What is the best soundproof acoustic insulation?

Lets dispel the myths between acoustic insulation and soundproofing. Often, we think of insulation as having thermal connotations -keeping buildings warm in winter and cool in summer. Acoustic insulation and soundproofing are pretty much interchangeable terms and when people are using these terms, it's usually to look at ways in which to block the passage of sound.

However acoustic insulation (mineral wool) is only designed to absorb sound in cavities, and is not a full soundproofing system in its own right, where as soundproofing adds mass and is designed to block sound on walls and ceilings.

What is soundproofing?

When we talk about soundproofing we are talking about reducing unwanted noise from the source, (often in domestic situations) this comes from noisy neighbours and the transference of that sound energy to the recipient (you). For more of an in depth read on how to soundproof a wall against noisy neighbours.

Is Acoustic Insulation the same as Soundproofing?

Soundproofing solutions can include the use of acoustic insulation materials to help block noise within peoples homes, places or work and studios. Acoustic mineral wool is one of those products and is designed to absorb airborne sounds in the cavities of timber and metal party walls, timber joists and any sealed chambers where sound can reverberate. Using an acoustic insulator can effectively absorb sound and when used with other soundproofing solutions, can help to bring floors and walls into compliance in meeting (and when used as part of a build-up) exceed Part E Building Regulations.

Below we feature the ReductoClip System which includes the use of acoustic mineral wool as part of the complete acoustic insulation system. It is important to note that acoustic insulators are not a loft type insulation wool with high thermal qualities. This is because they are produced to a specific density to give maximum sound absorption. Acoustic mineral wool delivers a high level of sound absorption and acoustic insulation within cavity partitions. 

Top tip - there are many branded products out there which claim to offer effective acoustic insulation. Always check the mass of the product. This is key as to how well it will perform in blocking sound and soundproofing your wall. We discuss this in more detail below..

Acoustic Mineral Wool and Soundproofing

Why is acoustic insulation not a solution for soundproofing on its own ?

Acoustic insulation, (or soundproofing) is all about adding mass, mass and more mass. This helps to stop noise from passing so easily through a structure. The most effective soundproofing solutions don't just add more of the same mass, they add mass which is comprised of different materials. This is very important, as different materials are better than others at blocking different types of sound. 

The other principle in effective soundproofing is to decouple or dampen the building. Sound travels as a vibration when it hits a wall or floor. To prevent sound vibrations travelling through buildings, the vibration needs to be dampened to stop it from travelling through. The most effective way to stop sound vibration energy from travelling through is to decouple the structure and then add mass.

The ReductoClip System for walls decouples the original structure by creating a room within a room. This achieves the highest level of acoustic insulation and soundproofing. Not only does the ReductoClip System create an exceptional soundproofing performance within domestic homes against noisy neighbours, but it is also used as a professional system in soundproofing recording studios and music rooms. The ReductoClip System is also the go to system for Trade and Building specifiers when needing to exceed Part E building regulations. 

How does the ReductoClip™ System for walls work? 

How to soundproof a wall using the ReductoClip™ Independent System

The  ReductoClip System  for walls, works against both airborne noise (talking, TV noise etc) and Impact noise (moving furniture, footsteps etc). One of the elements to the system is the use of acoustic mineral wool (as mentioned above) which acts as an acoustic insulator. The acoustic mineral wool is added between the timber battens to absorb airborne sound in the cavities of timber and metal party walls. The acoustic mineral wool provides acoustic insulation by significantly improving acoustic performance and reducing reverberation. 

The best performing direct to wall acoustic insulation board is the ProSound™ SoundBoard4™If you don't have the space to lose (building a room within a room) with the ReductoClip System, then this space saving option offers a good performance against noisy neighbours. The SoundBoard 4 acoustic board is only 30mm thick and can easily be installed by a competent DIYer or tradesperson. 

As previously mentioned, the best performing acoustic insulation needs to be heavy (mass blocks sound). Unlike other acoustic insulation solutions, the SoundBoard 4 features 4 layers of different high mass soundproofing materials, (which block a wide range of sound frequencies) all laminated together in one board. The SoundBoard 4 adds 34.83kg of mass to your wall and a dampening layer to prevent the sound energy (vibration) from travelling through.

