Commonly made from a combination of foam and fabric, the acoustic panels can be cut into a range of shapes and sizes and customised to compliment the design of your room.
The main purpose of acoustic panels is to remove residual sound in any space. When installed correctly in a room, acoustic panels can absorb or diffuse sound from the first point of reflection.
The effectiveness of acoustic panels means that you can use far less so that you’re not at risk of over-cluttering areas and spaces.
Here at Sound Zero, we’ve designed high-quality panels to target broadband frequencies, meaning that they can be used for a range of purposes.
Absorbers & diffusers
Acoustic Panels can be designed as absorbers or diffusers, depending on the intended purpose and outcome that you’re trying to achieve.
Absorbers and diffusers are the main design tools for altering the acoustic conditions of rooms, semi-enclosed spaces and the outdoor environment. Their correct use is important for delivering high-quality acoustics.
Throughout our in-depth consultation process, our experts will outline the best solution for you.
The benefits of acoustic panels
Acoustic panels can be effectively utilised in a range of spaces, for example, restaurants, bars, offices and music venues.
As you might imagine, each space has its unique requirements, but they are all rooted in the need to improve sound quality and intelligibility.
As an example, open-plan office environments may have a designated area for the telesales or telemarketing department. Such environments involve loud telephone conversations and ample opportunities for distraction.
When people are communicating in such proximity, acoustic panels-which are placed in a particular area-will help to localise the noise, keeping it contained.
Click here to learn more about office acoustics.
Short on wall space?
We touched briefly on this in the introduction, but acoustic panels are the ideal solution if you’re short on wall space.
Many offices and restaurants that we visit have a strong brand image which is often reflected in the wall décor that is chosen. The last thing they want is unattractive panels being placed on the walls.
Acoustic panels are fantastic because you don’t need to cover a whole wall space to acoustically solve the noise complaint. Our experts will identify the first point of reflection, which will inform them on the best location to place the wall panel.
What’s more, our panels have been developed with design in mind. We pride ourselves on delivering a strong, visual impact, incorporating your brand’s image within our design process.
There really is no need to compromise on your image in order to solve your noise issue.
Suspended ceiling panels
Bad acoustics are the result of a large, hard surface area and quite often, the largest, hardest surface area is the ceiling.
Air ducts and wiring tracks often prevent us from directly treating the ceiling’s surface, meaning that suspended acoustic panels are a great solution.
And as well as saving that much-valued wall space, they have a strong visual impact.
The proximity effect
Suspended acoustic panels reinforce-what’s known in the science world as-the ‘proximity effect’. In getting closer to the noise source at varying heights, the suspended panels are targeting and suppressing different frequencies.
Numerous venues have incorporated this methodology into their acoustic design; most notably, the Royal Albert Hall. Using convex reflectors suspended at various heights, the venue can tackle the room resonance, whilst delivering an un-matched quality of sound.
Music and concert venues are perfect examples of how you can ‘tune’ suspended acoustic panels to improve the experience of the consumer.
What are acoustic panels made from?
Commonly, acoustic panels are made from a timber frame with varying layers of acoustic foam.
Foam is the best material to use for an acoustic panel because it completely absorbs frequencies on the surface, so you get a resonance happening inside the cavity.
Therefore, above the cavity, you get the noise cancellation. This is known as Helmholtz resonance.
Blending acoustics and art, our popular Wall Panel Pros ensure that your acoustics are effectively addressed whilst adding a splash of artistic design onto your walls.
Easily customisable, we can use your own images and impose them on a fabric-wrapped acoustic panel, or choose a hard acrylic front with a cutaway design.
Wall Panel Pros are the ideal solution for music studios, offices, bars, restaurants and conference rooms.
If you’re aiming to incorporate biophilic principles into your building design, the Acoustic Moss Wall panel is the ideal solution for you. Moss acts as a natural sound absorber, which is ideal for any busy space, especially in open-plan areas.
3. Suspended Ceiling Clouds
We’ve written at length about the benefits of these; just look above. They’re a superb product, rooted in strong scientific understanding.
Conclusion
Acoustic panels provide numerous benefits, for example:
- A more welcoming environment for customers
- Boosted productivity in office and educational settings
- Effective sound quality in music venues
- Improved workplace safety
- Reduced staff absenteeism
- Happy customers, which means more return on investment
We hope that this blog has outlined some of the fundamental aspects of acoustic panelling solutions. If you require any further assistance, don’t hesitate to talk to one of our experts today.