Soundproofing and Sound Absorption in a Production Hall – Best Practices

A production hall often has several noise problems at the same time. Machinery, ventilation, forklift traffic, metal surfaces, hard floors, and large open spaces can make noise both loud and difficult to control. When noise spreads between work zones, offices, break rooms, and adjacent areas, sound insulation is the most important measure. The goal is not only to make the noise less disruptive inside the hall, but to stop sound transmission where it actually occurs.

The first step is to distinguish between sound insulation and sound absorption. Sound insulation stops or reduces sound traveling from one place to another. This could involve sound from a machine to an office, from production to a break room, or from a workshop to another part of the building. Sound absorption, on the other hand, reduces echo and reverberation within the same room. In a production hall, both may be needed, but sound insulation should always come first when the problem is sound transmission between zones or rooms.

In practice, the work begins with identifying the paths of sound. Sound can leak through gaps around doors, gates, windows, and penetrations. It can pass through lightweight walls, thin panel materials, or loose joints. It can also travel as vibrations through floors, frames, studs, foundations, and other building components. Therefore, a production hall often requires a combination of sealing, sound-insulating compound, shielding, and vibration damping.

Sealing is one of the most fundamental steps. A small gap can let a lot of sound through, especially between noisy production areas and quieter spaces. Sealing strips around doors and windows, sealing at the bottom of doors, and careful handling of penetrations can therefore provide significant practical benefits. This is particularly important where offices, control rooms, break rooms, or meeting rooms are located near production areas.

For louder sound sources, more mass and better shielding are often needed. Machines can be built with sound-insulating surfaces, screens can be placed between the sound source and the receiver, and walls facing adjacent rooms can be supplemented with materials that help block airborne sound. If the machine also generates vibrations, the contact points must be managed so that structure-borne noise and sound bridges do not transmit the sound further through the structure.

Vibration damping is therefore a complementary measure to sound insulation in many industrial environments. It is not used to reduce reverberation, but to break contact paths where sound would otherwise propagate through floors, walls, studs, or machine stands. Damping under machine feet, between building components, or at connection surfaces can be crucial when noise is heard on the other side of a wall or in an adjacent room.

Once sound leakage, airborne sound, and vibrations have been addressed, sound absorption can be used as a final complement. This involves reducing harsh acoustics inside the production hall, for example, if sound is still bouncing between the ceiling, walls, and floor. However, absorbers do not replace sealing, mass, or shielding. For best results, sound insulation should be installed first, and the internal acoustics adjusted afterward.

The Benefits of Soundproofing and Sound Absorption in a Production Facility

Less noise transmission to adjacent areas
Proper sound insulation reduces the risk of production noise spreading to offices, staff rooms, control rooms, and other sensitive areas of the building.

Better control of machine noise
By working close to the noise source—for example, with shielding, enclosures, and damped contact points—disturbing machine noise can be limited more effectively.

Less sound leakage through gaps and joints
Sealing around doors, windows, gates, and penetrations reduces the weak points where airborne sound would otherwise easily pass through.

Less structure-borne noise from vibrations
Vibration-damping support measures can reduce noise transmitted through floors, foundations, joists, and other structural elements in the production hall.

Clearer zoning in large spaces
Sound-insulating screens, sealed transitions, and reinforced structures make it easier to separate noisy work areas from quieter workplaces.

Better conditions for communication
When sound propagation is limited, it becomes easier to create work zones where instructions, conversations, and warning signals are heard more clearly.

A more sustainable solution than acoustic measures alone
Sound absorption can improve reverberation, but sound insulation addresses the actual transmission of sound between surfaces, rooms, and structures.

A safer and more functional work environment
When noise, leaks, and vibrations are managed systematically, the production hall becomes easier to work in and better suited for both people and equipment.

Recommended categories

Industry – Sound Absorption – Reduces Echoes in the Room

Here you'll find sound-absorbing solutions for industrial facilities where echo and reverberation need to be reduced.

Industry – Sound Absorption – Ceilings

Here you’ll find ceiling absorbers for production facilities, warehouses, and other industrial environments with large, hard ceiling surfaces.