SoundBoard 4™ Components:

• 15mm Acoustic Plasterboard finish (ready for a plaster skim finish, or heavy duty backing paper finish) 
• 3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl (doesn't absorb sound and designed to replace lead in soundproofing)
• 9mm Closed Cell Foam (dampens sound energy and vibrations)
• 3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl (a further layer of Mass Loaded Vinyl)

The short answer is no. We often get asked if products used for thermal insulation (the likes of Kingspan or Celotex) will also be effective at soundproofing. To a certain extent by having the thermal material added it arguably offers more mass than it did before, but this would be so negligible that it wouldn't mean walls, floors, or ceilings had any further soundproofing capabilities than they did previously. 

In this article we have so far focused on acoustic insulation for walls. If you are looking at acoustic insulation for your ceiling , then similar to walls, you also need to:

• Improve the mass of the ceiling, by adding high density materials.
• Improve the ability of the ceiling to absorb sound energy and vibrations. (Without this part, the adding of any mass will have very little effect on impact noise).
• Use different materials of high mass (as we discussed above for walls).

A useful exercise is to do a 4 point acoustic insulation check:

1. Is the ceiling a timber joist ceiling, or a concrete ceiling?

2. Where is the noise coming from? 

3. What type of noise is it? Airborne, Impact, or both?

4. How loud is the noise?

Further information on acoustic insulation for ceilings, is highlighted within our blog  How to Soundproof a Ceiling .

By limiting the transference of sound travelling through concrete or wooden floors, you can create peace and quiet in your own home by laying acoustic matting.

Again, it's useful to do the 4 point acoustic insulation check:

1. What is the floor made of? Timber joist, or solid concrete?

2. Where is the noise coming from? The room below, or above?

3. Is the noise vibration impact, or airborne?

4. How loud is the noise on your side of the floor?

Yes, absolutely and the process couldn't be easier when using an acoustic underlay such as the ProSound™ Reverso SoundMat or the ProSound™ SoundMat™ 3 Plus. Both of these acoustic mats help to block noise from above, or below. 

To successfully insulate a floor against sound you need to:

• Improve the mass of the floor, by adding high mass density products (a running theme for walls, ceilings, and floors!)
• Improve the ability of the floor to absorb sound energy and vibrations (footsteps). As mentioned previously, without this, the addition of any mass will have very little effect on impact noise.
• Use acoustic insulation between the timber joists to eliminate any sound resonating and amplifying within this sealed chamber.
• Use different materials of high mass, as simply using more of the same material will never have the same result as using different materials. (For all of the reasons we have mentioned above).

ProSound™ Reverso SoundMat™ is the only high performing soundproofing mat designed for both hard and soft floor finishes. When used hard side up, (unlike with other acoustic underlays) there is no need for an over boarding layer before installing most final floor finishes. The Reverso SoundMat is ideal for blocking loud levels of airborne and high impact noises and is suitable for all final floor finishes. 

Reverso SoundMat Components:

• 6mm Fibre Cement Board (provides a stable base for hard final floor finishes and adds mass to block airborne noise)
• 9mm Closed Cell Acoustic Foam (for impact noise such as footsteps and unlike open cell, or recycled chip foam will not absorb water should there be any water damage in the future)
• 3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl (further airborne noise blocking capabilities and acts as a luxury carpet underlay)

The Reverso SoundMat is a simple DIY install, without the need of adhesive and can be used under underfloor heating (hard side up).

ProSound™ SoundMat™ 3 Plus  features an innovative 3 layer design which is effective in helping to tackle the unwanted noise of everyday living. This particular acoustic mat delivers an outstanding performance against loud levels of noise, such as clear conversation, TV noise and heavy footsteps. At only 15mm thick, this acoustic matting saves you space compared to other traditional acoustic underlays.

SoundMat™ 3 Plus Components:

• 3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl (designed to replace lead in soundproofing)
• 9mm Closed Cell Foam (for impact noise, such as footsteps)
• 3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl (further airborne noise blocking capabilities)

These acoustic sound mats are simple to install by a competent DIY'er or tradesperson and are applied directly to the floor, without the need for any adhesive. The video below shows the easy installation of the acoustic mats.

Installing SoundMat 3 Plus acoustic underlay

Installing Reverso SoundMat acoustic underlay

Acoustic insulation can be applied to walls, floors and ceilings to soundproof against unwanted noise. By following the 4 step acoustic checker, this can help you to help make the correct product choice. Top performing solutions have also been highlighted, due to their superior performance in soundproofing, along with their ease of installation (all of which can be fitted by a competent DIY'er or tradesperson).