This article is not referring to Simon and Garfunkel's 1964 classic folk rock song. Soundproofing enclosed spaces to create noiseless zones is becoming industry standard in various environments. It is no more the requirement of a music studio or auditorium. The need to soundproof areas as diverse as a school room, office, restaurant, gymnasium, gun and pistol ranges (very essential), church and even prisons has made soundproof wall panels a niche area in the soundproofing industry.

1. Soundproof Wall Panels - The Sound of Silence-aesthetic technology
This article is not referring to Simon and Garfunkel's 1964 classic folk rock song. Soundproofing
enclosed spaces to create noiseless zones is becoming industry standard in various environments.
It is no more the requirement of a music studio or auditorium. The need to soundproof areas as
diverse as a school room, office, restaurant, gymnasium, gun and pistol ranges (very essential),
church and even prisons has made soundproof wall panels a niche area in the soundproofing
industry.
Soundproofing - a technical primer
Sound in simple terms is air vibration. This vibration travels linearly and takes a direct path. A
simple method to stop the sound is to cut the path. The terminology for this step is called
decoupling.
Sound is vibration of air. A wall will have some air; when the vibrating air hits the wall the air
within the wall will also vibrate and sound will be transmitted. The next step is to absorb the
sound - equivalent to a sponge or in sound terminology use insulating materials to absorb the
sound.
Next is to increase the barrier for sound to travel. The idea is to create more mass in between one
space to another. A simple method is adding additional dense surfaces making it difficult for the
vibrating air to pass through.
Damping the vibrating air will greatly reduce the vibration and the other three elements will
enable the soundproof wall panelsto work that much more efficiently.
Factors to consider while soundproofing
Desirable property of materials that can sound blockis not to allow any sound or vibrating air to
escape. Required property of materials that will absorb sound is not allow any deflection of air to
reverberate between two walls to create a multitude of sound (echo). Sound blocking is generally
done by using dense boards like acoustic wood panels that come in various textures and designs
incorporating grooves. Another material in use is mass loaded timbered sheets that work as a
noise barrier. Sound absorption materials include fabric wrapped acoustical panels - these have
adual purpose; first to absorb the vibrating air and second give a decorative look to the interiors.
A second material that finds favor with acoustical contractors is timber acoustical panels; these
soundproof wall panels are engineered with dual properties; first to absorb and deaden the sound
and also give a textured and decorative look to the interiors. A combination of timbered panels
with fabric wrapped acoustical panels can satisfy any sound deadening property that is required.
In the early part of the 20th century soundproofing was a highly niche segment that needed
technical expertise of engineers. Today this industry has segued neatly into the interior designer's
space with effortless ease because the creativity of spaces and interiors has taken precedence
while the technical aspect of soundproofing has become an adjunct. It is not strange to get the
best of both technical excellence and aesthetics in one place.