Industry – Vibration Damping – Machinery & Equipment

Here you'll find vibration-damping solutions for situations where structure-borne noise and machine resonance need to be reduced.

Industry – Soundproofing – Machinery & Equipment

Here you will find guidance on what to do when machinery or equipment requires additional sound insulation.

Step-by-step: How to effectively soundproof a production hall

A production hall should be soundproofed in the correct order. Start by identifying where the noise originates and how it spreads. Next, seal any leaks, isolate noisy sources, reinforce structures with sound-damping material, and dampen vibrations at contact points. Only once sound transmission has been addressed can sound absorption be used as a final complement to improve the acoustics inside the hall.

Step 1: Map sound sources and sound paths
Start by identifying which machines, work processes, ventilation components, gates, doors, and adjacent rooms are most affected. Walk through the production hall while it is in operation and note whether the sound comes primarily from individual machines, large open areas, floor vibrations, or leaks into offices and staff areas.

Step 1.1
Check doors, windows, gates, gaps, penetrations, and connections. If the noise is clearly audible on the other side of a door or wall, it is often a combination of insufficient mass and leaks that needs to be addressed.

Step 1.2
Check whether machines are in direct contact with the floor or on stands. If vibrations are felt in the floor, walls, or nearby structures, sound insulation must be supplemented with vibration damping to reduce structure-borne noise and sound bridges.

Results
You’ll get a clear picture of whether the problem is primarily due to airborne sound, leaks, vibrations, or a combination of multiple sound paths.

Step 2: Seal the weak points first
Before installing heavy materials or barriers, obvious sound leaks should be sealed. Use Sealing Strip for Windows & Doors - SilentDirect Seal 20 meters around doors, windows, and connections where airborne sound can pass. The product is used where sealing is important to reduce sound leakage between the production hall and adjacent spaces.

Step 2.1
Install the sealing strip on clean, dry, and smooth surfaces. Check that doors and hatches can still close properly, as the seal must fit snugly without creating new gaps.

Step 2.2
For doors where sound leaks at the floor , the SilentDirect seal door bottom strip can be used to reduce sound transmission under the door leaf. This is particularly relevant between production halls, offices, break rooms, and storage areas.

Results
By sealing leaks, you address the most common weak points before implementing more extensive soundproofing measures.

Step 3: Build a sound barrier or enclosure around noisy machines
If a machine dominates the noise level, the measure should be placed as close to the source as possible. Create a soundproofing screen, hood, or enclosure where technically feasible. Use Soundproofing - SilentDirect MLV where the goal is to add mass and block airborne sound.

Step 3.1
Place the MLV in the screen or wall construction so that it functions as a continuous sound barrier layer. Avoid gaps at the joints and ensure that the material connects tightly to surrounding surfaces.

Step 3.2
On sheet metal, machine housings, or surfaces that require both sound insulation and vibration damping, the Sound Insulation Damping Mat - SilentDirect Polaric can be used. It is suitable when sound is affected by airborne sound, vibrations, and resonance in hard surfaces.

Results
Sound is contained closer to the source, reducing its spread to other parts of the production hall and to adjacent premises.

Step 4: Reduce vibrations at contact points
If machines, compressors, pumps, or other equipment generate vibrations, the contact transmission must be broken. Use the Dampio PRO 100x100x23 mm vibration dampener – high load 750 kg – under suitable machine feet or equipment points when the load and installation allow it.

Step 4.1
Place the vibration dampers where the machine transfers force to the floor or stand. Always check the machine’s weight, stability, and operating requirements before installation.

Step 4.2
For smaller structures, sheet materials, machine enclosures, or contact surfaces, Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Neo can be used where the goal is to reduce vibrations, resonances, and mechanical noise. For larger surfaces, Sound Absorber and Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Neo roll may be more practical.

Results
Structure-borne noise and sound bridges are reduced when vibrations are no longer transmitted as easily from the machine to the building’s structures.

Step 5: Reinforce walls, screens, and exposed surfaces
If sound spreads through walls or partition structures toward offices, control rooms, or staff areas, the surface needs to be reinforced. Use Sound Insulation - SilentDirect MLV as a sound barrier when airborne sound needs to be blocked, and combine it with sealed connections to prevent leakage.

