A Booming, Crowded Market
According to an article featured by Insider Monkey, the construction industry is part of the biggest industries in the world in 2021. In fact, the construction industry ranked 2nd, with a total market value of $12.5 trillion, just behind the Financial Services industry.
This only means that a healthy and active competition in construction products and services exists. From developers and consultants to contractors and material suppliers, there is a continuous battle over who can offer the best in this industry.
Acoustic products are definitely part of this enormous $12.5 trillion-dollar market, and with the rise of acoustically conscious building spaces, people are investing more in achieving well-sounded spaces for their corporate offices, commercial areas, residences, recording studios, and hospitality businesses. Acoustics has become an essential factor and consideration in a multitude of project types anywhere in the world.
Different manufacturers and material suppliers offer a plethora of acoustic products. This creates a dilemma for non-technical people who just want good-performing acoustic materials for their projects, and who sometimes seek professional help in deciding what to use to get the job done. However, you don't need to do this every time — you can properly choose on your own. With enough knowledge and a few technical indicators to consider, as long as it's not a very complicated project, you can confidently choose the right product for it.
Start With a Sample
The best way to gauge an acoustic product is by asking for a free sample. Through this, you can easily check the quality of the material and visualize your project by having it on hand.
But in case a free sample isn't available, you can always rely on the manufacturer's technical specifications — though you have to check every data point carefully. The two most important and prevailing acoustic specifications are Practical Sound Absorption (αp) and Sound Absorption Coefficient (αs). These numbers can be easily identified because they're normally accompanied by frequencies from the octave band.
Reading the Numbers: αp and αs
An example of Practical Sound Absorption (αp) and Sound Absorption Coefficient (αs) is as follows:
| 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.55 | 0.90 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
| 50 | 63 | 80 | 100 | 125 | 160 | 200 | 250 | 315 | 400 | 500 | 630 | 800 | 1k | 1.25k | 1.6k | 2k | 2.5k | 3.15k | 4k | 5k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.18 | 0.22 | 0.32 | 0.44 | 0.54 | 0.68 | 0.82 | 0.95 | 1.00 | 1.03 | 1.10 | 1.09 | 1.09 | 1.09 | 1.14 |
You may think these are a lot of numbers to digest, but don't worry — there are single numbers ranging from 0 to 1, and classes from A to E, that you can check to identify the acoustic performance of a product. They are the Weighted Sound Absorption Coefficient (αw), Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), and Sound Absorption Class.
The general rule of thumb for αw and NRC ratings is: the higher, the better. Meanwhile, for absorption class, A is the best and E is the bare minimum. That said, "higher is better" doesn't always apply, because these materials work across different ranges of frequencies, as shown in the tables above. There are instances where materials with lower coefficients and class tend to perform better at the lower end of frequencies — typically the noises of normal conversation and some household appliances — which is where Practical Sound Absorption (αp) and Sound Absorption Coefficient (αs) come in handy for a complete cross-check.
Reference: insidermonkey.com — 5 Biggest Industries in the World in 2021