Sound, and its presence and absence, has an impact on our lives of which we’re barely aware. It affects our emotional and even physical comfort, our ability to learn and heal, to rest and to be energized. Whether you’re a musician trying to keep sound in or a school, hospital or other building trying to keep sound out, soundproofing in the form of acoustical accent clouds and sound isolation wall panels can be an essential part of your building design.
Sound proofing for musicians
For recording studios and concert halls, the priority is keeping sound in. Acoustical accent clouds improve sound quality by preventing echoes and distortion. They also keep external ambient noise at bay.
Another good reason to soundproof music studios and rehearsal spaces is to limit noise inside the space to avoid creating a disturbance for others. Regular, continuous exposure to loud noises are an occupational hazard for musicians. But it carries health risks. Exposure to noise at the level of 85 decibels or more leads to the risk of hearing loss.
Health risks associated with exposure to loud sounds
In fact, around 15% of Americans ages 20 to 69 suffer from high frequency hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noise connected with their work or during leisure activities. That’s 26 million people. Further, it’s not just loud noise but continuous background noise, also called community or ambient noise, that can be detrimental to health.
Adverse health effects due to community noise can include cardiovascular problems and learning deficits. Studies have found that when community noise levels exceed 40 decibel, so does the incidence of heart disease.
Cutting ambient noise promotes learning and healing
Ambient noise has been found to have adverse effects on learning and healing abilities as well. In schools, soundproofing classrooms with acoustical accent clouds and sound insulation walls leads to better learning outcomes. And in hospitals, patients heal better and faster when ambient noise is reduced with acoustic building products like ceiling clouds.
Sound proofing can be applied to walls and ceiling using acoustical accent clouds and soundproof wall panels. There are four ways to soundproof a room, using tactics based on adding mass, damping sound, decoupling walls and structures, and filling air gaps. Materials such as acoustical accent clouds can be used to achieve soundproofing in residential and commercial buildings.
Adding soundproofing with acoustical accent clouds and other materials is an essential part of building design that can contribute to the health and well being of inhabitants. Both loud noises as well as ambient noise have adverse health effects that can be countered with sound design practices. Whether the goal is to keep sound in, or to keep sound out, soundproofing is not a good DIY project. Professionals who have the experience and knowledge necessary can provide the right materials and design to achieve the best possible design.