Sound-absorbing and sound-insulating products for school environments – create a better learning environment
The sound environment in schools has a direct impact on students' learning, concentration, and well-being, as well as on the working environment for staff. Classrooms, cafeterias, corridors, and gyms are often environments with high noise levels, hard surfaces, and many simultaneous sound sources. Creating a functional and safe school environment requires well-thought-out solutions for sound absorption, sound insulation, and, if necessary, vibration damping.
The difference between sound absorption, sound insulation, and vibration damping
Sound absorption is used to reduce echo and reverberation in a room. By adding absorbent surfaces to walls, ceilings, curtains, or room dividers, sound waves are captured, resulting in better speech intelligibility and a lower perceived sound level. Sound insulation, on the other hand, aims to stop sound between different rooms, such as between classrooms, corridors, dining halls, and sports halls. Vibration damping is used when sound is transmitted through the building's structure, for example from machines, ventilation, or technical equipment, and reduces structure-borne noise.
Common sound problems in school environments
Schools often experience problems with long reverberation in classrooms, noise in dining halls, and loud sound propagation in corridors and common areas. In sports halls, sound is further amplified due to large volumes and hard surfaces. At the same time, noise from ventilation, fan rooms, and technical equipment can spread between floors and rooms if sound insulation and vibration damping are lacking or insufficient.
How sound-absorbing solutions are used in schools
Sound absorption is often the first and most important measure in teaching environments. Ceiling absorbers reduce reverberation in classrooms and sports halls, while wall absorbers improve speech intelligibility in teaching and group rooms. Sound-absorbing curtains are used to reduce reflections from glass surfaces, and room dividers with absorbent properties create quieter zones in open spaces without affecting flexibility.
When is sound insulation and vibration damping needed?
Sound insulation is necessary when sound spreads between different functions in the school, for example between classrooms, from the sports hall to teaching areas, or from corridors to workrooms. Doors, windows, walls, floors, and ceilings are common transmission paths. Vibration damping is used when sound is caused by technical equipment, fans, or machines that transmit vibrations through floors, walls, and ceilings, creating disturbing structure-borne noise.
Why is a good sound environment crucial in schools?
A balanced sound environment makes it easier for students to concentrate, reduces stress and fatigue, and improves working conditions for teachers and other staff. By combining the right type of sound absorption, sound insulation, and vibration damping, school environments can be created that are functional, safe, and adapted for learning at all ages.
Well-considered advice for the best results
For the best effect, the school's sound environment should be viewed as a whole. A common mistake is to only address classrooms without taking into account sound propagation from corridors, dining halls, or technical rooms. By adapting measures to the function, size, and use of each space, a long-term sustainable and pedagogically functional sound environment is created.