Singer Safety offers high-quality acoustic foams and panels that provide excellent noise absorption in the mid-to-high frequency noise range.

What is Acoustic Foam Used For?

Interested in using acoustic foam to block out noise? Then you’ve come to the right place. Singer Safety offers high-quality acoustic foams and panels that provide excellent noise absorption in the mid-to-high frequency noise range. There are many acoustic foam uses, including lining machine or equipment surfaces, guards, enclosures, walls, and doors to absorb noise from industrial operations. This article will tell you everything you need to know about acoustic foam, acoustic foam uses, and the different types of acoustic foams that we offer at Singer Safety! 

What Does Acoustic Foam Do? 

Acoustic foam is a soft porous material that absorbs sound waves by turning the sound waves to heat by friction. This basically means that acoustic foam panels will absorb sound waves and prevent them from bouncing off flat surfaces. Our acoustic foam is available in four thicknesses. Thinner acoustical foams will absorb high-end sound waves while thicker acoustic foam will absorb high, mid-range, and low-end frequencies. Bass traps are extra thick and absorb the lowest of the low frequencies. The fact that thicker material absorbs lower frequency waves is based on science. The low-end waves are physically longer and thus need a thicker material to absorb the wave fully. 

What Problems Does Acoustic Foam Solve?

Now that you know acoustic foam can absorb sound waves let’s see some acoustic foam uses!  Acoustic foam can solve various acoustic problems that you may be having. These problems include: 

• Too much echo 

• Too much reverberation 

• Standing waves 

These are common problems in recording studios, broadcast booths, gaming rooms, or podcast rooms. Pretty much any environment where you may be recording audio. 

• Do your recordings sound echoey and jumbled?

• Is it hard to mix using your monitors because of too much reverb in your room? 

• Is there an echo in your podcast? 

• Is it hard to communicate while gaming because there is too much echo? 

Acoustic foam can help you with these problems! 

A lot of restaurants, offices, places of worship, and schools with gymnasiums in them also face problems with too much echo and reverberation. 

• Do your customers complain that your restaurant is too loud?

• Is there too much echo and commotion in your office because of open spaces and flat surfaces everywhere?

• Are you having problems with too much reverb and the commotion in your office because of open spaces and flat surfaces everywhere?

• Are you having problems with too much reverb and the congregation cannot hear the pastor speak?

• Is there too much echo in your classroom making it difficult to teach effectively?

Acoustic foam can also help with these problems! 

What Acoustic Foam Will Not Do 

Acoustic foam is not designed to block sound or to completely soundproof a room. Many people think that acoustic foam will soundproof a wall and make it so the sound will not travel through. This isn’t true. Don’t feel bad if you were thinking acoustic foam would do this, you are not alone! This is a big misconception that comes from the fact that musicians and people, in general, use the term “soundproof foam” or “soundproofing panels” to refer to the acoustic foam panels that are seen in many recording studios. Students in Berklee acoustics have even referred to panels as “soundproofing”. 

Soundproof foam will not stop outside noise from coming in! Many people who live in big cities or by a train track reach out and want to cover a wall or window with acoustic foam panels to stop outside noise from coming in and keep them up at night. Acoustic foam is not designed to do this! Applying foam on the wall or window may help muffle the sound a tad but it will not stop the noise completely. 

What Are the Pros of Acoustic Foam?

Reduce Noise Pollution 

Just like light, sound waves can pass through even the smallest hole or opening in holes, walls, or any material. Acoustic foams are installed to reduce noise pollution as they remove echoes and background sound not by blocking the sound by absorbing it. Acoustic foams are used to control the reverberation sounds made and this is quite different from soundproof foam. 

Enhance Sound Quality 

Acoustic foams are cut in tiles with pyramid or wedge shapes. They work not only to absorb sounds but also to enhance the quality of sound and speech in a room. Dealing with both mid and high frequencies at the same time, acoustic foam can also be counted as a type of cost-friendly heat reduction facility that is placed in the corners of the room or wherever optimal sound mixes are needed as bass traps to minimize sound echoes. 

Reducing the amplitude of the waves, acoustic foams dissipate the sound energy to heat. To enhance this effect, there must be a good measure of air gap between the foam panels and the walls. This uncovers a wider surface area of the foam panels and the walls. This uncovers a wider surface area of the foam panels to incident waves thereby expanding the amount of absorption. 

Improve Room’s Design 

A lot of homeowners often consider acoustic foams for their music studio or work areas so they can have more privacy and concentration in doing their tasks or craft. Acoustic foam is made from open-cell polyurethane foam, and this can provide better aesthetic looks when it comes to room designs. 

There are a variety of colors and textures of acoustic foam and you may want to incorporate the theme into your home’s interior design. Some people choose to apply a contour effect to add sophistication and elegance to the room. In addition, acoustic foams also are available in different sizes and thicknesses and these can be attached to walls, ceilings, doors, and other features of a room.

What Is the Best Acoustic Foam for My Needs?

Now that we went over the acoustic foam uses, it’s time to see the best acoustic foams for your needs. Acoustic foam can be cut for any size that you need. It can also be fastened to most surfaces with a water-based adhesive. Our foams have excellent structural integrity and require little to no mechanical support. We offer the following options for your acoustic foam needs: 

Standard Acoustic Foam (SAF) 

Standard acoustic foam, known also as “SAF” is an open-celled polyurethane flat foam. This kind of acoustic foam is effective for mid-to-high frequency noise absorption. It is charcoal in color and sold in rolls. 

Aluminized Mylar Foam (AMF) 

Aluminized Mylar Foam, commonly known as “AMF”, is identical to standard acoustic foam, except that it is laminated with one mil aluminized Mylar facing. The easy-to-clean facing reflects both light and heat, and protects the foam from dirt, dust, and grease. It is also sold in rolls.

Convoluted Foam 

Convoluted Foam is a polyurethane foam that offers superior sound absorption. It is sold in sheets and four to a box. 

Sound Stick Adhesive 

Singer Safety also sells sound stick adhesive. There are 32’ of beads per tube. You will need approximately one tube per each 10’ section. 

Are Flat or Convoluted Foams Better?

Our Singer Safety acoustic foams come in either flat or convoluted, cone-shaped surfaces. However, convoluted foams offer four times the surface than flat foams. Convoluted foams also redirect sound waves back into the foam, which is where the sound is converted to energy and absorbed. If you’re unsure which type of acoustic foam is the best option for your business, contact Singer Safety today! We can help you out with all of your acoustic foam uses, as well as find the best fit for you.