Acoustic Office Screens

Acoustic screens and panels are designed for use in busy, noisy environments such as offices, call-centres, schools, libraries and colleges. These foam and fabric-covered boards serve as a replacement for the multiple soft furnishings often found in homes, but less frequently in offices, which can cause these large, open-plan spaces to be echoing and noisy. The introduction of acoustic screens and/or panels reduces the amount that sound can reverberate around a space, offering a more peaceful atmosphere where noise is muffled for a more pleasant work environment. Studies have shown that acoustic wall panels can reduce reverberation time (the length of time required for sound to decay 60 decibels from its initial level) by up to 70%.

You can soundproof an office using either acoustic wall panels, acoustic screens, or a combination of both. To get the benefits of their sound absorbing qualities, you can place acoustic panels on the walls or the ceiling. These panels can be laid out in geometric designs, and we recommend 15-20% room coverage to get the best effect. Acoustic screens can be placed strategically throughout your office, either at intervals or specifically around noisy machines or areas to dampen sound transfer.

Sound baffles, or acoustic panels, are made of board, covered with a layer of insulating foam and finished with a choice of fabric. They are designed to prevent sound echoing around a large room, offering a quieter and more peaceful working environment. They are available in a range of different shapes, sizes and thicknesses. 

Studies have shown that acoustic wall panels can reduce reverberation time (the length of time required for sound to decay 60 decibels from its initial level) by up to 70%. The effectiveness of baffle panels is measured using an NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) number. The NRC is an average rating of how much sound an acoustic product can absorb; for example, an NRC of 0 means that the product absorbs no sound, whereas an NRC of 1 means that the product absorbs all sound. The higher the NRC, the better the product is at soaking up the sound.

Tests using an empty room, measuring 3m x 4m x H2m, show that sound has a reverberation time of 1.0 second. Covering 60% of the room’s walls in 40mm-thick acoustic wall panels (with an NRC of 0.55) reduces the reverberation time to 0.5 seconds, for a 50% reduction. Installing 64mm-thick acoustic wall panels (with an NRC of 0.90) across 60% of the room’s walls will reduce the reverberation time to 0.3 seconds - this is a 70% reduction.

Our acoustic screens are 35mm thick and made with an internal wooden core in chipboard, which is then covered with a pinnable layer, before being upholstered in a foam-backed, fire-retardant fabric. The partitions are finished with either PVC or aluminium edging strips for rigidity or linking capabilities. Floor standing acoustic panels are supplied with a pair of stabilising feet as standard, mobile screens with castor wheels, desk screens with desk clamps - all of which are made from pressed steel that is powder-coated for durability. 

Acoustic wall panels are 26mm thick (except for the ‘T’ shape of the Tetratak™ range, which is 29mm thick) and are made of board and covered with a layer of 18mm thick sound-absorbing foam which has been tested by SRL to BSEN ISO 354 and has an NRC (Noise reduction coefficient) inferred result from SRL is 0.43 (based upon test reports 1306-1040 to 1042 and C/23213/T01). The panels are then finished with a choice of MacFlex 182 or Camira Cara fabric. Each panel has two fixing options – a standard keyhole bracket or command 3M Velcro (easier to move/reconfigure)

Acoustic wall panels and office screen dividers have been designed to absorb sound reverberation in loud offices or large, open-plan spaces. While these products can significantly mute and reduce the amount of noise in a room, particularly when installed in large numbers, using them on their own without other design changes (such as soundproof doors/seals) will not offer complete soundproofing.

You could benefit from installing acoustic wall panels or screens if your office or work environment has very few soft furnishings and the sound echoes loudly around the space. Between our range of geometric wall panels and our variety of acoustic screens and dividers, we have products to suit all soundproofing requirements.

Acoustic panels and screens have been designed specifically to provide soundproofing insulation against interior noises, however, they are not designed to completely absorb all sound within a room. 

Acoustic panels have been designed to reduce noise reverberation and aid in soundproofing. This makes them ideal for busy, noisy environments such as open-plan offices, call centres, sales departments, schools and training colleges. As they can be fixed to walls or ceilings, these panels offer an excellent alternative to acoustic screens or partitions as they will not take up any valuable floor space.

You can place acoustic panels on the walls or the ceiling to get the benefits of their sound-absorbing qualities. We recommend 15-20% room coverage to get the best effect from your acoustic panels. Or, you can use acoustic office screens placed strategically around the room to help amplify the soundproofing qualities.

Our Acoustic Office Screens and wall baffle panels are supplied with either a 1, 2 or 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects. If you need any information regarding our range or have questions about our warranty and guarantee, please get in touch with our sales team.