Step 5.1
Ensure that joints, transitions, and connections do not become sound bridges. Where the structure abuts an existing building component , Window & Door Sealing Strip - SilentDirect Seal 20 meters can be used as a supplementary measure to reduce contact paths and improve sealing.

Step 5.2
For surfaces near machinery, enclosures, or smaller screens, Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Egg or Sound Absorber and Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Egg Roll can be used where the structure requires additional sound insulation and damping in industrial environments.

Results
Walls, screens, and machine-adjacent structures gain a better ability to prevent sound from passing on to other surfaces and spaces.

Step 6: Screen off work zones when the entire hall cannot be remodeled
In large production halls, it is not always possible to remodel the entire facility. In such cases, local noise barriers can be a practical part of the sound insulation. Sound-absorbing noise barrier - SilentDirect Sound Barrier 2.48m is suitable when you want to block noise and reduce sound propagation in demanding environments.

Step 6.1
Place the noise barrier between the noise source and the work area that needs protection. For best results, the barrier should be placed close to the noise source or close to the recipient and supplemented with sealing where sound might otherwise pass around the structure.

Step 6.2
Ensure that the screen does not obstruct forklift paths, service access, ventilation, or safety procedures. In production environments, soundproofing solutions must always work in harmony with practical operations.

Results
Local work zones can be protected without having to rebuild the entire production hall, while at the same time making sound propagation more controlled.

Step 7: Add sound absorption only after sound insulation has been addressed
Once sound leakage, machine enclosures, walls, doors, and vibrations have been addressed, the hall may still have harsh acoustics. In that case, sound absorption can be used as a final step to reduce reverberation inside the space. It is important to view this as a complement, not a replacement for sound insulation.

Step 7.1
Prioritize ceiling and wall surfaces where sound reflections are strong, especially in open halls with concrete floors, metal surfaces, and high ceilings. This measure improves communication inside the hall but does not prevent sound from escaping the room on its own.

Result
The production hall achieves a more controlled acoustic environment where both sound transmission and internal harsh acoustics are addressed in the correct order.

Did you know that…

Did you know that a small gap can be the weakest link in your entire soundproofing system?
A heavy wall or door can lose much of its effectiveness if sound finds an easy path through cracks, gaps at the bottom of doors, or open penetrations.

Did you know that machine noise often takes two paths at the same time?
It can spread as airborne sound from the machine and as structure-borne sound through floors, stands, foundations, or building components. That’s why both sound barriers and vibration damping are sometimes needed.

Did you know that large halls don’t always need to be treated everywhere first?
In many production environments, it yields better results to start with the dominant noise source—such as a machine, compressor, or ventilation unit—rather than trying to treat the entire hall at once.

Did you know that sound absorption and sound insulation can feel the same, but work completely differently?
Absorbers make the sound less harsh inside the room, while sound insulation prevents sound from passing between zones, rooms, and structures.

Selected articles on "Soundproofing and sound absorption in a production hall"

Hur ljuddämpar man maskiner med ljudabsorbenter?

How do you soundproof machines using sound absorbers?

Eco - Here's how to go eco-friendly

Vad är det för skillnad på ljudisolering och ljudabsorbering?

What is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption?

Hur många ljudabsorbenter behöver jag sätta upp på vägg och tak?

How many sound absorbers do I need to install on the walls and ceiling?

Products suitable for soundproofing and sound absorption in a production hall

In a production facility, products should be selected based on how sound propagates. Airborne sound requires sealing, mass, and shielding, while vibrations and structure-borne sound require damping at contact points. The following products are suitable when sound insulation needs to be systematically installed around machinery, doors, walls, floors, screens, and sensitive junctions.

Sound Insulation - SilentDirect MLV
This product is suitable when you want to block airborne sound with high mass in walls, screens, enclosures, or partition structures.

Soundproofing Damping Mat - SilentDirect Polaric
This product is suitable when you want to combine sound insulation, vibration damping, and sheet metal damping on hard surfaces in industrial environments.

