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The differences between sound insulating material and sound absorbing material | Soundproofing work
- 英語,建築コラム
- 投稿日:2025年02月24日
このページの目次
- 1 On the differences between sound insulating material and sound absorbing material | Soundproofing work
- 2 On the differences between sound insulating material and sound absorbing material
- 3 On the differences of construction method between sound insulating material and Sound absorbing material
- 4 Conclusion
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This is Office returning to the original state recovery and restoration Dot.Com. website, personnel in charge.
Our company is an interior decorative company taking charge of full set ofinterior decorative work, such as LGS(=light gauge steel) work, board work, sticking so-called decorative cloth・floor finishing work and so on, mainly at Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and in all over Japan.
Office returning to the original state recovery and restoration Dot.com., website answers for our customers’ various work needs by the service of unique to the interior decorative contractor. We boast our reliance and achievements more than 500 construction performances annually.
This time, we are introducing and explaining,
On the differences between sound insulating material and sound absorbing material | Soundproofing work

Recently, the problems on sound are put importance more and more.
Among the office and housing troubles, particularly, a lot of them are the problems on「unwanted sound」.
In the contemporary office environment, the problems of sound are regarded as important more and more.
Particularly,「unwanted sound」in the office sometimes greatly influences business effect and stress level of the staffs.
In the office where the staffs work together with different business outlines and communication styles, talking voice in the meeting room, phone sound, and as far as including daily business sound may be sometimes even regarded as the problems of「unwanted sound」.
In order not to become both of making sound side or feeling sound side of「unwanted sound」like these, an appropriate「soundproofing」countermeasure is necessary to take.
Then, what is「soundproofing」concretely on earth?
And, what kind of work means「soundproofing work」?
On the differences between sound insulating material and sound absorbing material
What plays an important role in soundproofing work are「sound insulating material」and「sound absorbing material」.
By understanding the respective differences, more effective soundproofing countermeasure is possible to take.
Then, what is the differences of these two materials?
What is「sound insulating material」?
Sound insulating material is, a material for insulating sound.
It has a part to play a role in order not to let sound reach to the wall or ceiling, or going to that side.
It is mainly used as a soundproofing countermeasure of building and room. So, it plays the role of avoiding to leak the sound to go through the wall and ceiling, or not going to other rooms or outside.
Sound insulating material avoids sound transmission by reflecting sound.
Generally, sound insulating material has high density, and is made by heavy materials. So, it has an effect of insulating sound transmission physically.
Mainly, lead sheet and so on are often used as sound insulating material.

Sound insulating sheet:Daiken Corporation
What is「sound absorbing material」?
Sound absorbing material is, a material for absorbing sound and reducing acoustic echo.
By converting sound insulating energy to heat energy, it controls sound reflection, and improving acoustic environment in the room.
The principle of sound absorbing material is, absorbing sound, and reducing acoustic sound.
Sound absorbing material has a porous structure. So, by sound goes into holes, sound energy will absorb it. Then, by friction and/or viscous resistance, it will be converted to heat energy.
Therefore, the sound reflection will be controlled, and acoustic environment inside the room is improved.
By using sound absorbing material, reflection sound in the room can be controlled, and sound echo can be adjusted.
It is possible to prepare a comfortable acoustic environment and reduce unwanted sound problems.
As sound absorbing material, glass wool is often mainly being used.

Glass wool
Roundup
The brief roundup of the two material difference is,「sound insulating material」has the purpose of preventing sound leaking use, while「sound absorbing material」has the purpose of acoustic improving use, which have different roles.
Then, we are also introducing and explaining the differences of sound insulating material and sound absorbing material construction of the two.
On the differences of construction method between sound insulating material and Sound absorbing material
The construction method of「sound insulating material」
As the construction method, it is mainly installed in the wall, floor, and ceiling.
By sticking sound insulating sheet to the wall, and/or, by installing sound insulating panel to the wall, it will be effective.
Heavy materials are often used for it, and it requires expert knowledge for the construction.
The construction method is, after confirming the groundwork, cutting the sound insulating material, fixing it with the special adhesive and/or tucker, then shutting the gap tightly with sound insulating tape and/or calking material.
In addition, in order to enhance sound insulating effect, we adopt double layer structure and construct finishing materials, which ends the construction.
As the groundwork of sound insulating material, we sometimes use gypsum board, plywood, directly sticking LGS(=light gauge steel), or wooden frame too.

Phase of a picture constructing sound insulating sheet at a sports facility
The construction method of「sound absorbing material」
As for sound absorbing material, glass wool, rock wool, and so on are the representative sound absorbing materials.
As the construction method, sound absorbing material is often installed inside the wall and ceiling.
It is sometimes spread all over the floor too.
By installing sound absorbing panel to the wall and/or spreading it all over, it will be effective.
As for sound absorbing material, there are a lot of soft materials. So, it is relatively easy to construct it. However, as it is sometimes weak at humidity, you should be careful for its installing place.

Phase of using glass wool heat insulating material as sound absorbing material too
Roundup of construction method difference
As for the construction of sound insulating material,㏌order to insulate sound, while it is the necessary work process to fix and fasten heavy materials at the wall, floor, and/or ceiling, then block the gap. As to sound absorbing material work process, in order to absorb sound, we install light and soft materials inside the wall and ceiling. Considering humidity countermeasure work process is required too.

Conclusion
As above, sound insulating material and sound absorbing material have their different respective role and construction method.
Sound insulating material defends sound leaking, and sound absorbing material controls sound echo. By using them, a comfortable acoustic environment can be realized.
If you consider to request office soundproofing countermeasure work, it is important to understand the deference, and select appropriate materials and construction method.
・Sound insulating material: Blocking the sound and defending sound leaking. There are a lot of heavy materials, and installing at the wall, floor, and ceiling.
・Sound absorbing material: Absorbing sound, and controlling echo in the room. There are a lot of soft materials, installing inside the wall and ceiling.
By using either of the materials, we select one and use construction method appropriately, it is possible to realize a comfortable acoustic environment.
As it is different under what kind of environment they are used, so, please select the most appropriate one according to the purpose.
Based on abundant experiences and performance achievement, our company is going to propose the most appropriate soundproofing countermeasure to match our customers’ needs.
For your talk and estimate request on soundproofing work, please give us your relative inquiry by all means light heartedly!
We have gathered the articles here on soundproofing work too. Kindly refer to them.
※Please understand that we will execute construction in Japan only.
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