Soundproof Acoustic Insulation

What Is Acoustic Insulation?

Acoustic insulation, which is also called soundproof insulation, creates a barrier for sound waves to reduce sound transfer, while still providing thermal insulation. When sound waves travel through the air, they pass from material to material in vibrations. The more mass that a sound wave has to travel through, the fewer vibrations that will reach the other side of the material. A dense insulation roll or slab can dampen sound waves and cause them to dissipate, so you can no longer hear noises from other rooms, or outside.

The material that you choose to insulate your space with also has an impact on the volume of the noise that you hear. Glass mineral and rock mineral are the two most popular choices for noise insulation.

Rockwool RWA45 Slab

Rockwool insulation have been making thermal acoustic insulation products for over 80 years. As a leading UK manufacturer, they prioritise quality and care at every corner. Rockwool’s RWA45 range is made from rock mineral, which absorb sound and provides excellent sound isolation between floors and internal walls.

Rock mineral wool, which is also known as stone mineral wool, is very dense. Manufacturers heat molten rock and steel slag to high temperatures. As the materials melt, manufacturers quickly spin fine strands of rock and slag together. The result is a slab of what looks like wool. The acoustic slabs are resin bonded and cut to size. All the products in the RWA45 range are cut into 1200mm by 600mm acoustic insulation slabs. They can fit between standard stud partitions and joists with ease.

RWA45 Rockwool sound insulation slabs provide the best acoustic and thermal insulation for walls and floors. Each slab contains layers and layers of dense materials for maximum sound absorption. They have a density of 45kg/m3 and, even better, rock is a poor conductor of sound. Overall, these slabs are excellent for people who want sound-deadening insulation that is both rated A1 (non–combustible) on the Euroclass scale and is moisture-resistant.

Acoustic Insulation Rolls

Acoustic insulation rolls are designed to improve your quality of life by dampening sounds from one level to the next. Lots of people buy floor sound insulation in rolls. Acoustic rolls are often perforated to standard measurements. You can simply roll the product out into your pre-measured floor space. Rolls are also ideal for uneven walls. They are flexible, meaning you can manipulate them to fit around pipes and even roof beams.
Knauf Insulation is one of the most trusted manufacturers of sound-deadening insulation rolls. The acoustic roll in the Knauf Earthwool range are made from glass wool fibres (fiberglass insulation). Glass, unlike rock, is a good conductor of sound. The manufacturing process helps to create a material that is resistant to sound transmission.

Manufacturers heat recycled glass to high temperatures. They quickly spin the melted glass to make fibres. The small fibres melt together to form a mesh that looks like a wool roll. Thousands of pockets of still air are trapped in the wool roll. Glass wool acoustic insulation is extremely dense, which makes it an excellent barrier for sound vibrations. Knauf glass wool rolls have a minimum density of 10kg/m3.

Knauf’s ECOSE technology means that the rolls are much softer to the touch than other brands of fibreglass insulation. Rolls in the Earthwool range are 1200mm and have perforations at 600mm for ease of installation. Like the Rockwool slabs, Knauf rolls are rated A1 (non-combustible) on the Euroclass scale.