11 Noise Pollution Solutions for Optimal Acoustics

Hunter ScarpaHunter joined Acoustical Solutions in 2016 and works with contractors and specifiers. Hunter always had a knack for audio, physics, and troubleshooting. His love of audio led him to car audio competitions, where he honed his skills building and installing systems. He transitioned to home audio, selling and installing home theater equipment.1-800-782-5742 Ext. 0139

Unfortunately, we tend to get used to noise and just “deal with it.” Whenever we are around things that aren’t optimal but aren’t overtly a hindrance, our go-to method of dealing with it is to just get used to it — most of the time we do this without thinking about it. Whether it’s a squeaky door or janky ceiling fan, it may not seem that much of a big deal to fix, but what if the issues were fixed? What if the impact was significantly positive?

A recent customer called asking about noise pollution in their new office building. They loved the final result and had spent a considerable amount of time and money renovating it to be a marvelous open floor plan with many windows for natural light.

Once construction noises left and the office opened up, they quickly realized that for all of their hard work, there was pervasive noise pollution emanating from the hvac equipment previously hidden by the drop ceiling, as well as from traffic coming through the many new windows. It was more than an annoyance — it was causing inefficiency within their workforce. We analyzed the situation and were able to come up with some highly effective sound blocking techniques to shield the office from outdoor noise and to replace the drop ceiling with one that blocks the HVAC equipment noise but fits in perfectly well with the intended aesthetic.

No matter the situation and the types of noise pollution, we can find a solution to improve your acoustics. In this article, we’ll look at my favorite noise pollution solutions and how they can increase well-being and efficiency.

Examples of Noise Pollution

In the commercial space, there is more and stronger equipment to coincide with larger square footage. There are more windows, more doors, larger HVAC systems, more computers, and more people talking. All of these things may not be considered noise pollution when isolated, but boy can they add up quickly to an annoying cacophony.

Noise polluters include:

Interior Noise

Human Conversation
Computers and Servers
Projectors
Foot Traffic
Elevators and Escalators
HVAC Equipment
Lighting and Plumbing Fixtures

Exterior Noise

Traffic
Weather
Lawn Equipment
Construction
Wildlife
Overhead Aircraft

As you can see, many of these noise polluters are simply out of your control, while the rest are critical to your commercial activity. We can’t stop them, so our solution is to reduce the sounds they make to negligible or even completely in many circumstances. The way we achieve this is utilizing acoustical materials and strategies to block unwanted sounds and “tune” the sounds we want to sound better.

11 Solutions to Effectively Reduce Noise Pollution

Sound Control Solutions

Sound control, also known as sound absorption, is how we tune sounds to make them sound better. If you’ve ever been in an open floor plan space with lots of activity and poor sound control, it will sound like a muddy mess and may even remind you of a cave.

By utilizing a variety of sound control products, we can effectively tone down or even completely remove echo and reverb and leave a clean acoustic space for sounds to sound as they should. This is especially important in busy commercial spaces with lots of people and voices to make sure instead of a cacophony we create a symphony.

Blue Mountain Brewery tamed the acoustics in their popular tasting room by adding Alphasorb Acoustical Panels.

1. Acoustic Panels

Versatile and used in various settings for overall sound absorption, acoustic panels are the go-to workhorse for making sure the sounds we want and need are heard purely without any reverb or echo. Acoustic panels are mounted on walls, much like paintings, and their sound absorbing materials take away the noise while leaving what we want to hear. My favorite acoustic panel product is AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Panels. Not only are they highly effective at absorbing sound, but they come with dozens of acoustic fabric options to meet your aesthetic designs, too.

AlphaSorb Fabric Wrapped Sound Baffles hanging in an art gallery

2. Acoustic Baflles

Just like acoustic panels, acoustic baffles provide sound control by eliminating echo and reverb. Instead of being mounted on walls, baffles are suspended from the ceiling in a vertical orientation. They are highly effective in large, open spaces where sound needs to be absorbed from multiple directions. Because they are three dimensional and hang vertically, sound baffles also offer unique aesthetics that can likewise be tailored to your exact brand and/or desired look. I love our AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Sound Baffles to take advantage of acoustic fabric for high-end sound control that looks amazing.

AlphaSorb® Designer Premium Round Acoustic Felt Ceiling Clouds

3. Acoustic Clouds

Very similar to acoustic baffles, acoustic clouds are essentially acoustic panels that are suspended from the ceiling rather than hung on walls in an horizontal orientation. They are best for spaces with high ceilings to manage overhead sound reflections — the cause of serious echo and reverb. For spaces with tall ceilings, I advise these AlphaSorb® Designer Premium Acoustic Felt Ceiling Clouds in conjunction with wall-mounted acoustic panels for optimal sound control.

AlphaSorb® Designer Premium Acoustic Felt Wall Panels installed in a building lobby

4. Designer Wall Panels

The great thing about modern acoustic products is not just the best acoustic materials yet, but their variety to fit into modern spaces. For example, AlphaSorb® Designer Premium Acoustic Felt Wall Panels and AlphaSorb® Designer Acoustic Slatted Wood Wall Panels are two options that serve the same purpose as acoustic panels, but instead of painting-like implementation, these can cover entire walls and be installed uniquely. Depending on the severity of noise pollution, a full “accent” wall covering could be both a visual intrigue and provide the necessary sound control.

