage of recycled materials and offers a high level of sound absorption. This makes it moisture resistant and tolerant to fire and heat. Fabric acoustic panels are often available in diverse colours, shapes and sizes. These help to decorate and add interest to the space.

Metal panels are available in the form of perforated panels to ensure sound absorbency. Wooden panels are available in slatted, engraved or 3D designs. Wood wool Noise Cancelling Panels have an open fiber structure to improve sound absorption.

When and where to use such Noise Cancelling Panels?

The best way to measure the efficiency of the Noise Cancelling Panels   is through NRC. If the material has an NRC value of 0.05 then it can absorb 5% of the noise energy and will reflect the rest. This means more noise and echo.

Hence, the quality of the Noise Cancelling Panels may work better for different purposes –

• Fabric wrapped mineral wool panels – These are basic panels that work well for classrooms, home theatre, etc. These offer better NRC value when you choose thicker or air gapped panels.

• PET polyester panels -These Noise Cancelling Panels are lightweight and easy to use. These work wonders for Home office’s, kids rooms, etc.

• Wood wool cement panels -These are robust and textured panels with high absorption and durability. These work best in sports, gym, cafes, etc.
• Perforated wood or metal with acoustic backing panels -These are tunable for mid bass control in larger rooms.
• Acoustic foams -These are convenient and less effective per thickness than mineral panels.

How many panels must be selected?

Here is a great guide to choosing the Noise Cancelling Panels for your space –

• Living rooms, bedrooms, etc. – These can cover around 15-25% space with floor area with panels. For instance – 6-10 sq.m. treatment for a 40 sq.m. room.
• Open plan offices – In this the coverage must be around 25-40%. This is possible through adding baffles, ceiling clouds, etc. The requirements may go up for hard surfaces like glass and marble.
• Restaurants, cafes and gyms – The coverage should be 25-35% by using a mix of Noise Cancelling Panels. 

Key technical aspects to consider

The Noise Cancelling Panels may vary significantly in terms of technical performance and thus it is important to choose expert professionals like KTS solutions to get the best results. This ensures a tailored solution that matches your project specifications. It is also important to focus on NRC and Fire Rating/ Resistance of the panels –

• Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) This measures the sound absorbency of your selected panel. Here a sound absorbency of 1 is the best and 0 is the worst.

The sound absorption is measured at four frequencies within a range of 250 to 2000 Hz. This means that two panels with the same height and average may perform differently in different frequencies.

• Fire rating and resistance It is important to ensure that your selected panels comply with fire ratings. For commercial fitouts, the materials must be as per Qatar Civil Defense standards. Choosing such solutions ensures safety and security. Choosing KTS solutions for such investments is recommended as it brings international quality benchmarks.