Acoustic Foams

What is acoustic foam?

Acoustic foam is an open-cell polyurethane or melamine-based material whose porous structure absorbs incoming sound-wave energy and reduces reflection. Its job is not to block sound from passing through but to reduce echo inside; it is therefore an acoustic-treatment material, not a sound-insulation material. Understanding this distinction is critical when choosing a panel.

Which foam types are available?

• Pyramid foam: classic triangular profile — balanced mid-high absorption (NRC 0.75-0.85)
• Egg-crate foam: more aesthetic, broadband performance (NRC 0.80-0.90)
• Wedge foam: non-flat profile; ideal for diffuse reflections (NRC 0.80-0.88)
• Flat foam: classic flat surface — base layer for fabric-wrapped applications
• Fire-rated / firexpan foam: special fire-resistant formula
• Melamine (Basotect) foam: highest absorption (NRC 0.90-1.00) + fire class B-s1, d0
• Barrier-backed composite foam: foam + heavy membrane — adds limited insulation

What do NRC values mean?

NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) is the average sound-absorption coefficient of an acoustic panel between 250-2000 Hz. The value is between 0-1; closer to 1 means more absorption. A foam with NRC 0.85 absorbs 85% of incoming sound energy. In critical spaces such as studios the octave-band graph also matters — a foam with 0.95 at 1000 Hz may drop to 0.15 at 125 Hz.

Where is it used?

• Recording studios, podcast and broadcast rooms
• Cinemas and home theatres
• Conference, meeting and lecture rooms
• Music rehearsal and dance rooms
• Open offices and meeting booths
• Call centres
• Restaurants, cafés and hotel lobbies

How to choose the right foam?

1. Frequency target: mid-high for speech, broadband for music.
2. Volume and surface area: thickness (25-100 mm) is set accordingly.
3. Fire-class requirement: BS 476 Class 0 mandatory in public spaces.

How is it installed?

Foams are usually applied with acoustic adhesive, double-sided tape or mechanical mounting clips. Foam glued directly to a wall is weak at low frequencies; with a 25-50 mm air gap the low-frequency performance rises significantly. In our practice we always use spaced mounting in critical spaces such as studios.

Certificates and standards

All the acoustic foams we supply carry international test certificates: BS 476 Class 0 surface flame spread, UNI 9175 Class 1IM fire behaviour, EN 13501-1 B-s1, d0 fire class. We do not include uncertified products in our project portfolio.