Soundproofing Solutions

So far we have talked about half of the acoustic coin, sound control. The other half is soundproofing, also known as sound blocking. Often confused, let’s make it simple:

Sound control = improve sound by removing reverb and echo in the same space
Soundproofing = block sounds from transmitting between walls/ceilings/floors

For soundproofing then, we’re concerning ourselves with noise pollution that is coming from outside — whether that is from an open office area into a conference room, or outside noises like traffic and construction from entering the building. Soundproofing is a powerful tool that can make some of the most dramatic impacts to reducing noise pollution, while adding sound control on top will make everything sound perfect.

Let’s look at some of the best ways to soundproof specific spaces:

Soundproofing a Wall (Wall Assembly Examples)

5. Walls

Walls are the primary vector from which noise penetrates. Typically they are constructed of wood or steel studs with drywall covering, and while this provides some level of sound blocking, it isn’t near enough. The best way to soundproof a wall to stop noise from leaving OR entering is to use the combination of AudioSeal® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier, Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound, and Resilient Sound Isolation Clips (RSIC-1) based on the level of soundproofing required. The MLV is added behind the drywall to form a much stronger sonic shield while Green Glue is used to seal it off. This may be enough, but for extra annoying noise, adding an air gap to the wall assembly will markedly lower how much sound can transmit. By adding resilient sound isolation clips, you can easily create an air gap that achieves this goal.

PrivacyShield® System

6. Ceiling Tiles

Generally two types of ceilings exist: those constructed like the walls outlined above and drop ceilings. For whatever reason, we tend to recoil at drop ceilings — perhaps thinking back to lesser buildings of decades past where drop ceilings were used with boring, often stained, ceiling tiles. That said, they are quite useful, especially acting as a shield to block the sounds of HVAC, plumbing, lighting, and other equipment stored behind them. Unlike the rather intensive process of properly soundproofing walls, soundproofing a drop ceiling can be completed quickly. PrivacyShield® Ceiling Tile Barriers and PrivacyShield® Light Hoods are easily installed onto existing ceiling tiles and light fixtures to provide a powerful sound blocking effect for any noise coming from above. To make the situation even better, you don’t need to rely on that old, tired ceiling tile look. AlphaSorb® Designer Premium Acoustic Felt Ceiling Tiles are my favorite choice as they not only offer fantastic aesthetics but provide additional sound control for the space below the ceiling.

Image showing all three components of a complete door seal kit

Here you can see all three components of our Door Seal Kit (Complete Set)

7. Doors and Windows

Even with well-soundproofed ceilings and walls, even the smallest cracks or bad seals in windows or doors can let in a lot of exterior sound. For existing doors, I suggest adding a PrivacyShield® Soundproofing Door Seal Kit to make sure no sound is penetrating. If the noise you’re trying to eliminate is just too loud and the current door, often hollow-core doors, can’t do much to block it, then I suggest complete replacement with a solid core door and door seal kit, or a PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door, or an Overly Quick Ship Metal Acoustical Door depending on the acoustic needs. For windows, there is a great quick fix to block out annoying sounds of traffic and other noises found outside, especially in urban environments. Adding a PrivacyShield® Window Seal Kit is a highly effective way to cover your bases and stop noise leaky windows from letting in unwanted sound.

MAC Fitness easily installs PrivacyShield® Absorptive Soundproofing Blankets as a temporary barrier wall. Custom manufactured to size, the sound blankets arrive ready to hang.

8. Soundproofing Blankets

For certain scenarios, a soundproofing blanket might be the right move. In industrial settings, there are often loads of extremely noisy heavy equipment. Building an enclosure to hang soundproofing blankets, like our PrivacyShield® ABBC-13 Barrier Backed Soundproofing Blanket, can help reduce that noise. Additionally, situations like server rooms adjacent to office space can benefit mightily from the addition of a few soundproofing blankets hung on the walls. No need for massive renovations or to soundproof everything, just a few blankets to block that sound from leaving the room and entering adjacent rooms.

Additional Solutions and Useful Strategies

In addition to utilizing acoustic products and strategies, there are other things you can add that will help the overall goal to reduce noise pollution.

Soft carpet and furnishings in an office lobby

Carpet to reduce noise pollution

9. Carpeting and Soft Furnishings

Similar in material to many acoustic products, carpeting and soft furnishings help to soak up sounds and provide a more peaceful environment. This can come in the form of carpet, large rugs, furniture, and pillows.

Partition to help with noise pollution.

10. Partition Systems

While open floor plans are very popular, sometimes to eliminate noise and provide some level of separation, employing partitions is wise. The good news is modern partitions, even ones made of glass, carry inherent noise blocking functionality to help corral noise in open spaces as well as block it from entering adjacent “rooms,” like quiet rooms and conference rooms.

Plants for office noise blocking

11. Well-Placed Plants and Planters

Although not as acoustically powerful as carpet, rugs, and soft furnishings, well-placed plants and planters can provide additional sound control by soaking up unwanted sound. This is last on the list because they aren’t going to completely solve your problem, but considering their value in terms of aesthetics and associated mental-wellbeing for occupants, they are an easy addition for a small boost in acoustics.

Find the Best in Soundproofing and Sound Control Products With Acoustical Solutions

No matter your situation, there are absolutely products and strategies to reduce if not remove noise pollution entirely. As a part of optimizing workflows and efficiency, improving acoustics is a critical aspect. Feel free to give me a call today so we can analyze your unique scenario and develop an action plan to address it with the best in acoustic products and service from our acoustic professionals.

To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.

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