Public Sector Buildings
The Public Sector is large, diverse and complex, as are the sound insulation and absorption challenges within it. As such, it would be impossible to try and cover every single area and requirement in this brief introduction, however, we will try an highlight some of the more common problems we come across below. It is important to note that any acoustic issue described will not be exclusive to the particular ‘sector’ used to illustrate the problem – Acoustic problems, and the SRS Ltd materials used to treat them are transferable across a multitude of applications. As always, if your particular acoustic problem or area is not detailed, please get in touch with our technical team for free advice.
Reverberation and Echo Problems
Most commonly found in large, open areas with hard, acoustically reflective surfaces. Problems can include speech intelligibility issues in the case of school halls and police interview suites, as well as general disturbance in area such as hospital waiting rooms, canteens, gym’s and assembly halls. Areas such as these can easily be treated with our high specification acoustic absorber range, Sonata. Sonata is available in a range of attractive designs and can be colour coded to match the environment. It is also important to note that, unlike many other acoustic absorbing panels, the Sonata range does not use ANY mineral fibre in its manufacture – the acoustic foam used is, in all cases, non fibrous and non shedding, making it a perfect for hospitals and schools.
Airborne Noise Issues
Often in the Public Sector, especially in areas where privacy and confidentiality are key, such as hospital consultancy rooms, boardrooms and police interview rooms it is critical that sound cannot leak in or out. With the modern preference for lightweight construction, such as stud-work partitions and suspended ceilings, this can be very difficult to achieve. SRS Ltd have a range of acoustic products, designed specifically to increase the acoustic performance of lightweight construction elements in floors, walls, and ceilings. Maxiboard is an extremely high performance acoustic building board, designed to be used in place of standard plasterboard to provide soundproofing for walls and ceilings. Acoustilay and Maxideck are high performance acoustic flooring systems, perfect for use on lightweight, timber joisted floors. The SoundBlocker system is ideal for increasing the acoustic performance of suspended ceiling, especially when they span two adjoining room with a common cavity above, for example a consultancy room in a hospital and the public waiting room.
Impact Noise Issues
The public sector has many busy areas within it. Often, in multi-storey buildings, the movement of people on floor can cause serious disruption to the people below. Loud footsteps and moving furniture are typical impact noise problems and they can cause much disturbance if left untreated. SRS Ltd have a range of Acoustic Flooring systems that are designed specifically to treat impact noise problems. Acoustilay and SubPrimo are perfect for installing beneath floor finishes to introduce high levels of impact sound reduction.
FAQ: Soundproofing Public Sector Buildings
Why do public sector buildings often have acoustic problems?
Public sector buildings are large, diverse, and built with many lightweight materials. This creates issues such as echo, reverberation, and noise transfer between rooms. These problems appear in places like schools, hospitals, police stations, offices, and community facilities.
What are the most common acoustic issues in these buildings?
1. Reverberation & Echo
- Caused by large open spaces with hard, reflective surfaces
- Leads to poor speech clarity in school halls, interview rooms, waiting areas, gyms, and canteens
- Easily treated with Sonata acoustic absorbers
2. Airborne Noise
- Sound leaking between rooms (e.g., hospital consultancy rooms, boardrooms, police interview rooms)
- Made worse by lightweight partitions and suspended ceilings
- Requires upgraded wall, floor, or ceiling systems such as Maxiboard, Acoustilay, Maxideck, or SoundBlocker
3. Impact Noise
- Footsteps, moving furniture, and general activity in multi‑storey buildings
- Common in busy public buildings
- Treated with acoustic flooring systems like Acoustilay and SubPrimo
What is the Sonata range and why is it recommended?
Sonata is a high‑performance range of acoustic absorber panels designed to reduce echo and reverberation.
The key benefits of Sonata products are:
- Attractive designs and colour options
- Suitable for schools, hospitals, and public spaces
- Made from non‑fibrous, non‑shedding acoustic foam (no mineral fibre), making it ideal for hygiene‑sensitive environments like hospitals and schools
How can airborne noise between rooms be reduced?
SRS recommends several systems depending on the structure:
- Maxiboard – replaces plasterboard to create high‑performance soundproof walls and ceilings
- Acoustilay / Maxideck – acoustic flooring systems for timber joisted floors
- SoundBlocker – improves suspended ceilings, especially where two rooms share a ceiling void (e.g., hospital consultancy rooms next to waiting areas)
How can impact noise be controlled?
Impact noise (footsteps, furniture movement) is treated using:
- Acoustilay – installed beneath floor finishes
- SubPrimo – an acoustic underlay for reducing impact sound
These systems help reduce disruption in busy multi‑storey public buildings.
Can SRS provide technical support?
Yes. SRS offers free technical advice to help identify the right products and solutions for any public sector acoustic issue. Contact us today to speak to an expert.
