Sound Barrier Curtain Wall Panels

Sound control wall panels and curtains are used for a variety of different purposes, from meeting compliance regulations to simply reducing the noise interference. The purpose for the noise reduction is always the same: make the surround areas less hazardous and more comfortable for workers. Using a unique, durable outer shell and acoustically-rated core materials, AmCraft Industrial sound barrier curtains create a flexible acoustic barrier that can retract easily and work within an industrial setting. Depending on your needs, AmCraft can design a custom, sound absorbing solution to solve some of the most serious noise issues.

Curtain Acoustics & Noise Reduction

Frequency = Sound description or comparisons; frequency of sound is the number of soundwave cycles per second. Unit of measurement is Hertz (Hz).

Decibel = Measurement of sound intensity (dB). In correlation to frequency, decibels are needed to determine level of sound attenuation needed for an acoustic sound divider project.

Transmission Loss = The original sound decibel level minus the resulting sound transmission [decibel level] on the other side of the acoustic curtain wall. Abbreviation is TL.

Perceptions of Change in Decibel Levels:

• Impeceptible Change 1dB
• Barely Perceptible Change 3dB
• Clearly Noticeable Change 5dB
• About Twice as Loud / Soft 10dB
• About Four Times as Loud / Soft 20dB

When the area containing the noise becomes too large to enclose cost efficiently, we change our focus to partitioning and/or ceiling/wall-mounted clouds, vertical baffles, or curtain wall panels to absorb sound energy (note: Since sound energy travels in sphere/bubble type waves, we must also consider addressing areas above the dividers, such as open truss areas, above I-Beams, or above/below a drop ceiling). When we design our sound barrier wall panels, we typically utilize both sound-absorbing and sound-blocking technologies.

Curtain materials for effective sound control

With the proper noise reduction panels and level of sound-absorbing/blocking materials, it is possible to lower the sound level in the immediate area of the noise source and to create a near normal noise level (quieter area) on the other side of the partition.

Since low frequency sound, such as heavy machinery, can sometimes be felt as a vibration, anti-vibration pads under the machine mounting points should be a consideration.

Our noise reducing barrier curtains are available in 2”. The table above indicates the transmission loss (TL) in decibels (dB) for each given frequency (hz). The frequencies details in the table are based off of a 1/3-octave band.

Octave Bands

The frequency spectrum is divided into bands (or sets), in which octave bands and 1/3-octave bands have been created to comprise a scale system, making the frequency spectrum easier to work with.

Octave Bands are the frequency division sets that cover a certain set of frequencies. When the upper band frequency limit is twice the lower band frequency limit, the frequency is said to be an “octave” in width.

One-third Octave Bands are exactly as they state – 1/3 of an octave band. This divides the frequency range within an octave band into 3 equal subsets, making it easier to distinguish what frequency a noise/sound will fall into.

To explain octave bands and one-third octave bands can also be illustrated as follows:
On octave on a piano is from C to the next C.

Octave Band = C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B
There are 12 [black and white] keys that comprise an octave on a piano.

1/3 Octave Band = C, C#, D, D#
A semitone describes two keys directly next to each other. One-third of the octave (12 keys) would be 4 semitones.

Sound Transmission Class (STC)

The sound transmission class, or STC, is a single-number value that rates the sound barrier effect of the sound barrier curtains. The higher the STC rating, the more efficient the sound attenuation is through a partition. STC ratings deal with frequencies from 125 Hz all the way up to 4,000 Hz.

A low STC rating for a material indicates that the material will allow a greater amount of sound to pass through into the adjacent work area. A high STC rating for a material means that the material will reduce the amount of sound passing through from one area to another. Depending on what your requirements for each of the workspaces, AmCraft can provide you with a customized sound control curtain panels to suite your project needs.

It is important to keep in mind that the STC rating of a material may not affect the reverberation or sound reflections within an area. Using an acoustic baffle system in addition to your noise barrier curtains will help to control all aspects of your sound source.

Our noise control curtain panels can drastically reduce the harmful transmission from your sound source to create a more comfortable environment for your personnel. As a cost-efficient solution for your sound reduction needs, our sound barrier wall panels, curtains, and sound-reducing dividers can also help your facility meet OSHA standards.

Our technical specialists have the expertise to help you with your current or upcoming project. Give us a call today for assistance!