Soundstop - Installation Guide

Suspended Ceiling Voids - Method One
Suspended Ceiling Voids - Method Two
Jointing
Bottom Fixing
Services Through the Curtain
Mechanical Services, Ducting and Pipes
Machinery and Plant

Suspended Ceiling Voids

The transmission of sound within buildings is a common problem. In commercial office constructions, partitions are often installed up to the underside of suspended ceilings. Sound will transmit through the ceiling void into adjoining offices often making concentration and private conversation difficult.

Soundstop installed as a curtain from the soffit to the partition head, forms an acoustic barrier, and solves this problem.

Installation - method one

Fixed direct to the soffit and perimeter walls by means of a 25 x 25mm continuous angle. The angle should be securely fixed through the blanket into the substrate, compressing and trapping it over the whole length. The Soundstop should slightly extend beyond the face of the angle.

Fixing method one.

Installation - method two

An angle is first fixed directly to the soffit and perimeter walls. The Soundstop is then fixed to the face of this angle by a second angle screwed or bolted through to the first. The Soundstop must have sufficient overlap to extend along and be trapped and compressed to the soffit or wall by the secondary angle.

Fixing method two.

Jointing

Where two curtains join they must overlap by a minimum of 50mm. From the top fixing angle a 25mm x 25mm angle or flat strip is fixed vertically on the centre of the joints. This is then fixed to the ceiling grid at the bottom. A second angle or strip is then positioned onto the opposite face of the curtain and screwed or bolted through to the first, thus compressing the whole length of the joint.

Bottom Fixing

The Soundstop returns onto the ceiling and is secured by an angle which runs between the tees, and is then screwed through into the partition head.

Fixing to suspended ceiling.

Services Through The Curtain

Soundstop is ideal where services pass through the curtain. It is easily cut and will compress and mould to any shape forming a good seal. Using a trimming knife, a hole is simply cut smaller in dimension than the penetration, or a star cut is made. A cut is then made to the bottom edge of the curtain, which can then be formed around the penetration. The cut should be covered by a 50mm strip of Soundstop glued or screwed to the curtain. The hole or star cut should be formed around and onto the penetration, and this should be sealed by either tape, a jubilee clip, or strips of Soundstop wrapped around. Where a number of items pass through together, a square hole can be cut to accommodate them. This can be sealed by pieces of Soundstop cut and formed around the items, and fixed by glue or screws.

Curtain formed around pipes with cover strip over joint. A hole or star cut in the curtain must be cut smaller than the item passing through so it will compress around it.

Glued or screwed cover strip over joint

Glued or screwed cover strip over joint.

Mechanical Services, Ducting and Pipes

Soundstop is ideally suited for stopping or reducing noise breakout from ducting and services. For this application it is best to use Soundstop AF faced with Aluminium foil on one surface. It is quickly and easily applied, and provides a neat efficient acoustic cover.

Soundstop formed around a duct.

Wrap the Soundstop around and fit tight to the duct or pipe with the aluminium face outward. At all joints overlap by a minimum of 50mm and seal with a 50mm wide aluminium tape. Fix a band of tape also completely around the duct/pipe at 600mm centres, and seal at all ends.

Machinery and Plant

Where acoustic treatment is required to machinery, motors, or plant, Soundstop can be applied in two ways: direct to the noise source if this can be done, or as an internal lining to a housing or machinery cover. For these applications Soundstop 520 is available. This offers higher sound absorption, reducing reverberation. For applications where there is oil or dirt which would deposit onto the Soundstop, Soundstop PU finish is available. This has Polyurethane coating on one surface which stops the ingress of oil and can easily be wiped clean.