Sound Proof Glass Partitions

A common question we are asked is do you offer a "Sound Proof Glass Partition"?

This is a misleading concept and what most customers actually mean by this is can you offer me a system where I can have a private conversation within the glass partition. There are many factors to consider when specifying these types of requirments and most actually involve all the other building materials used for the floor, ceiling in the office as well as items of furniture, soft furnishings etc.

Sound is a form of energy which travels in waves. In order to acheive the privacy that is actually what people mean when they ask "can you soundproof the glass partition", this energy can either be blocked  (Sound Insulation ) or disapated (sound absorption) or interferred with (sound interferrance)

Sound Insulation

Axis Glass can improve the sound insulation of glass in different ways - increasing the thickness of the pane, using laminated glass on its own or within an Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) - the larger the gap between the panes, the better the insulation.

1) Increase the thickness of the glass used for example by using 12mm Toughened Glass

1) Double Glazed Glass Partions – the larger the gap between the panes, the better the insulation..

2) Acoustic Laminated Glass - A laminate glass has a sound absorbing interlayer fixed within 2 panes of toughened glass to increase the sound absorbtion of the glass partition

Typical Acoustic Insulation Values of Glass

Single Glass                        Rw (dB)

4mm                                      29

6mm                                      31

10mm                                   33

12mm                                    35

Double Glazed

10mm                                    44

12mm                                    46

 

 

 

Sound Absorption

Sound absorption is a much more important factor than sound insulation. Unfortunately glass has zero sound absorption qualities. However usually the glass partition in your office only forms 1 or 2 of the 6 walls in your office. so it is also important to consider how you might build or modify the other 5 or 6 walls in your office to increase sound absorption and so increase the privacy of your glass partitioned office. it is often much more cost effective to absorb the sound rather than simply insulating it.

FLOOR COVERING - consider using thicker carpet tiles or where there is a wooden or solid concrete floor add a rug or carpet.

CEILING -

1) Sound absorbing ceiling tiles - replace the existing ceiling tiles with sound absorbing tiles (est. Cost approx £15-£20 each)

2)  Ceiling baffles – suspended shaped sound absorbers for the ceiling (est. Cost £50-£100 each) )see attached image.

FURNITURE

3) Sound absorbing wall art or a “whisper wall” commercial wall covering (est. Cost £50-£500) 4

4) Abstracta air flake – suspended cascading sound absorbing screen - this can be suspended directly in front of the glass wall to provide an attractive enhancement to the glass which absorbs sound very effectively (est. Cost £20 each = £1300 per wall ) s