Sealing strip for windows & doors - SilentDirect Seal 20 meters
This product is ideal for sealing gaps around doors, windows, connections, and penetrations where sound would otherwise leak.

Door bottom seal - SilentDirect seal door
This product is ideal when you want to reduce sound leakage under door panels between production halls, offices, storage rooms, or staff areas.

Sound insulation - SilentDirect Neo
This product is ideal for reducing vibrations, resonances, and mechanical noise in machinery-related structures.

Sound insulation - SilentDirect Egg
This product is ideal for sound insulation and damping in machinery, structures, and technical spaces.

Sound Absorber and Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Egg Roll
This product is ideal for covering larger areas where combined sound insulation, vibration damping, and some sound absorption are required.

Sound Absorber and Sound Insulation - SilentDirect Neo Roll
This product is ideal for treating larger surfaces near machinery, enclosures, or structures where vibrations and mechanical noise need to be reduced.

Sound-absorbing noise barrier - SilentDirect Sound Barrier 2.48 m
This product is ideal for shielding noise between machines, work zones, and walkways in a demanding industrial environment.

Vibration dampener Dampio PRO 100x100x23 mm – high load 750 kg
This product is ideal for reducing localized vibrations under machinery and equipment that might otherwise transmit structure-borne noise.

Soundproof a production hall using the right method from the start

Soundproofing a production hall is primarily about preventing sound from spreading between machines, work zones, adjacent offices, staff rooms, and other parts of the building. In industrial facilities, there is often a combination of airborne sound, vibrations, and structure-borne noise from machinery, ventilation, forklift traffic, and production processes. Therefore, a single measure is rarely sufficient. An effective solution instead relies on the right combination of mass, density, shielding, and vibration damping.

Start by identifying how the sound spreads

Before selecting measures, the sound sources should be mapped out. Machinery can transmit sound directly through the air, but also via floors, joists, metal surfaces, foundations, and connecting building components. Ventilation and ducts can carry sound between different parts of the premises, while leaky doors, windows, gates, and penetrations can allow sound to leak into offices, break rooms, or nearby work zones. Therefore, sound insulation should always start with the obvious leaks and contact points.

Tightness is crucial for sound insulation

Small gaps around doors, gates, windows, installation penetrations, and connections can reduce the effectiveness of other materials. In a production hall, sealing should therefore be considered a fundamental step. Sealing strips, careful connections to walls and floors, and sealing around penetrations reduce airborne sound that would otherwise pass through where the structure is weakest. This is particularly important between noisy production areas and quieter spaces such as offices, meeting rooms, and staff areas.

Add mass where sound needs to be stopped

When sound needs to be prevented from leaving a noisy zone, materials that add mass to the structure are required. Walls, screens, enclosures, and partition surfaces can be reinforced with sound-insulating materials that help block airborne sound. In production halls, this is often used around particularly noisy machines, to shield workstations, or as a supplement on walls facing adjacent spaces.

Reduce vibrations and sound bridges

If a machine is in direct contact with the floor or is permanently mounted to a structure, vibrations can propagate as structure-borne noise. In such cases, sound insulation must be supplemented with vibration-damping measures. Damping materials at machine feet, contact points, studs, or connections can reduce sound bridges and prevent vibrations from transmitting sound further into the building. This is an important part of sound insulation when sound is not traveling solely through the air.

Sound absorption comes last

Sound absorption can be valuable in large halls with hard ceilings, concrete floors, and metal surfaces, but it does not solve sound transmission between rooms. Therefore, it should be viewed as a final complement once sound leakage, gaps, machine enclosures, and vibration transmission have already been addressed. In such cases, absorbers can help reduce reverberation and improve communication within the hall, while sound insulation remains the primary solution.

A better acoustic environment requires several coordinated measures

The best method for soundproofing a production hall is to work systematically: seal leaks, create barriers, increase the mass of exposed structures, reduce vibrations at the source, and only then improve the room’s internal acoustics as needed. This reduces sound propagation, improves clarity in the work environment, and better protects adjacent spaces from noise.

SilentDirect AB

Shop with confidence

Customer service